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MIT and Harvard agree to transfer edX to ed-tech firm 2U

news.mit.edu

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Re: MIT and Harvard agree to transfer edX to ed-tech firm 2U

#101

Post by kerkeslager »

hatware wrote: post #72
hashhar wrote: post #7

I'm sad that all education endeavours eventually turn for-profit and then the goals get misaligned. Produce as many courses at as minimum cost as possible. Enroll as many people as possible without regards for completion percentage. Create an economy where random people are incentivised to create courses and then the course quality tanks. I wish this turns out differently. Even Udemy and Coursera have become commeric…

> education endeavours eventually turn for-profit and then the goals get misaligned. There are companies trying to battle the problems that come with a single bottom line, like Guild Education.

I just cannot fathom the worldview that leads one to believe a for-profit company can solve the problem of for-profit education.

Re: MIT and Harvard agree to transfer edX to ed-tech firm 2U

#102

Post by nightski »

martincmartin wrote: post #56
nightski wrote: post #49

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The problem with MIT's online courses is that while the content itself was fantastic they refused to treat it like an online course. They wanted to have it run on a schedule, strict no-compromising deadlines, and large fees for full access. That's fine and all but it's forcing the university model they know into an online format and it doesn't work so great for the audience that wants to take online courses imho. The…

The facts are a little different. For the math & physics classes, the deadlines are 3 weeks after being assigned, whereas when you take the class in person, there's a strict 1 week deadline. Part of the advantage of taking an online class, as opposed to self study, is the motivating factor of deadlines. I have a lot of textbooks I've started reading, then said "I'll get back to this" and never have. Another advantage…

I do agree, but fortunately having the course online means one should be able to choose how they learn best. Want to sign up for a scheduled online class with available TAs? Neat, now you can pay for that separately. Want to just consume the material at your leisure and not require any outside assistance other than maybe a forum? Pay a smaller fee or even get it for free depending on the needs of the content creator and get access at any time without deadlines.

Personally I have a study friend and we motivate each other. But we don't necessarily move as fast as MIT's deadlines because we are professionals with deadlines that take priority. So it's completely lost on me which is frustrating because the material is great!

Re: MIT and Harvard agree to transfer edX to ed-tech firm 2U

#103

Post by loughnane »

This is a huge bummer. edX was the prime example I would hold up when people said "remote learning is terrible". Several of the courses I took on there ranked among some of the best classes I've ever taken, in-person or otherwise.

I agree with another commenter in that I had hoped it would persist since 1) education is ostensibly the business of Harvard and MIT and 2) Their pockets are deep enough to think long-term.

I will admit that I haven't used it much in the past few years. Had been getting turned off by the credential chasing and access disappearing after some time.

Tough to see an excellent path forward from here. I've never heard of this 2U firm.

Re: MIT and Harvard agree to transfer edX to ed-tech firm 2U

#104

Post by wrycoder »

chaosbutters314 wrote: post #40
benrbray wrote: post #6

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I tried to use edX for the first time recently to take a "food science" course, but was disappointed to see that they've resorted to the same dark patterns as Coursera and others, such as: * Removing your access to course materials when the class is done, and disallowing access to past versions of the class. * Pressuring you into joining as many courses as possible, due to fear of missing out. When you visit the site…

why is food science in quotes? you wouldnt put physics course in quotes. As someone that works as an engineer in the food industry, our work is just as rigorous as other fields. When working with vendors that support different domains, they always get excited to work with us since we have some of the craziest and most challenging problems that are not straight forward. While the work we do may not be critical to savi…

Food engineering, maybe. It's not science or even applied science.

Re: MIT and Harvard agree to transfer edX to ed-tech firm 2U

#105

Post by wheaties »

brutus1213 wrote: post #4

This seems like terrible news :( After the focus on monetization of platforms such as udemy and coursera, edx seemed to give me a sliver of hope that education will be open. Given the immense trust funds held by Harvard and MIT, I had hoped money would not be a factor and these institutions would be able to develop their platform in the open. I'd like to add .. non-profit does not mean free to end users. There are ma…

The way they structure this is that it continues to be a non-profit where users have to pay a fee. The non-profit licenses content and things from 2U at rates that are mutually agreed upon by all principals. It just so happens that 2U will be negotiating with itself on what a sustainable fee should be...

Re: MIT and Harvard agree to transfer edX to ed-tech firm 2U

#106

Post by wrycoder »

mumblemumble wrote: post #12
brutus1213 wrote: post #4

This seems like terrible news :( After the focus on monetization of platforms such as udemy and coursera, edx seemed to give me a sliver of hope that education will be open. Given the immense trust funds held by Harvard and MIT, I had hoped money would not be a factor and these institutions would be able to develop their platform in the open. I'd like to add .. non-profit does not mean free to end users. There are ma…

FUN ( https://www.fun-mooc.fr ) is another good option that seems to be keeping it together. I haven't counted, but I think that most the courses are available in English.

A quick survey - I see French being used.

Re: MIT and Harvard agree to transfer edX to ed-tech firm 2U

#108

Post by throwawaygh »

MR4D wrote: post #96

This makes no sense. They could do a simple transaction transferring it to a 401c3 entity and be done with it. The idea of a public company, a public benefit company, a university, a nonprofit, and 800 million dollars changing hands in this complicated of a transaction seems incongruous.

Harvard and MIT are selling the right to use their name-marks in a limited context for $800mm, which they will now invest in becoming leading institutions in AI teaching/tutoring. They also get to divest themselves of something that was (perceived as) cutting-edge and world-changing 20 years ago but is no longer particularly hot/novel.

Doing MOOCs was good business for Harvard/MIT like 10-15 years ago when designing and delivering MOOCs constituted "thought leadership". Now, MOOCs are ubiquitous and AI teachers are the hotness.

Re: MIT and Harvard agree to transfer edX to ed-tech firm 2U

#109

Post by kilroywashere »

benrbray wrote: post #6
brutus1213 wrote: post #4

This seems like terrible news :( After the focus on monetization of platforms such as udemy and coursera, edx seemed to give me a sliver of hope that education will be open. Given the immense trust funds held by Harvard and MIT, I had hoped money would not be a factor and these institutions would be able to develop their platform in the open. I'd like to add .. non-profit does not mean free to end users. There are ma…

I tried to use edX for the first time recently to take a "food science" course, but was disappointed to see that they've resorted to the same dark patterns as Coursera and others, such as: * Removing your access to course materials when the class is done, and disallowing access to past versions of the class. * Pressuring you into joining as many courses as possible, due to fear of missing out. When you visit the site…

something many don't know: you can torrent these courses.

Re: MIT and Harvard agree to transfer edX to ed-tech firm 2U

#110

Post by wrycoder »

loughnane wrote: post #103

This is a huge bummer. edX was the prime example I would hold up when people said "remote learning is terrible". Several of the courses I took on there ranked among some of the best classes I've ever taken, in-person or otherwise. I agree with another commenter in that I had hoped it would persist since 1) education is ostensibly the business of Harvard and MIT and 2) Their pockets are deep enough to think long-term.…

"MIT will continue to offer courses to learners worldwide via edX, as well as on a new platform now known as MITx Online. MIT’s Office of Digital Learning will build and operate MITx Online as a new world-facing platform, based on Open edX, that MIT is creating for MITx MOOCs.

MIT faculty may choose to continue to offer their courses through the new edX after the transaction is completed, or move them to MITx Online."

It's worth reading the article - there is much more that's not being addressed on HN.

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