by Associated Press
The online courses that universities offer to the public were once hailed as an innovation that could provide free college education to the global masses. Now many in the industry are scaling back expectations, saying they don’t perform as well as supporters had hoped. Yet two Minnesota schools still see value in them and are pressing on, Minnesota Public Radio reported Monday. “It’s a startling innovation in education,” said University of Minnesota Provost Karen Hanson. “And figuring out how best to deploy it … is something that’s learned through experience.” The university offers more than a half-dozen MOOCs, while the College of St. Scholastica in Duluth offers three. St. Scholastica’s three courses target working professionals in health care. Those who enroll can earn free continuing education credits. “Our plans are not grand,” said Don Wortham, vice president for strategic initiatives. “We’re looking for ways to introduce segments of the consuming public to Scholastica, and we’ll do it a few hundred or a few thousand at a time — and be very happy with that.”
http://www.crookstontimes.com/article/20140506/NEWS/140509789/10057/NEWS
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