MOOCs: Why Low-Cost Will Not Create Equal Access

Nathan GarrettYesica Allaya

eLearn 2013, Las Vegas, NVWednesday, October 23rd, 1:30-2:00pm

http://profgarrett.com

Moocs are…

• “the biggest revolution in education since the printing press…”

Quality

Retention: How many students

complete successfully?

Pedagogy: What teaching techniques are

used?

Cost: What does the overall educational experience cost?

Access: What type of students are

recruited?

Iron Triangle

Cost

Access QualityPedagogyRetention

Traditional Higher Ed

• 5,599 colleges & universities• 21m students• 70% public• >50% over 23• 40% part-time

How many students graduate?

Private Not-For-Profit Four-Year Public Four-Year Private For-Profit Four-Year

67%

57%

26%

45%

39%

16%

60%

46%

28%

75%

65%

36%

White, Non- Hispanic Black Hispanic Asian/Pacific Islander

We have unequal success between ethnic groups

92-93 97-98 02-03 03-04 04-05 05-06 06-07 07-08 08-09 09-10 10-11 11-12

-$4,000

-$2,000

$0

$2,000

$4,000

$6,000

$8,000

$10,000

$12,000

$14,000

$16,000

Public 2-year Public 4-year Private 4-year

What students pay in tuition hasn’t significantly changed

What does it cost?

U.S. Census Bureau, Current Population Survey and decennial census: Percentage of the Population 25 Years and Over Who Have Completed High School or College: Selected Year 1940-2009

But, we educate more of the population

Iron Triangle for Traditional Higher Education

Cost

Access QualityPedagogyRetention

Online Learning

• 32% of college students have taken at least one course

• 9% yearly growth rate

Access

• Requires – Prepared & motivated students

• Minorities have lower levels of computer preparation & skills

• Non-traditional also do worse

– Heavy feedback• Perceived as harder

– by all students

Cost

Outcomes

• Perceptions v. reality– Perceptions? Employers rank lower– Reality? Outcomes similar

Iron Triangle for Online Learning

Cost

Access QualityPedagogyRetention

Mooc

• xMooc v. cMooc– Dave Cormier, Bryan Alexander, George Siemens,

and Stephen Downes

Retention

• Range: 25%, 12%, 5%...

• Are these really serious completers?

• Coursera: – Overall: 7-9%– Intend to complete: 23%– Complete first assignment: 40%– Signature Track: 70%

http://mfeldstein.com/validation-mooc-student-patterns-graphic/

Cost per Completion

• Free v. “Free”• Cost

– Edinburgh, $46k– U Penn: $50k

Access

• Who finishes a Mooc?– 70% has BA/BS, half graduate degree– Majority outside US– 60% of Coursera income <50k

• San Jose– Developmental classes in Pilot

• 29-51%, 20% lower than traditional

Iron Triangle for Moocs

Cost

Access QualityPedagogyRetention

MoocOnlineFace-to-face

Cost

Access Quality