Massive open online courses (MOOCs) are now more readily available
than ever, with more than 9,400 courses and 500 credentials available to anyone
interested. Providers are also finding ways to make the courses more
sustainable through premium credentials, online degree programs, and access to
content.
Access to content has become a big business, ranging
from free to million-dollar licensing deals between providers and employers. Providers
are also placing more content behind paywalls, including graded assignments.
At the same time, though, enrollment has slowed. New data
from Class Central, a MOOC discovery platform, showed that 20 million learners
registered for their first MOOC in 2017, about three million fewer than in
2016.
“Over half a decade since their debut, MOOCs may finally
have found their footing and a sustainable revenue model,” Dhawal Shah, founder
of Class Central, wrote in a recent post for EdSurge.
“No, they didn’t disrupt universities, but they may have changed how working
professions access continued learning and career-advancement opportunities.”
