Comments on: Update on MIT OCW Finances – and Click to Enroll! http://opencontent.org/blog/archives/1180 pragmatism over zeal Fri, 18 May 2012 23:17:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.2 By: Weekend Reading: Isn’t this over yet edition? http://opencontent.org/blog/archives/1180/comment-page-1#comment-44718 Weekend Reading: Isn’t this over yet edition? Sat, 12 Dec 2009 01:28:01 +0000 http://opencontent.org/blog/?p=1180#comment-44718 [...] David Wiley takes a look at the sustainability of MIT’s Open CourseWare [...] [...] David Wiley takes a look at the sustainability of MIT’s Open CourseWare [...]

]]> By: Michael Bush http://opencontent.org/blog/archives/1180/comment-page-1#comment-44715 Michael Bush Fri, 11 Dec 2009 23:25:01 +0000 http://opencontent.org/blog/?p=1180#comment-44715 Theoretically, the "best of breed" anything should be able to make its way to the top of the crowd. "Whoever" builds the best "whatever" should have a shot at getting their stuff noticed! Theoretically, the “best of breed” anything should be able to make its way to the top of the crowd. “Whoever” builds the best “whatever” should have a shot at getting their stuff noticed!

]]> By: Steve Carson http://opencontent.org/blog/archives/1180/comment-page-1#comment-44704 Steve Carson Fri, 11 Dec 2009 03:22:55 +0000 http://opencontent.org/blog/?p=1180#comment-44704 College of Eastern Utah can sleep well, Marion. College of Eastern Utah can sleep well, Marion.

]]> By: Steve Carson http://opencontent.org/blog/archives/1180/comment-page-1#comment-44703 Steve Carson Fri, 11 Dec 2009 03:19:44 +0000 http://opencontent.org/blog/?p=1180#comment-44703 It is true that certificates and distance learning are on the list of ideas to be examined, but it would be premature to infer MIT is moving in that direction. More that we're taking a careful look at all the options on the table. I'm a little unclear on why the focus on distance learning courses as *THE* answer to OCW sustainability. Distance learning is a wickedly tricky thing to do well and make money at, and would take a long time to ramp up. There are plenty of examples of distance learning being unable to support itself , much less another program (http://www.insidehighered.com/news/2009/12/09/u21). My expectation is that in the near term other opportunities will be explored for generating the needed revenue. Side note: The staff and production reductions you mention were a planned part of the program as we transitioned in 2007 from the "build phase" that got us to 1,800 courses to the current "enhancement" phase, in which we are updating courses, adding some new ones, and developing new features and ideas. It wasn't a response to a financial issue, except to the extent that we were trimming the sails for ongoing operation as opposed to start-up. It is true that certificates and distance learning are on the list of ideas to be examined, but it would be premature to infer MIT is moving in that direction. More that we’re taking a careful look at all the options on the table.

I’m a little unclear on why the focus on distance learning courses as *THE* answer to OCW sustainability. Distance learning is a wickedly tricky thing to do well and make money at, and would take a long time to ramp up. There are plenty of examples of distance learning being unable to support itself , much less another program (http://www.insidehighered.com/news/2009/12/09/u21). My expectation is that in the near term other opportunities will be explored for generating the needed revenue.

Side note: The staff and production reductions you mention were a planned part of the program as we transitioned in 2007 from the “build phase” that got us to 1,800 courses to the current “enhancement” phase, in which we are updating courses, adding some new ones, and developing new features and ideas. It wasn’t a response to a financial issue, except to the extent that we were trimming the sails for ongoing operation as opposed to start-up.

]]> By: Marion Jensen http://opencontent.org/blog/archives/1180/comment-page-1#comment-44702 Marion Jensen Fri, 11 Dec 2009 03:16:02 +0000 http://opencontent.org/blog/?p=1180#comment-44702 Ever the pessimist, I'll pose the obvious question. If MIT does a click to enroll model, and the price is roughly the same of say, the College of Eastern Utah, then will moving to this model by MIT spell the death of OCWs at every other institution? If I want to buy songs online, I really only have a few choices. If I want to rent DVDs online, I only have a few choices. Will we see a few big name schools, in different price ranges, dominate the OCW 'market'? Ever the pessimist, I’ll pose the obvious question. If MIT does a click to enroll model, and the price is roughly the same of say, the College of Eastern Utah, then will moving to this model by MIT spell the death of OCWs at every other institution?

If I want to buy songs online, I really only have a few choices. If I want to rent DVDs online, I only have a few choices. Will we see a few big name schools, in different price ranges, dominate the OCW ‘market’?

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