Edit Article

  • 214 views

  • 6 Editors

  • Edited

Massive open online courses - better known as MOOCs - are a terrific way to add something special to a college application, acquire a new job skill, or learn more about a topic that interests you. MOOCs are college courses and material accessible online for free. Do yourself a favor and check them out!

Ad

EditSteps

  1. 1
    Investigate your options. Start by visiting the "Big Three" MOOC providers and browse through course offerings:
    • Coursera, a for-profit venture founded by Stanford professors, is the most popular MOOC provider and hosts the most courses.
    • EdX is a non-profit collaboration founded by Harvard and MIT.
    • Udacity is a for-profit company started by the creator of the original MOOC, Stanford professor Sebastian Thrun.
    • Look into other options, too, including online courses held by established campus universities, and newer purely online providers, too.
    Ad
  2. 2
    Choose which MOOCs you want to study.
    • Look at the expected weekly workload of each course and see if that fits your schedule.
    • Most courses on EdX and Coursera are only offered during a specified stretch of time. If the one you want isn't offered at the moment, mark on your calendar when it will be!
    • Feel free to enroll in a course to "check it out" before committing more time to it.
  3. 3
    Complete the MOOCs. Set up a weekly routine to set aside time for your courses and use smart tools to reach that goal.
    • Cousera and Udacity both offer mobile apps for iOS and Android to study courses on-the-go. GroupMooc is an iOS app that works across all three platforms for study planning.
    • Mark on your calendar when you expect to be finished with the course.
    • Always keep in mind, and maybe write down, your motivations for taking the course.
  4. 4
    Consider whether to pay for a "verified course" certificate:
    • Often including extra steps to prove your identity and work, the MOOC provider will offer a special certificate upon course completion among other benefits.
    • Might help ensure your motivation to finish a course, or demonstrate to employers/schools your skills.
    • Keep in mind you do not have to purchase anything to complete a MOOC!
  5. 5
    Show off your accomplishments.
    • Use an online site or your own system to organize your certificates, course assignments/notes, and meet other MOOC users.
    • Link your certificates to your LinkedIn profile for potential employers to see.
    • Print off certificates and hang on your wall/office!
    Ad

We could really use your help!

Can you tell us about
focus groups?
Yes I can
focus groups
how to run a focus group
Can you tell us about
sabbaticals?
Yes I can
sabbaticals
how to plan a sabbatical
Can you tell us about
small business?
Yes I can
small business
how to set up a store
Can you tell us about
homesteading?
Yes I can
homesteading
homesteading your home
Thanks for helping! Please tell us everything you know about
...
Tell us everything you know here. Remember, more detail is better.
Tips
Provide Details.
Please be as detailed as possible in your explanation. Don't worry about formatting! We'll take care of it. For example:
Don't say: Eat more fats.
Do say: Add fats with some nutritional value to the foods you already eat. Try olive oil, butter, avocado, and mayonnaise.
Submit

EditTips

  • Consider focusing in on a skill or topic - like, learning how to use the programming language Python or learning about a foreign culture - to narrow down your course search.
  • If you need to simply brush up on a skill or simply need homework help, consider visiting Khan Academy.

EditRelated wikiHows

How to
Make an Open Educational Resource

How to
Take a Massive Open Online Course (MOOC)

Article Info

Categories: Distance Learning

Recent edits by: BR, Dilshan Sandeep, Anna

Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 214 times.

Did this article help you?
Yes No

Become
an Author!

Write an Article