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How Does Coursera Work?

Anthony — Thu, 14 Nov 2019 07:30:37 +0000

Coursera is an online learning platform providing courses on various subjects from universities and well-known companies around the world. There are over 2500 courses on the platform, catering for undergraduate and graduate-level students. Platforms like Coursera, and more accurately the courses they offer, are often referred to by the acronym MOOCs - Mass Open Online Courses.

Coursera's courses are entirely online, accessed through an Internet Browser or via the Coursera app for mobile and tablet. If a course requires the use of software, it may need to be installed on your computer, if freely available. Otherwise, applications are made available in a virtual lab environment and through the Coursera platform. Other than that, students are free to study wherever they have access to the Internet. There is no requirement to attend a campus or class in person.

Classes on Coursera are in video format, taught by university lecturers or (in the case of courses offered by companies) qualified instructors. The majority of videos are pre-recorded and accompanied by readings, course notes, quizzes and assignments. Online forums allow students to interact, ask questions, discuss problems, and collaborate on work.

You can enrol in a class on Coursera and start studying immediately, except for MasterTrack and Degree programs, which are term based and a hybrid of recorded lecturers and live classes.

Enrollment options on Coursera

There are five types of course on Coursera which students can enrol in - Individual Classes, Specializations, MasterTracks, complete Bachelor and Master Degree programs and Professional Certificates.

Individual Classes - One of the significant differences between Coursera and traditional on-campus courses is the ability to enrol in a class, without the need to commit to a more extensive degree program. A class consist of lectures, quizzes, discussion forums and assignments. On completion, students who have paid receive a verified Coursera certificate. The certificate displays the student's name, the course title, university logo and is signed by a university representative.
Specializations - Specializations are a combination of four or five related individual classes from a university culminating in a final 'Capstone' project. Capstone projects are typically an assignment that utilises the concepts and principles learned in the Specialization program. This can be in the form of a case study or a paper based on a real-life scenario.
As with individual classes, students that have paid receive a Coursera certificate on completing a Specialization. If a class in a Specialization was taken before enrolling in the Speciaization, the grade is carried over.
MasterTrack - Master Tracks are designed to be mini degree programs or a means of gaining entry to a Bachelors or Masters degree. If a student doesn't have the required GPA, they can take a MasterTrack course and apply for the degree program on completion of the MasterTrack, assuming they achieve the required grade. MasterTrack and Degree programs are more closely aligned with traditional college and university degree programs. They are term-based, and enrollment is only available at specific times during the year.
Bachelors & Master Degrees - Finally, Bachelors or Master degree programs are the online equivalents of their on-campus siblings. As with MasterTrack courses, students can only apply to enrol at specific times during the year and acceptance into the program is determined by the university. Degree programs may also include classes from related MasterTracks. Students who have completed an associated MasterTrack course may be awarded credits towards the degree.
Professional Certifications - Professional Certifications are slightly different since these are created by leading companies rather than universities and, thus, are sometimes structured differently. Students who complete a PC, receive a similar certificate as offered on completion of individual classes and Specializations.

How to Enroll in a Course and Start Studying

Enrollment is fairly straightforward. You first need to create an account, if you do not already have one. Then search or browse the catalogue for courses. Each course has a home page with an Enrollment button except for MasterTrack and Degree programs where you must apply before enrolling.

Once enrolled, the course will be displayed on your dashboard. The dashboard is an overview of the active and completed courses and accomplishments achieved to date. From the dashboard, you can click to continue with a class or un-enroll.

Coursera's Pricing Models

I find Coursera's pricing structure unnecessarily complicated. They offer three pricing models: one-off payments, subscriptions and audit mode.

One-Off Payments - Classes that are not part of a Specialization can be purchased individually for $49. This provides full access, feedback on assignments and a Coursera certificate on completion. MasterTrack and Degree programs are also one-off payments. These are substantially more expensive than individual classes or Specializations but they are also significantly cheaper than their equivalent traditional on-campus degree.
Subscriptions - Enrolling in a Specializations or Professional Certificate requires a subscription. The cost of a subscription is anywhere between $39 and $89 per month, depending on the Specialization or Professional Certificate. Choose to enrol in multiple specializations, increases the monthly fee. The subscription ends when the course or courses have been completed or if you choose to unsubscribe.
New students receive a 7-day free trial when first subscribing.
Audit mode - Audit mode allows students to review the course material of individual classes for free. When you click to enrol in a class, a pop-up box asks you which payment option you prefer.
If the class is not part of a Specialization or Professional Certification, you have the option of either paying the one-off payment or reviewing / auditing the content for free.
If the class is part of a Specialization or PC, you can either subscribe or choose to audit the course.
Auditing a course provides complete access to all the course material, effectively allowing you to learn for free. You can watch all the tutorials, answer the quizzes questions and engage in the forums. However, you cannot submit assignments for assessment, and you will not receive a certificate on completing the course.

Financial Aid

Students wishing to enrol in a course but can't afford the fees can apply for Financial Aid. Financial aid is available for most individual classes and Specializations. Scholarships are also offered to MasterTrack and degree programs.

You apply for financial aid by clicking a link on the course's home page. Applicants must fill out a form detailing their educational background, career goals and reasons for applying. The more detailed the application, the more chance of being accepted. Applications must be at least 150 words.

Coursera recommend taking the course in audit mode while waiting for a financial aid application to be reviewed. The review process is usually quick, but Coursera's help pages state it can take up to 2 weeks. You should bear this in mind if you are enrolling in a MasterTrack or Degree course that has a deadline for enrollment. The deadline will not be extended because you're waiting for your application to be approved.

Applicants that are accepted to receive financial aid will be automatically enrolled in the course and then have 180 days to complete unless the course has a fixed schedule.

You can reapply for financial aid if your application is initially denied.

Coursera for Business

Coursera for Business was launched in 2016 and has since expanded to cater for organisations of all sizes. There are two pricing models, based on the number of users.

Smaller companies can pay $400 per user per year. This option is effectively the same as a standard user subscription, providing full access to classes and Specializations.

For larger companies, who opt for the 'Enterprise' model, the cost is negotiable. The 'Enterprise' model allows companies to curate their own learning programs by picking a collection of classes from Coursera's catalogue.

Coursera for Business enables companies to effectively outsource staff training, assuming the training required matches the classes and courses available on Coursera. This is particularly useful for smaller companies who are too small to have an in-house trainer or training department, or simply can't afford to train staff individually.

Key Takeaways

Coursera is an online learning platform offering under and postgraduate courses from universities and leading companies from around the world.
Coursera offers individual classes, Specializations, Professional certificates, MasterTrack and full Degree programs.
To receive a certificate on completion of a course, students must either pay a one-off fee or subscribe. Otherwise, individual classes can be 'audited' for free. Financial support is available via application.
Coursera also offers a pricing model for businesses, enabling companies to outsource staff training by curating courses from Coursera's catalogue.

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Are Coursera Courses Accredited?

Anthony — Sat, 09 Nov 2019 21:15:11 +0000

There seems to be quite a bit of ambiguity surrounding courses taught on platforms such as Coursera. The confusion seems to stem from whether the courses are accredited by the universities that proved them.

Whether an individual course is accredited or offers credit towards a degree, depends on the course and the university. All the universities that provide courses on the Coursera platform are accredited. Many also provide degree credits but check the course description and FAQ to be sure.

The complexity around whether a course is accredited stem from the sheer volume and variety of courses offered on the Coursera platform, both by Universities and leading global companies.

In this article, we'll look at the different enrolment options on Coursera, what it means for a course to be 'accredited' and whether it should affect your decision.

What does it mean to be accredited?

In the US, six regional accrediting agencies determine whether universities in their regions are officially recognised. These six agencies are themselves approved by the Council of Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA) and the Department of Education. If you're uncertain whether a school or university is accredited, a reliable indicator is to check the institution's website. If it ends with a .edu domain name, it almost certainly an approved higher education institution. Alternatively, you can check on the CHEA website.

Many occupations or professions also offer educational programs and certifications. Perhaps the most famous of these is admission to the Bar by the Bar Association, which permits lawyers to practise law.

Tech companies like Cisco, VMware, Microsoft, and Apple all have their own certification programs and qualifications. Holders of these certificates are recognised as being an expert in the company's products.

Rather than train students themselves, tech companies partner with training institutions. These institutions are accredited to teach, test and certify students on behalf of the tech companies.

Whether studying for a degree or a professional qualification, studying at an accredited institution assures the student that both the tuition and the certification will be officially recognised.

Is Coursera accredited?

Coursera itself is not accredited by CHEA, but many of the courses on their platform are. Coursera has five different types of certification programs. These are:

Individual classes
Specializations
MasterTrack
Degree Programs
Professional Certificates

Individual Courses

One of the benefits of using Coursera is the ability to enrol in single classes. Each class is usually one component of a broader 'Specialization', MasterTrack or Degree program. However, on Coursera, if you're only interested in a particular class, you can enrol and start immediately.

At the end of the class, you can choose to pay for a Coursera certificate. The certificate displays your name, the course title and the logo of the university who provided the course. A Coursera certificate is not an official qualification or transcript from the university; it merely acknowledges you completed in the class. It also does not display any score or grade.

Whether the course can be used as credit towards a more extensive degree program depends on the course. You should check in the course FAQ before enrolling if this is important to you.

The Power of Continuous Learning

Just because an individual class does not result in an official university qualification, should not deter you from enrolling. Knowledge is knowledge, you either know something, or you don't. While many professions will expect you to hold a Bachelor or Masters degree, you should not view a degree as an end to your studies. Continued learning is only going to have a positive impact on your career.

Specializations

Coursera's "Specializations" are courses that combine several related classes on a specific subject area. They usually include a final 'capstone' project to practise your newly acquired expertise.

As with individual classes, on completing a Specialization, you will receive a Coursera certificate (assuming you have paid either the monthly subscription or one-off payment). These certificates are not official university qualifications or transcripts.

As with completing individual classes, the certificate simply acknowledges you completed the Specialization. Your name, the course name and the university logo are all displayed on the certification. Information in the Specialization's description or FAQ will confirm whether it counts towards an official degree from the university.

MasterTracks

MasterTracks are relatively new to Coursera. These programs are accredited and can count towards a university degree. Like Specializations, they are a collection of classes, assignments and projects. However, whereas Specializations tend to be pre-recorded, MasterTracks include live video classes provided by the university. This also means that they have fixed enrolment dates throughout the year and class timetables.

If you are considering enrolling in a degree but do not have a sufficient points score, you can enrol in the MasterTrack instead. Completing the MasterTrack with a high enough grade point average permits entry into the Degree program. Course grades from the MasterTrack classes will also count as credit towards the overall Bachelors or Master's Degree qualification.

Students who complete a MasterTrack course on Coursera receive a certificate from the university, regardless of whether they choose to continue onto a Degree program. While the certification is not a Degree or Masters, it is an official document from the accredited university.

Degree Programs

Full online Degree programs are the future of online learning, and it is likely to be where Coursera sees its future. Fully-online Degrees on platforms such as Coursera and EdX enable universities to sell courses to a far wider audience than they can accommodate on campus.

Online Degrees also benefits the students since they are significantly cheaper than studying on-campus.

Online Degree programs on Coursera are accredited by the university offering the course. On completion, you will receive an official transcript of your grades from the university, as well as your official degree certificate.

Professional Certificates

The final type of course offered by Coursera is Professional Certificates. These are Coursera's version of industry recognised certifications. Microsoft, Google, IBM and other leading companies all have courses on the Coursera platform. As with Specializations and individual classes, those who complete a Professional Certificate receive a Coursera certificate, with their name, the course title and the company logo.

Coursera is not accredited to offer industry qualifications so it is not possible to become an MCSE - Microsoft Certified Engineer - or a CCNA - Certified Cisco Network Administrator - by studying on the Coursera platform. However, many of the courses are closely aligned with Company's certification syllabuses. Details often usually provided in the course FAQ.

Key Takeaways

Coursera offers several different enrolment options on its platform. You can enrol in individual classes, Specializations, MasterTrack programs, Degree programs or Professional Certificates.
On completing an individual class or Specialization, you will receive a Coursera certificate, which contains the university logo but otherwise is not recognised as an official university qualification.
Completing a MasterTrack course or degree is acknowledged by the university. You will receive an official certificate from the university for completing the MasterTrack, and the grade may count towards enrolment in the degree program and degree credits.
Online Bachelor and Masters Degree programs on Coursera are the same as their on-campus equivalents. You will receive an official Degree and transcript from the university.
Coursera also offers Professional Certificates, which are courses taught by leading global companies like Google, IBM and Microsoft. However, Coursera is not an accredited certifier for these companies so, therefore, cannot award industry certification such as Cisco's CCNA or Microsoft's MCSE.
Coursera only offers courses taught by accredited Universities and leading global companies. The MasterTrack and Degree programs taught on Coursera are a cost-effective way of earning a university qualification.
Irrespective of which type of course you choose, a desire to study and continue your education can only be of benefit to you. I'm sure any Coursera certificate you obtain will be looked on favourably by potential employers.

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5 Reasons Why Online Courses Are Not For Everyone

Anthony — Sun, 20 Oct 2019 04:00:55 +0000

Before we start, I want to acknowledge the elephant in the room. I think online courses are great. So much so I recently wrote an article called "12 Reasons Why Online Courses Are Great". That said, while writing that piece, I realised that online courses are not for everyone and do not suit every situation. So here are five reasons why online learning might not be the best approach for you.

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12 Reasons Why Online Courses Are A Good Idea

Anthony — Mon, 07 Oct 2019 01:28:14 +0000

I often receive emails from readers asking whether I think online courses are worth it.

For many careers, online courses cannot replace traditional college or university qualifications. However, the positives of taking an online course far outweigh the negatives. Taking an online course is an opportunity to learn something new or supplement existing knowledge.

So, if you're still in two minds, here are 12 reasons why you should start that online course you've had your eye on.

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The Best Anatomy & Physiology Courses Online Today

Anthony — Sun, 29 Sep 2019 01:00:30 +0000

For as long as we inhabit the earth, there will always be a demand for medical professionals such as doctors, nurses, practitioners of sports medicine, therapists and lab workers.

These careers promise continued employment and competitive salaries. For students considering a career in any of these professions, a sound knowledge of Anatomy and Physiology is fundamental.

Whether you're considering a career in a medical profession, need extra help with your studies, or you simply want to learn more about the human body, there are a variety of courses available online.

In this article, we'll list 7 of the best, offered by leading universities and tutors from around the world.

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The Easiest Way To Learn Adobe Photoshop

Anthony — Sun, 22 Sep 2019 01:51:29 +0000

I was recently sent an email from a reader asking, 'what is the easiest way to learn Adobe Photoshop?' I'm not a graphic designer, but through building websites, I taught myself Photoshop over a period of 3-4 years. My path was mostly haphazard, tedious and required considerable will power.

I realise now that it needn't have been so difficult. I could have learned much faster if I had followed a few tips which I will share with you in this article. It will not only make your approach more straightforward, but you will also learn faster and retain more.

The easiest way to learn Adobe Photoshop is to commit to a project for someone else, such as a school, company or a friend. Having a goal provides motivation for learning and a reason for persevering. During the process, use online resources like YouTube and Phlearn.com to help master the basics.

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The Best Way To Learn 3DS Max

Anthony — Sat, 14 Sep 2019 22:17:54 +0000

Most people wanting to learn 3DS Max will fall into one of two categories. They're either a seasoned Maya user starting a job that requires Max. Or, they're just starting out and keen to demonstrate their expertise to potential employers. Either way, the software remains hugely popular within the industry, which raises the question, what's the best way to learn 3DS Max?

Start by learning the fundamentals of volumetric drawing. Install a free trial version of 3DS Max and take an online course with an experienced instructor. Try and replicate free video tutorials from websites like 3DTotal.com. Finally, use AutoDesk's forums to ask questions and find answers.

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7 Wonderful Online Courses For Learning About Christianity

Anthony — Thu, 08 Aug 2019 06:47:56 +0000

Few subjects have influenced the western world as much as Christianity. The Bible continues to be the most read book in the world, and its teachings inform our judicial systems, our culture and our beliefs. To study Christianity is to learn about God, Jesus, the Roman Empire, the history and geography of the Middle East, and the teachings of the Bible. It is little wonder why people are interested in learning more about Christianity.

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The Best Online Courses for Learning Qigong

Anthony — Wed, 24 Jul 2019 05:58:22 +0000

You might not have heard of Qigong but, chances are, if you walk through a park, you'll see people doing it.

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Ethical Hacking – The Courses & Certs You Need To Succeed

Anthony — Sun, 14 Jul 2019 03:00:10 +0000

The purpose of a hacker is to find vulnerabilities in computer systems and exploit them. The goal of an ethical hacker entirely depends on who you work for.

In the private sector, ethical hackers are commonly employed as Penetration Testers, Pen Testers for short. The job of a Pen Tester is to identify vulnerabilities in a company's computer system to protect it from malicious attackers. Pen testing companies are hired in by other companies for exactly this purpose; to identify weaknesses in their systems that could potentially compromise their data.

If the ethical hacker were working for law enforcement or government agencies, however, their objectives might be entirely different. In law enforcement, they may be tasked with accessing the computer devices of a criminal or criminal organisation, to acquire evidence. If the ethical hacker were working for the government, well… governments don't spy on each other, right?

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