Dive Brief:
- Massive open online courses, otherwise known as MOOCs, are becoming more and more popular. Someday, they might even play a role in corporate learning, according to Forbes.
- Quoting data released by Class Central, which follows the MOOC world, Forbes reports that a hefty 35 million-plus people have enrolled in online courses since 2011, with 2015 enrollments doubled from 2014.
- Tucked into those numbers are many taking courses in business and financial management, but MOOCs have a way to go before they make real inroads among corporate learning departments.
Dive Insight:
The article outlines the reasons for the lightning growth of MOOCs, ticking off factors such as higher bandwidth and content availability from all devices, so-called "freemium" business models that are starting to get traction, education demand that is higher then ever, and finally, content that has become "fantastic," according to author Josh Bersin, an HR tech expert.
While MOOCs are far from taking over corporate learning right now, Bersin writes, smart employers should start considering accredited non-degree content as a competitive advantage. He sees growth potential, however, such as when "vertical content" becomes available, citing sales training (created by sales superstars) as an example of what needs to appear on MOOCs.
Certain services still need to be developed before MOOCs can be seriously considered, including curation and rating services, which will give employers the depth of data they will need to make smart choices about MOOCs, along with better corporate learning tools and improved MOOC platforms.
