Gosh, I don't post here very often, do I?
My reading of MITx links back to a press release right at the start of the
year that stated their intention to do more to support independent
learners, this built on research (Steve Carson's blog summarised this
well, as I recall) that showed that this group were their primary external
OCW users.
"Cambridge MA, January 12, 2011 — Today, MIT OpenCourseWare launched beta
versions of five courses that represent a significant new approach to
openly sharing educational resources. Dubbed "OCW Scholar" courses, these
materials are designed from the start for independent learners who have
few additional resources available to them. The courses are substantially
more complete than typical OCW courses and include new custom-created
content as well as materials repurposed from MIT classrooms. The materials
are also arranged in logical sequences and include multimedia such as
video and simulations."
http://ocw.mit.edu/about/media-coverage/press-releases/ocw-scholar/
So MITx is simply a version of what would have been "OCW-scholar" that's
been through a marketing process. The certification (note that this and
only this is paid-for) is simply a method of adding in a potential revenue
stream - the OCW model is expensive of and MIT OCW are rapidly running out
of money, so any additional funding that this brings in will prop up the
costs of the OCW department.
Wonder what OERu make of it :-)
David
On Tue, 20 Dec 2011 11:03:08 -0000, Pat Lockley
<[log in to unmask]> wrote:
>> Like Pat says its a shame others have not publicised themselves as well
>> as MIT does, but as Andy points out they have had more money than
>> anywhere else.
>
> much as I accept that money helps ideas, we are all funded projects,
> and MITx would bring income in - and so is more about speculation on
> that possibility as a model, as opposed to having no income at all
> (bar goodwill)
--
David Kernohan
UKOER Programme Manager
eLearning Innovation Team
JISC
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