Students like courses that use open education resources over their typical classes. In a recent research project, most reported that they experienced a boost in their learning experience; 59 percent said the quality of the instructional materials was better; 57 percent considered the caliber of teaching higher; and 54 percent claimed a stronger level of engagement. Those results come from a study examining the implementation of OER in colleges. The work was commissioned by nonprofit Achieving the Dream.
Learners who complete a M.I.T.x. MicroMasters credential in Data, Economics, and Development Policy or Supply Chain Management can now apply their work toward a Master of Liberal Arts degree at Harvard Extension School.
Online learning destination EdX today announced nine new master's degree programs, which offer a top-ranked, high-quality alternative to an on-campus degree at a fraction of the cost, according to the company. Three of the programs, in fact, are from top-10-ranked institutions and priced at under $10,000.
A new two-year online college opening in January 2019 promises to instill the "future-proofed" skills students will need for management jobs that are ubiquitous and growing. Intended for working adults in the United States, Foundry College will be granting free tuition for the entire two years for its first cohort.
Ivy Tech Community College in Indiana recently announced it will use BioBeyond as the standard course for all of its online introductory biology courses. The college, which has more than 40 campus locations serving nearly 71,000 students, piloted the digital biology course over the summer, and now plans to use it in 37 online sections.
Houston Community College launched a new online college, HCC Online, with 31 fully online programs, including 15 associate degree-level and 16 certificate offerings in both academic and workforce areas.
For Puerto Rico's Universidad del Sagrado Corazón, the process of restoring campus systems after Hurricane Maria led to new opportunities for active learning and community engagement.
Ed tech company Perceivant is introducing 15 new "courses" — interactive courseware designed to replace the traditional textbook.
A new self-evaluation tool from the Online Learning Consortium measures the services and supports in place for online students.
In an effort to increase degree attainment for non-traditional students, Ohio's Central State University is rolling out Oracle's Student Management product for student recruiting, engagement and support.