Stanford OpenEdX is the California-based university’s attempt to create a MOOC platform using the open-source software platform utilized by major course provider edX. Stanford is now collaborating with edX, along with its partner institutions and Google, to develop the OpenEdX MOOC platform. Additionally, the university is making an effort to analyze the user data collected through Stanford OpenEdX to improve the pedagogical techniques used within a MOOC and the university is also making an effort to maintain ties with other institutions in that effort.
Connection To Other MOOC Platforms:
It is worth noting that Stanford OpenEdX is an attempt by the university to move back to the forefront of the Massive Open Online Course movement. Udacity, one of the foremost MOOC providers in the world, initially grew from Stanford University’s free computer science course offerings. The company’s founder, Sebastian Thrun, was a tenured professor at Stanford University who left his position to start the company. To date, Stanford OpenEdX has not partnered with Udacity.
Similarly, Coursera founders Andrew Ng and Daphne Koller also began their work at Stanford University. During his time at the university, Ng began the Stanford Engineering Everywhere program. This platform offered Stanford courses online at no cost to the user. Ng and Koller have not relinquished their positions as professors in the Computer Science department at Stanford University. It is worth noting that Stanford professors continue to teach MOOCs on Coursera.
Course Format:
Like many other MOOC platforms, Stanford OpenEdX offers both self-paced and instructor-driven, “in session” courses. The provider’s course offerings are divided into sections. Each section will typically contain instructor video lectures and practice exercises. Students may also have access to notes and other text files related to the subject matter of the course.
Additionally, professors may require students to purchase textbooks for the course. In some cases, the website may refund the cost of the textbook if students determine that they are not interested in the course.
Course Offerings:
Stanford OpenEdX offers university-style courses in the following areas:
- Business & Management, including Stocks & Bonds: Risks and Returns
- Design & Creativity
- Education, with classes like “Open Knowledge: Changing the Global Course of Learning”
- Engineering & Computer Science, with course offerings including “Computer Science 101” and “Nanomanufacturing”
- Humanities, including “International Women’s Health & Human Rights”
- Law
- Mathematics, including “Language, Proof and Logic”
- Medicine & Health, with courses like “Medical Education in the New Millennium” and “Engage and Empower Me: Patient Engagement Design”
- Natural and Social Sciences, with classics like “Statistical Learning”
Stanford OpenEdX’s class offerings span a variety of different skill levels. Instructors address necessary prerequisites for their classes in the course description pages. The MOOC provider’s course portal page links to Stanford University MOOCs and online courses hosted on other platforms, including iTunes U, Coursera, NovoEd, and OpenEdX. All Stanford OpenEdX courses are taught by professors that are affiliated with the university. As with edX, Stanford OpenEdX MOOCs are available at no charge to the user.