How can MOOCs help you in the classroom

Massive Open Online Courses (MOOC) are one way technology is making education more accessible to everyone, not just those that can afford high tuition costs. These free online courses have been in the marketplace for years and millions of people have taken advantage of courses offered by providers such as Coursera and edX. Universities are joining the movement and creating MOOCs as a way to offer content, delivered by expert professors, to thousands of students. While many professionals take courses for professional development, MOOCs can also be used as a supplemental tool in educators’ classrooms.

Two of the leading platforms, Coursera and edX, offer courses running from 4-8 weeks in length on dozens of topics. All courses are free, and many include a certification option for a small fee. Miss a class you are interested in? Not a problem. Most free online classes archive the lectures and discussion boards so you can still learn after the course is complete.

Both Coursera and edX offer multiple classes focusing on the American education system, like Saving Schools: History, Politics, and Policy in U.S. Education, currently running its second mini course through HarvardX and Performance Assessment in the Virtual Classroom, offered through Coursera and the University of California Irvine’s Continuing Education program. Most classes feature video lectures, quizzes, readings, discussion boards and some writing assignments. These classes can provide an informative view of the American education system as a whole, and how it meshes with your teaching style.

Classroom Supplements

MOOC video lectures and readings can provide alternate source material to supplement your classroom teaching and may offer something of interest to your students as well. edX offers many Advanced Placement preparatory classes and also some designed for non-AP high school students. The Road to Selective College Admissions begins in January 2015 – perfect timing for high school juniors thinking about the year ahead. MOOCs can be a great tool for AP teachers to provide extra test prep for students, and a way for students to learn together with fellow students from around the country. Similarly, MOOCs allow high school students to learn more on a subject that might not be offered at their school.

Bottom line – if you’re not taking advantage of MOOCs, you should be! And if you are already a fan, you might be surprised at the additional offerings and benefits available to you and your students in these free online courses.