Coursera

Many people do not have the opportunity or the financial means to attend a traditional university. Coursera gives everyone the opportunity to take real college classes offered by some of the most prestigious universities. Many classes provided by this company are offered for free, and some even grant college credit. Best of all, Coursera can now be accessed with a mobile app. Students can take their chosen courses on a mobile phone or tablet. This app is useful for those who are looking to develop new skills that could create better job opportunities. Coursera began in 2012 by offering online classes from Princeton, Stanford, the University of Michigan, and other well-known universities. Today, the list of colleges participating in the platform has grown. Coursera now offers specializations which permit students to earn a certificate. The specializations are offered at a nominal cost, and account verification is required. No verification is required to take free classes which do not provide college credit. Using the mobile app, students are able to watch class lectures, participate in discussions, and submit assignments. In most cases, assignments are graded by fellow students. Peer grading is an efficient model for the platform because each class can contain thousands of students. Grades are posted just as they are in a real college class, and a passing grade is required to earn a certificate. Students will find that earning a passing grade is challenging. Exams are common, and it is also necessary to submit research papers or projects for many classes. Classes and specializations are offered in computer programming, mathematics, physics, music, and many other disciplines. Students are able to use the mobile app to study at their own pace, but most classes do require students to keep up with course deadlines. Some instructors conduct meetups and other activities which give students a chance to meet them in person.

I find it hard to learn Coursera because I find there isn't a lot of examples in the lectures. Then they ask you questions on things never taught in the lecture. So you watch the lecture, and you're like wow that was cool! and then you have a question on something totally different. Not only that, but there is no solution on how they got the answer. So, basically, I always have to stop learning because I can't continue a course and answer questions on things not taught and things I can't get the answer to.

I have used Coursera for about 3 years now and I can vouch for the quality of their courses. I think that the biggest plus for them is variety - they are not solely focused on IT and business but also politics and arts so they can provide you with a pretty good all around education. They also offer financial aid which is of great help for those who cannot afford the price of certificates.