The rise of free online courses

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The Rise of Free Online Courses Online courses have been flourishing ever since the internet allowed people from any where in the world to study online. This means that students from Asia, for example, can now study in universities in other countries, including Harvard and Stanford, which are recognized as the world’s best schools. While many online courses charge tuition fees, many colleges and universities have started to offer their online courses for free. Harvard and Stanford are now accepting students to enroll in their free online courses for free. There are several reasons why free online courses are becoming popular and more universities are offering them. First, prestigious schools like Harvard and Stanford are in the process of determining the effects of online courses and whether they can produce top graduates through this kind of program. Students who enroll for free become participants to this experiment. Once it is proven that completing a course online is just as effective as completing it by going to these prestigious schools personally, people all over the world would readily enroll in these online programs even if the tuition fees are high. This will bring in millions of students to these famous learning institutions, which will not be possible if they limit the course offerings to those who need to have physical presence to earn a degree. Second, these institutions will be able to advertise courses that they do not offer online through their online courses. Students who can afford to study abroad will be lured to go there and study, adding to the number of enrollees. Third, research institutions that are keen on studying the impact of innovations in education are partnering with prestigious institutions like Harvard and MIT in offering free online courses. One research institution wants to find our how students as well as teachers are coping both in the classrooms and beyond, such as in online classes. Last, one can just imagine how the world will fare when these reputable institutions can provide learning opportunities to people all over the world. The program will shape the future of business and technology as more and more people acquire knowledge and skills taught by these institutions. For students, a free online course offered by the likes of Harvard, MIT, and Stanford is an opportunity that has to be grabbed. After the experimentation, no one could tell how much these online courses will cost. Being a part of this educational innovation will bring great impact on the lives of the beneficiaries. The chance to be a part of the alumni of these institutions is something one cannot just take for granted. One can just imagine how this would boost a person’s employment opportunities. These free online courses will entitle a successful student a certificate of completion of the program from the school where he took the online course. A certificate from Harvard, MIT, or Stanford will be a great passport to better life opportunities. Online courses are also being embraced by people whose lifestyle does not give them time to attend classes in a college or university. Nowadays, most people hold two or more jobs to survive. For those who aspire to have a graduate or post graduate degree, attending online courses is the best option. The fact that some prestigious schools offer them for free is an added bonus.


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