Dive Summary:
- Hoping to find a solution to one of higher education's biggest problems, the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation has announced a round of 10 grants for the creation of remedial MOOCs.
- Some observers wonder whether MOOCs can be tailored to students who need remedial learning, but the attempt is being welcomed by many, including developmental learning experts.
- Amy Slaton, an associate professor of history at Drexel University and expert on technical education and workforce issues, says that the foundation's intentions are good, but the economies of scale involved with MOOCs aren't compatible with the personalized support that remedial students need.
From the article:
Early returns show that massive open online courses (MOOCs) work best for motivated and academically prepared students. But could high-quality MOOCs benefit a broader range of learners, like those who get tripped up by remedial classes? That's the question the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation wants to answer with a newly announced round of 10 grants for the creation of MOOCs for remedial coursework. ...