Free ‘Automated University’ coming to an internet-connected home near you
Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) has announced its first free course which can be studied and assessed completely online.
You may remember my post about MITx back in December, and now further details have emerged about the programme. BBC reports:
There are already online degree courses, but the MIT proposal is unusual in that it is inviting students anywhere in the world, without charge or prior entrance requirements, to study for a certificate carrying the MIT brand.
From March, students can enroll in a full-blown university course, with all the lectures, seminars, and lab work all carried out virtually. According to BBC:
MITx version has been designed for online students, with a virtual laboratory, e-textbooks, online discussions and videos that are the equivalent of a lecture. It is expected to take 10 hours per week.
The first course, 6.002x: Circuits and Electronics (based on the on-campus course of the same name), will start in March and finish in June, with no formal entry requirements. It is expected that the university will follow with biology, maths, and physics courses in the near future.
It would be interesting to see if MITx will change its business model and begin charging for courses and certification, or would it remain free forever. If the latter persists, this could be an interesting disruption in the higher education sector. Perhaps we would find more interest in apprenticeships and internships in the future, coupled with free and reputable online education, rather than racking up hundreds of thousands of pounds (dollars, or other currencies of your choice) for a university degree.
(Source: BBC)
