MOOCs, or massive open online courses, are free classes that are available to anyone who wants to learn. And, according to recent studies, students who take MOOCs to complement their regular coursework mark a significant improvement in their academic performance and professional aspirations. Needless to say, they are in a better position of securing jobs compared to their peers.
The real advantage of these classes comes from their ability to help you specialize in a certain body of knowledge, especially because modern business is so niche-oriented. MOOCs are a quick fix to that problem, as they outline the essentials of the content. In essence, then, they help you go the extra mile in your academic and professional ambitions.
MOOCs also give you an advantage because you obtain specific information about distinct topics. Whether you are pursuing accounting, management, finance or marketing, whatever your area of specialization, MOOCs will help you to expand your understanding of concepts covered by your instructors.
Advantages of MOOCs
There are a number of benefits associated with MOOCs. Around seven years ago, when they were introduced, MOOCs were not highly regarded, as a lot of their material was poorly put together and therefore offered little value to students.
Today, a lot has changed, with top institutions intensifying efforts to make learning available to all. Unlike in the initial years, today MOOCs offer a lot of benefits to students who use them. Below are just a handful of the advantages associated with MOOCs.
1. Financially Sensible
One of the biggest concerns for students are their financial commitments. The good news is that you don’t have to pay a single dime to enroll for MOOCs, as the content has been made freely accessible to all.
Unless you intend to take the final exam and get a certificate, you will be able to learn from notable instructors and institutions free of charge. Some institutions that offer MOOCs charge students a small fee for the documents.
2. Multiple Approaches
Concepts are elaborated using diverse elements, such as videos, quizzes, presentations, downloadable notes, transcripts and so on, which makes it easier for students to learn depending on their preferred modes of learning. A variety of materials comes in handy in learning, as every student has methods of pedagogy they respond to best.
If you have numerous assignments and don’t have all the time to go through huge books, MOOCs are very condensed and will give you just the information that you require. Alternatively, if you are ever in a similar workload fix, you can also use custom writing services to get your essays written promptly by a knowledgeable writer.
3. Flexible and Adaptable
In regard to flexibility, MOOCs by far beat regular coursework. When you take an open online course you determine your learning pace, so you can cram or take your time to conduct ample research and master the content. Plus, if you are competent in a certain topic, you can simply skip it and progress to the next one.
Another advantage you get is instructors from top universities around the world. You might not understand much when your instructor gives a lecture, but a new experience with a new instructor might work magic in regard to your comprehension in a given topic. The fact that there are numerous similar MOOCs taught by different instructors brings about diversity in learning, so you can go for what works for you.
4. Community Support
When you enroll in a MOOC, you get access to a supportive community of both learners and instructors.
Most MOOCs have forums where you can ask questions about a given subject matter and promptly receive feedback, which is hugely beneficial because students can conveniently exchange ideas and opinions under the guidance of competent instructors.
5. Complementary to Academics
You can also use MOOCs to prepare for your regular assessments and assignments. Considering that they compress content, MOOCs help students save on time as they prepare for their essay assignments and other academic tasks.
You can quickly browse through topics, selecting the content you’re interested in to use in writing your essay. There are times when, as a student, you are probably running out of time and are uncertain of what to write about. In just a few clicks though, MOOCs will give you access to the relevant content in no time.
Various factors separate the A student from the B student, and one of them is going an extra mile. Taking MOOCs is an example of such a case. If you want to be an excellent student, then check out some relevant MOOCs online and start learning.
