University of North Texas to Offer Non-Credit Courses Through Coursera
In an effort to expand access to online learning, the University of North Texas is partnering with Coursera to offer non-credit courses in the massive open online format. The institution plans to launch three to five MOOCs within the next year, according to Adam Fein, UNT vice president of digital strategy and innovation.
Created and taught by UNT faculty, the courses will be self-paced, allowing learners to engage on their own schedule. Students can access the courses and course materials for free, and have the option to pay a fee to receive a Coursera Course Certificate upon completion.
The courses are also designed to help students prep for actual for-credit courses at UNT. "Engaging with courses on the Coursera platform gives learners access to the subject matter but also a sense of ethos of being a UNT student and exposure to UNT faculty who care deeply about teaching students and quality learning outcomes," noted Karen Bollinger, UNT assistant vice president of digital growth, in a statement.
"In support of our mission to provide access to education, our plan is to continue to explore options to give North Texas students and learners from around the globe flexible learning options and more ways to help them reach academic and career goals," commented Fein.
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Rhea Kelly is editor in chief for Campus Technology, THE Journal, and Spaces4Learning. She can be reached at [email protected].