A few years before I formally enrolled in an online bachelor’s program, I decided to try my hand at online education in the form of massive open online courses, or MOOCs.
MOOCs can generally be accessed by anyone with internet for free, though there’s often an option to pay for a verified certificate of completion. Companies such as Coursera and edX create MOOCs with universities.
For me, MOOCs seemed like a perfect introduction to online classes without the long-term or financial commitments required of a full bachelor’s program. When comparing MOOCs with online degree programs, there are some very defined pros and cons associated with each. I was originally attracted to MOOCs because I did not have to commit to a specific course of study, and because the ability to complete courses at my own pace worked well with my full-time job.
Having now also completed an online bachelor’s program at Oregon State University Ecampus, I feel it might be helpful for other prospective students to understand the benefits and challenges of a MOOC, and when it might make more sense to enroll in a more structured online degree program.
[Explore 10 things to know about MOOCs in online education.]
Here are three instances when a MOOC may be the right way to go. While there are definitely more reasons to take that path, these come from my own personal experiences.
1. If you are uncertain about your long-term goals: MOOCs are a great way for students to get a high-level view of a course or subject that they feel they might be interested in pursuing. Committing to a major only to realize you are not interested or passionate about the discipline would be a terrible predicament for a college student. With MOOCs, you can essentially sample a wide range of subjects before deciding to commit to the one you genuinely see a future with.
2. For general curiosity: If you are anything like me, you have probably had experiences with courses that left you wanting to learn more, regardless of whether it’s a potential career path. For many of us, it does not make sense to enroll in individual courses at a community college or university.
On the other hand, don’t disregard your desire to keep learning just because you don’t want to take a full course. MOOCs offer more guidance than pursuing a subject on your own, but do not require the commitment of a more structured course.
[Discover key differences between MOOCs and online degree programs.]
3. For professional growth: I work in sales for the tech field, but don’t have a technical or computer science background. I don’t need an in-depth knowledge of technical subjects for my job, and I have succeeded without one so far, but it would still be beneficial to have a basic understanding of some of what I encounter on a periodic basis.
I have turned to MOOCs to learn more about specific programming languages and similar topics. The flexible and open structure of MOOCs has allowed me to expand my knowledge when I have the bandwidth to do so, all without causing stress during busy times.
The takeaway: A full online degree is the right path for some students, but others looking to simply satisfy their curiosity or gauge their interest in a discipline might be better off pursuing MOOCs.
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3 Reasons to Consider MOOCs Over an Online Degree originally appeared on usnews.com
