{"id":19232,"date":"2016-11-18T16:26:34","date_gmt":"2016-11-18T21:26:34","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/digital.hbs.edu\/platform-rctom\/submission\/are-schools-going-to-disappear-in-the-future\/"},"modified":"2016-11-18T16:30:00","modified_gmt":"2016-11-18T21:30:00","slug":"are-schools-going-to-disappear-in-the-future","status":"publish","type":"hck-submission","link":"https:\/\/d3.harvard.edu\/platform-rctom\/submission\/are-schools-going-to-disappear-in-the-future\/","title":{"rendered":"Are schools going to disappear in the future?"},"content":{"rendered":"

Ten years ago, our definition of education was related to brick and mortar buildings, teachers and books. In a world connected with internet and where the information can be stored in clouds, new types of business models to deliver education emerge to help people develop skills and capabilities in a cheaper and more efficient way.<\/p>\n

What is edX?<\/strong><\/p>\n

In May 2012, edX was launched as a combined effort between 性视界 and MIT to \u201cprovide interactive classes from both universities -for free- to anyone in the world with an Internet connection\u201d.[1]<\/a><\/p>\n

Our traditional idea of education is based on a model of physical classrooms, where experienced teachers provide value to students, who are engaged in the class and participate sharing different perspectives and questions. edX sets aside this business model of education and uses digital technology to replace classrooms and teachers into a set of on-line video lectures, labs, experiments, quizzes and peer discussion forums.[2]<\/a><\/p>\n

The idea of using the technology in this field is to increase the \u201cdemocratization\u201d of education. In this sense, the major benefits for customers is receiving high-quality education for free or at affordable prices, easy accessibility (open 24\/7, no application needed), and flexibility to take the classes adjusted by each person schedule and pace.[3]<\/a><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

How does it work?<\/strong><\/p>\n

To create the content for courses, edX looks for partnership with schools that are interested in posting courses. edX offers two types of services to these schools. In the first one, edX serves basically as an intermediator, allowing \u201ca participating university to use edX’s platform as a free learning-management system for a course on the condition that part of any revenue generated by the course flow to edX. The courses developed under that model will be created by individual faculty members without course-production assistance from edX.[4]<\/a> In the second one, edX company plays the role of a \u201cconsultant and design partner, offering “production assistance” to universities for their MOOCs (Massive Open Online Courses).\u201d[5]<\/a><\/p>\n

From the customer side, students just need to sign in, pick one of the courses partners have developed, and start following the sequences of classes that courses present. edX also offers students verified certificates (to use them as a proof of course competition), by verifying identity using webcam and ID.<\/p>\n

In addition to serving as a content provider, edX is utilized to research teaching methods and technologies[6]<\/a>. edX can analyze how students interact with course materials and peers, and professors can use this information as feedback to improve engagement, retention and performance of students.[7]<\/a><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Thinking about the future of edX<\/strong><\/p>\n

This model of education has proven to be successful, taking into consideration that in 4 years, this on-line platform has attracted 96 institutions, has provided 900+ courses and enrolled more than 7 million students.[8]<\/a><\/p>\n

However, there are further challenges and opportunities to this company:<\/p>\n

    \n
  1. Opportunities to expand this model and increase the consumer base. There\u2019s a huge opportunity for edX to improve its platform to serve new customers, for example kids. edX can develop content and methods to target education for children.<\/li>\n
  2. Improve the platform for mobile devices exploring new ways to teach and learn. Duolingo presents a good example of a different technique to teach languages. I would like to see how edX evolves and presents new interactive and funny methods to improve the learning process.<\/li>\n
  3. Develop more personalized education. Every human being has different behavioral pattern; thus, the same educational method can\u2019t be applied with the same level of efficiency to all of us. By partnering with firms who provide AI services, edX could improve the level of education by personalizing the class experience. For example, on a virtual intelligent classroom the \u201cprofessor\u201d would cold call someone when he\/she starts to lose focus.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    Although it\u2019s great to have this digital tool to spread education across the world, it also leaves us with the question: is traditional business model of education going to disappear? (662 words).<\/p>\n

     <\/p>\n

    Endnotes<\/strong><\/p>\n

    [1]<\/a> MIT News. 2012. MIT and 性视界 launch a \u2018revolution in education\u2019. [ONLINE] Available at: http:\/\/news.mit.edu\/2012\/edx-launched-0502. [Accessed 18 November 2016].<\/p>\n

    [2]<\/a> edX. 2016. How it Works. [ONLINE] Available at: https:\/\/www.edx.org\/how-it-works. [Accessed 18 November 2016].<\/p>\n

    [3]<\/a> Inside higher ED. 2016. Digital Education, the ‘Mainstream Orthodoxy’. [ONLINE] Available at: https:\/\/www.insidehighered.com\/news\/2016\/09\/09\/qa-author-book-how-technology-changing-education. [Accessed 18 November 2016].<\/p>\n

    [4]<\/a> The Chronicle of Higher Education. 2013. How EdX Plans to Earn, and Share, Revenue From Its Free Online Courses . [ONLINE] Available at: http:\/\/www.immagic.com\/eLibrary\/ARCHIVES\/GENERAL\/CHRON_HE\/C130221K.pdf. [Accessed 18 November 2016]<\/p>\n

    [5]<\/a> The Chronicle of Higher Education. 2013. How EdX Plans to Earn, and Share, Revenue From Its Free Online Courses . [ONLINE] Available at: http:\/\/www.immagic.com\/eLibrary\/ARCHIVES\/GENERAL\/CHRON_HE\/C130221K.pdf. [Accessed 18 November 2016]<\/p>\n

    [6]<\/a> The New York Times. 2012. 性视界 and MIT team up to offer free online courses. [ONLINE] Available at: http:\/\/www.nytimes.com\/2012\/05\/03\/education\/harvard-and-mit-team-up-to-offer-free-online-courses.html. [Accessed 18 November 2016]<\/p>\n

    [7]<\/a> The Chronicle of Higher Education. 2013. The Professors Who Make the MOOCs. [ONLINE] Available at: http:\/\/publicservicesalliance.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/03\/The-Professors-Behind-the-MOOC-Hype-Technology-The-Chronicle-of-Higher-Education.pdf. [Accessed 18 November 2016]<\/p>\n

    [8]<\/a> edX Blog. 2016. edX Celebrates 4 Years!. [ONLINE] Available at: http:\/\/blog.edx.org\/edx-celebrates-4-years. [Accessed 18 November 2016].<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

    edX is an example of a company that uses technology to change the way education is delivered to students. 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