Occupations and Online Learners by Ashley North

It’s no secret that the cost to receive a higher education in America is growing rapidly; just last year, the average undergraduate tuition at a public in-state university was about $8,900 per semester (a growth of 4.5% from the previous school year) – and that doesn't include room and board. Just thirty years ago, undergraduate students were paying around $1,500 in tuition per semester. As college is increasingly becoming a stretch for parents and students, many are searching for other options to educate themselves. A strong contender in the future of higher education is the massively open online course, also known as the MOOC. These courses are taught online by qualified professionals, often college professors, via video lecture, connection by social media, group work, and personal investigation. The material offered in class is of good quality and rests at a higher-learning, college-level difficulty. And the best part: all of it is available online for free.

College tuition data comparing the 2012-2013 and 2013-2014 school years

Now you may be asking, “What’s the catch?” Massively open online courses are exactly what their name implies – massive. Some MOOCs have over 90,000 students enrolled worldwide (Morris). Because coursework cannot be evaluated by a professor, peer review and computer-graded tests measure a student’s progress. This issue plays into a larger, more present problem: while the premise behind a MOOC is great and noble, most classes that are being offered online now are not accredited – those who manage to complete a course will not be given credit towards a college degree. Within this problem lies the defeat of the purpose of obtaining a higher education altogether: to better oneself for the workforce. Because these courses are not awarded credit, many employers may not feel they are trustworthy qualifications for a potential employee. However, while currently the system by which a MOOC is completed cannot formally qualify an individual for the workforce, this technology can still be used so that graduates can obtain jobs, employers can sponsor means for their employees to learn on-the-job skills, and learners can advance their careers by the power of the MOOC.

Using A MOOC Education to Get A Job

Because of their enormous potential for good in the career world, massive open online courses are the next big thing with regards to universal, affordable education – and learners can use the information provided by these classes to get the kinds of jobs they want. An online article by Campus Explorer, titled “How to Use MOOCs to Get Your Dream Job” describes many facets of the process that employers look for: students with certificates of completion from a MOOC have developed valuable technological skills, are self-reliant, and look for ways to improve themselves are just a few benefits the article lists. The article claims that while “MOOCs can’t give you a degree, but they can teach real-world skills that employers want”. Even though MOOCs are not presently accredited, the new ideas and information that can be learned from them is still of value for those entering the job search brigade. Scott Kirsner, writer for the Boston Globe, writes in regards to these courses that “some people who have completed MOOCs say they’re including them on resumes and LinkedIn profiles…any initiative that candidates take to update their skill set, acquire new skills, or simply extend their knowledge base will be viewed as positive” (1). Learning these important skills can not only qualify employees for the workforce, but even set them apart from their non-MOOC taking peers.

However, large area of concern for those seeking to obtain an education via MOOC is how successful completion of the course will be accounted for in the job market. William Lawton, director of a U.K.-based research organization and business model expert, states that “the question of whether learners will be able to gain academic credit for the courses they complete is also key to the future of the MOOCs movement” (Corbyn, 3). This discrepancy is derived from a straying from the normal system – employers usually can trust a degree from an accredited university and can be assured that potential employees are up to par with the skill set they claim to have. But can an employer accept an applicant’s ‘credentials’ if they were obtained through a MOOC? Thomas Clarke, professor of management at University of Technology, Sydney, claims that “MOOCs often presently do not lead to formal qualifications… [While they] are accessible and high-quality courses allowing students to develop valuable knowledge to support their own learning goals… [they] remain in a developmental stage” (2). While the classes offered for free online are of good quality, and “[are hoped] to give access to the world of top-class education that has so far been available to only a select few” (Clarke, 2), presently, the lack of complete accountability within a MOOC has not been resolved. Even still, recruiters like Adriana Ganos of Rue La La, an e-commerce site based in Boston, claim that they “value in-person content and communication… [and would] rather see someone go and physically attend something and participate in a class” (Kirsner, 1). Does someone’s participation solely in a MOOC disqualify them for a job, instead of make them more adept? All of this incongruity begs the question: is there anything being done to repair this problem?

Luckily, measures are being taken to award students who complete an online course with college credit that counts towards a degree – thus, formally qualifying them for potential careers and increasing their appeal to employers. By convincing colleges and universities to accept a MOOC certificate of completion as a valid measure of education, students can set themselves apart from their peers in the workforce for a fraction of the cost of traditional college programs. The American Council on Education “is preparing to weigh in on massive open online courses… [to asses] whether the quality of courses offered…are equivalent to courses offered in traditional classrooms…”, says Marklein in USA Today, “approval…could enhance the value of MOOCs to universities and lead to lower tuition costs for students, who could earn degree credit for passing a particular course” (1). By making higher education more freely available, individuals can be better trained to enter a full-time career after schooling. The co-founder of Coursera (a more well-known and developed MOOC), Andrew Ng says that “the potential to earn credit is a significant step forward [in the world of MOOCs]” (Marklein, 1). Not only is the college council considering offering credit for the massively open online courses, but companies that produce these classes, such as Coursera and Udacity are already planning to “offer university-branded [MOOCs] for a small fee, a proportion of which will be passed to institutions” (Corbyn, 2). On top of that, some universities have even “begun to credit students for completing MOOCs run by different institution” (3). By endorsing the course material through a university, MOOC degrees can increase in validity and noteworthiness, and can stand in comparison to their traditional “brick-and-mortar” university counterparts, thus qualifying their holders at an equal level for obtaining and keeping progressive, productive careers.

MOOCs and Corporate Training

One of the best parts of the MOOCs is their ability to provide free, quality information to develop skills for anyone who is searching for them – including those who are currently already employed and are looking to keep themselves updated. While currently, the struggle to get MOOC certificates verified as trustworthy credentials is ongoing, this area of the online education world is already up-and-running with full force. In the past, employees working for corporations often have not received all the necessary training at a proper frequency to keep themselves and the corporation competitive and updated. Chris Farrell, writer for Bloomsberg Buisnessweek, explains that “employers are not doing enough to support employee learning and development” and, in fact, “only 21 percent of respondents to a 2011 survey by Accenture said they had developed additional skills through company-provided corporate training since 2006” (Evolllution, 1). Farrell lists a few reasons why employers are not providing proper training: cost, efficiency, and quality of course material have all been stumbling blocks for businesses in the past. Because of the limited power of technology in previous years, an overall beneficial, all-inclusive training course that was also entertaining was nearly impossible to find.

MOOCs step in to remove all of these obstacles, presenting opportunity to free, effective training, while stimulating the creativity and piquing the interest of their students. Writes Farrell, “the advances in technology allow for more innovative, exciting and appealing programming today”, providing for a more stimulating, meaningful, and memorable course of training (Evolllution). Jeanne Meister, writer for Forbes magazine, notes the reaction to MOOCs recorded in a recent Future Workplace survey. The survey was “completed by 195 corporate learning and HR professionals, 70 percent of respondents said they saw opportunities to integrate MOOCs into their own company’s learning programs”. Already, companies are seeing the potential to use the e-learning movement to benefit employee productivity and themselves as a whole. The following chart demonstrates the excitement of corporations and readiness to use MOOCs as a regular method of training:

Most common suggestions given by employers according to Future Workplace.

Suggestions include increasing course content to fit a more workplace-type setting, and fit better to the mindset of an employee rather than a student working to earn a degree. MOOCs are doing exceptionally well to educate large amounts of people – and businesses are taking notice. Establishments are even involved to the point of “working directly with [MOOC providers] to train their own employees or train the public in skills they perceive to be in high demand” (Lapowski, 1). By working with the online education providers, corporations can customize courses and prepare their employees for a competitive environment. Sister Alanea of online education advocates ‘e-Learning Brothers’ also gives a list of ways a MOOC can give a company and its employees a fierce edge on competitors. Among these suggestions is a reduction in training costs, improved employee productivity, and increased speed of content delivery, all of which are highly desirable improvements for corporations. Along with the clear cost benefits for a business, employees will also benefit from this new-and-improved training process. “With the need for educated workers growing,” Farrell writes that “the model of low-cost, high-quality education offered by MOOCs could transform corporate training” (Evolllution, 1). Due to the introduction of MOOC training to the workplace, companies can provide all the necessary training, and employees can become better workers for the business, in society, and for themselves.

MOOCs as Means of Self-Improvement and Climbing the Career Ladder

The miracle of the MOOC is supporting students’ endeavors everywhere – from getting an education to learning new ways to stay fresh in a field, those enrolled in these massive courses are benefiting in more ways than one. But what about those who already have degrees and are looking to advance their careers? Nick Gidwani of Skilledup online courses explains in the simplest terms why a higher education is desirable: “At the end of the day, students enroll in courses to learn knowledge that will help them get ahead — get a better job or get a promotion,” he writes, “to be crude, [students take courses] to earn more money”. Accompanied with a college degree, MOOCs can pack a lot of power in this area. Imagine the following situations: a young man who graduated four years ago with a bachelor’s degree in business management has been stuck in the same dead-end job working for a large company without much movement or progression. A middle-aged high school geography teacher is burnt out and wants to teach a fresh, new topic, but lacks the necessary training. A stay-at-home mother suddenly finds herself home alone and bored, but graduated from college thirteen years ago and hasn’t had a job for ten. All three individuals are facing, essentially, the same circumstances: they wish to advance, but lack the proper skills for their desired growth. About a year ago, Forbes magazine posted an article on their website entitled “7 Reasons You Aren’t Getting Promoted”; the absolute first reason “stuck-ness” is attributed to – you guessed it – is the lack of skills necessary for the next level of advancement. The article claims that “success in one area doesn't always translate to success in another… someone who excels at data entry may need additional education or training to become a data analyst, a job that requires strategic thinking and problem solving abilities”. It’s clear that those wishing to progress must gain additional knowledge on top of the skill set they already have – however, for many, going back to college is too costly, both time wise and financially.

Completion of a MOOC (or several) can help an individual grow some of these indispensable skills, become better-rounded, and rise in their careers – while avoiding the many stresses involved with going back to school and maintaining a full-time job. CEO of the well-known course provider Udacity, Sebastian Thrun, claims that MOOCs are a “viable option for jobseekers to brush up on or learn new skills… If you're in the workforce, you can't take a year and a half off to get a master’s degree". Thrun adds that "now, we can go to people mid-career who might have a hard time going back to school and help them get jobs" (Lapowsky, 1). Issie Lapowsky, writer for INC. Magazine, tells a brief anecdote of a man who changed careers through the course information of a MOOC. “Brian Bonus,” she begins, “[was a] 28-year-old was looking to change careers. But like so many other young professionals, the thought of spending the time and money to go back to school was daunting. Instead, Bonus signed up for an introductory computer science course on Udacity… he taught himself Java from scratch, all while working a full-time job. Finally, he left his job as a film editor to become a developer for the site Good.is". Brian’s success story represents just one of many individuals who have developed new skills and achieved career goals via MOOC. As the technology behind the massively open online courses continues to develop and improve, many more who seek the extra push into a new field or a higher level will be able to obtain the right qualifications for the job. MOOC providers are expanding their reach to cover a wide variety of subject matter, providing opportunities for anyone seeking advancement. Courses on new topics are being added regularly, and “the existing MOOCs are in the process of extending from a few initial subjects in mathematics, science, computing, social science, economics, finance, and business” (Clarke, 2). By allowing more topics, MOOCs are allowing new workers develop new talents to pursue and achieve their goals. Curtis Bonk, professor of education at Indiana University, says that “people can take MOOCs for professional development… [or as] the first step to switching career tracks.” He adds that “completing several courses – even for no credit – can signal to a future employer… that you are ready to take the next step in your… professional career” (Haynie, 1). Surely, through MOOCs, professionals everywhere can develop invaluable skills, thus creating a more educated and knowledgeable workforce and professional society.

Could MOOCs Be the Future of Career-Based Education?

The massive open online courses are taking the education world by storm – and for good reason. Not only can individuals learn important skills that may be beneficial to them when the time comes for them to enter the workforce, but they could potentially earn real college credit in the near future for their efforts online. This would provide excellent, quality education to learners worldwide at a much more affordable price – the result of which would be a more educated, knowledgeable society. Along with making careers available to job seekers, MOOCs are making training available to companies who wish to have a competitive edge in their respective fields of business. Companies which may have struggled in the past with the obstacles involved with mass training – cost, time, and effectiveness – can now even work with MOOC providers to develop active, interesting courses for a much more affordable cost. Employees of these corporations, are supported and the company as a whole can grow to explore new business frontiers and become strong contenders in their markets. Finally, on an individual basis, people wishing to expand their careers or change them entirely can do so – a new life is just a few courses away. The skills offered by MOOCs are opening up new opportunities for those who are seeking advancement, and goals can be achieved more quickly and more easily through these online courses than through traditional methods of school. In short, MOOCs are just around the corner from revolutionizing the entire way we think of education in the business world – and the opportunities are endless!

Works Cited

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