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Coursera is phasing out free certificates

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Re: Coursera is phasing out free certificates

#61

Post by randomnumber53 »

webhat wrote: post #43

“The Statements of Accomplishment (free) and Verified Certificates (signature track) will be provided to all those who achieve 50% or higher grade, and will be released within 1-2 weeks after the final submission deadline closes. Everyone will be notified by email when they are ready. You will be able to download the certificate from your course records after they are released.” 50% as a passing grade?

Usually the grading scale is the same as is used in the iteration of the college class that the MOOC is based off of.

Re: Coursera is phasing out free certificates

#62

Post by andyidsinga »

nraynaud wrote: post #44
andyidsinga wrote: post #27

Earlier quoted context omitted.

this! Once someone learns something -- they can put it into practice (or not if they were just learning for fun). It makes sense that in the future, rather than a certificate, examples of putting learning into practice would become more important. It is certainly easy to show proof of practice already with smartphones, cheaper computers and great publishing tools. portfolio trumps certificate :)

In some fields you just can't experiment at home (often because the capital expenditure is too high), think some chemistry, some rocket design, some metallurgy etc. You need to get a job to build your portfolio, and you need a piece of paper to get the first job.

This is true, but only to the extent that we're looking at the current state of moocs - which don't offer access to those kinds of equipment.

When we start seeing that happen, we're back to the focus on ability to show work, experiments behind them, and the ability to describe the work in great detail to a potential employer in order to get the job.

also , for new college grad jobs in chemistry, rocket design, metalurgy -- these can most certainly be done at home, or civilian grade facilities. See also Amateur Rocket Society and the kinds of things they're up to http://www.space-rockets.com/arsa.html

Re: Coursera is phasing out free certificates

#64

Post by munin »

dmart wrote: post #3

Does this really demonstrate Coursera "giving up on the dream [of eliminating barriers to education]?" IMO, the important thing about MOOCs has never been accreditation (show me an employer who actually cares about potential candidates' MOOC certifications, anyway), but simply making university-level courses available without the overhead of actually attending school. And in that regard, nothing's changed.

part of what makes a course "university level" is the assessment, though. there is way more to a course than just sitting in on the lectures - you do the projects and the homework and that is where the real learning happens. courseras assessment story is weak for projects and homework, so those areas of their classes are ridiculously watered down from what is offered at a university, to scale.

Re: Coursera is phasing out free certificates

#65

Post by jordigh »

Y'know, back when I actually read the legalese, I feared some day Coursera would take their ball home and nobody would be allowed to play anymore:

http://octave.1599824.n4.nabble.com/Stanford-University-Prob...

Granted, my fears at the time were about the materials vanishing, not the diplomas, but I still fear that the entire thing will some day become completely closed up.

Re: Coursera is phasing out free certificates

#66

Post by jwr »

Who cares?

I don't think it matters in the slightest whether you got a certificate or not. These online courses provide a tremendous value by letting people learn. They are especially valuable for expanding your knowledge later on in life, when you already work.

As an employer, I don't care about certificates of any kind. I care about the person I'm hiring — and it isn't difficult for me to get a feel for his/her knowledge in a particular area.

Re: Coursera is phasing out free certificates

#67

Post by jwdunne »

kiloreux wrote: post #56
Sven7 wrote: post #26

Earlier quoted context omitted.

How did learning new things change your life?

Although that it's not important how MOOCs changed my life , but i will tell you how , i was raised in a poor family (like really poor) , i got my first computer when i was 16 years old , and saw the internet for the first time when i was 18 years old , i always had hunger for knowledge and learning new things but never could go further than reading some old books from the high school library , when i first got the i…

Similar to my experience. My parents always had high levels of debt and lived close to the breadline. I remember once there was a bit fear of home repossession. They managed to get my a second-hand PC from a friend when I was ten. Had 4gb HDD and Win ME. Cannot remember the other specs. They ran a cable to my room so we could share internet access.

Unrestricted, undisturbed internet access has had a net positive effect on my life. I learned to program using the internet, I was able to learn other subjects at my own pace in which ever order. My test scores jumped from low-end in the class to up there with the highest. This continued through high school and came out with above average grades. I suspect I would have done better if I'd have recognised and sought treatment for attention deficit disorder.

Learning new things changed my life very much for the better. That is why I continue to do so fifteen years later.

Re: Coursera is phasing out free certificates

#68

Post by runn1ng »

wolfgke wrote: post #34
runn1ng wrote: post #32

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Yes, but frankly, does anyone ever accept MOOC certificates? All the employers I have met usually skip the MOOC part of my resume entirely.

You might have the impression that they skipped it. I, in opposite, claim that it showed the employer that you are very willing to upgrade your education on your own.

But that, again, has nothing to do with the final certificate.

Re: Coursera is phasing out free certificates

#69

Post by pjmlp »

andyidsinga wrote: post #27
kiloreux wrote: post #6

While what the OP mentioned is True , what i really think is that the real value of MOOCs is not in the certificate (it not that much important especially from MOOC providers) but the opportunity that it creates for people to gain knowledge , and personally speaking , MOOCs have changed my life , i live in 3rd world country where the quality of education is worse than you can imagine, but thanks to Coursera, Edx and…

this! Once someone learns something -- they can put it into practice (or not if they were just learning for fun). It makes sense that in the future, rather than a certificate, examples of putting learning into practice would become more important. It is certainly easy to show proof of practice already with smartphones, cheaper computers and great publishing tools. portfolio trumps certificate :)

> portfolio trumps certificate :)

Not on my home country. If you don't have the certificate good luck going through HR.

Re: Coursera is phasing out free certificates

#70

Post by throwaway9324 »

kiloreux wrote: post #56
Sven7 wrote: post #26

Earlier quoted context omitted.

How did learning new things change your life?

Although that it's not important how MOOCs changed my life , but i will tell you how , i was raised in a poor family (like really poor) , i got my first computer when i was 16 years old , and saw the internet for the first time when i was 18 years old , i always had hunger for knowledge and learning new things but never could go further than reading some old books from the high school library , when i first got the i…

I think you're missing one thing though. Recognition makes it possible for more people, which otherwise wouldn't or couldn't, to have that same experience.
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