PHOENIX (AP) — Arizona State University and Scottsdale Community College will begin offering free online classes that are open to anyone with an Internet connection.
The Arizona Republic reports (http://bit.ly/UZhV3W ) that Arizona State plans to launch a course as early as August that will help people navigate important life decisions such as going back to school, retiring or marrying. Scottsdale Community College will offer a basic math class beginning in February.
More than two dozen other universities around the country offer such courses.
Some educators view the trend as a potential game-changer in higher education, especially if universities decide to offer credit for the courses. Others see the concept as a complement, rather than a fundamental change to conventional education.
Free courses could hinder expansion as universities are already struggling to provide for their own students with reduced state funding.
People can’t get college degrees or credits through the free online classes.
The target audience extends beyond the current student body to people in other countries who may not have as much access to higher education. Working adults also find the courses attractive as a way to check out the latest developments in their career fields. Other people have an interest in a specific topic and want to sample a course in astronomy, poetry, or Greek and Roman mythology.
Besides being non-credit, the classes differ from traditional college courses in other ways.
Enrollment is open, meaning a person doesn’t have to be a student to attend. Some courses are graded; others aren’t. Dropout rates can be high. A student may have little or no interaction with the professor because tens of thousands can be enrolled.
Officials at Northern Arizona University and University of Arizona have discussed offering some version of free, open online courses.
The University of Arizona offers a handful of courses on iTunes.
At this point, Northern Arizona University and the University of Arizona haven’t decided to move forward with plans similar those of Arizona State and Scottsdale Community College.
Phil Regier, executive vice provost and dean of ASU Online, said the university plans to start with a single course, but he isn’t closing the door on adding others. Additional courses would have to be chosen strategically, though, because of the expense. The free courses also can’t compete with the tuition-paid ones ASU already offers, he said.
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Information from: The Arizona Republic, http://www.azcentral.com
