Coursera is an online course platform that offers tens of thousands of courses to help you explore your interests and advance your career.
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Coursera is one of dozens of platforms that offer massive open online courses (MOOC) in addition to degrees, professional courses, Coursera specializations, and MasterTrack courses. It was founded in 2012 by Stanford University computer science professors Daphne Koller and Andrew Ng.
If this Coursera course review sounds familiar, it's because Coursera is not the only MOOC provider available. You will discover additional options, such as Udemy, FutureLearn, and others, if you conduct a quick search.
However, what truly distinguishes Coursera from its competitors is the sheer breadth of its offerings. Some of the nation's most prestigious universities, including Princeton University, Stanford University, the University of Pennsylvania, and the University of Michigan, were the first to offer content on the platform, allowing users to gain access to Ivy League-quality education without ever having to leave their homes or be accepted into these competitive institutions.
Since its inception with these initial partner institutions, Coursera has expanded to include specializations, which are distinct collections of courses that build expertise in specific subjects.
In addition to degrees, the platform provides a comprehensive workforce development product that can be utilized by government and business organizations.
Today, Coursera has formed partnerships with over 200 universities and institutions in 29 countries. In addition to working with universities such as the University of London, Yonsei University in Korea, Yale University, the University of Illinois, and other highly ranked institutions, the platform collaborates with a variety of corporations.
How does Coursera function?
Each Coursera course lasts between four and twelve weeks and contains one to two hours of video lectures per week.
Similar to any other course, Coursera courses vary between options; some include quizzes, per-graded assignments, and weekly exercises, whereas others may include final exams or final projects – and even honors assignments!
Additionally, many courses are available on demand. This means you can take as much time as you'd like to complete the course without needing to rush.
In addition to guided projects, Coursera offers more than one hundred unique on-demand courses. Short, two- to three-hour guided projects that can be completed at your own pace.
Coursera even offers the option to pursue a master's degree. The institution began by offering a Master's in Innovation and Entrepreneurship and a Master's of Accounting (the latter was offered by the University of Illinois), but has since expanded to include an MBA and a Master of Computer Science in Data Science.
How to Select Courses
Coursera offers more than 4,000 different course options, making it difficult to choose which ones to enroll in. Comprised of reading material, video lectures, assignments, and discussion forums, these are provided by companies and universities all over the world.
You must first decide whether you want to enroll in a free course or pay for a membership to gain access to additional features, such as grade assignments, certificates, and additional content (like extra video lectures, bonus materials, and other resources).
The majority of users choose to upgrade to a paid membership to gain access to the certificate. You can add the certificate to your LinkedIn profile or resume to demonstrate that you worked to acquire new skills.
If you decide to enroll in a free course, all you need to do is create an account, enroll, and start the course. Some may begin immediately, allowing you to work at your own pace, while others have set log-in times; pay close attention to the registration requirements.
If you intend to purchase a paid membership, you must register prior to enrolling in the course and provide a credit card number.
How are Coursera's Pricing?
Coursera provides access to tens of thousands of free classes. You will have access to an incredible quantity of content that you can work through at your own pace for no cost.
However, if you desire a certificate upon completion, you will be required to pay a fee. The pricing structure is somewhat confusing, but you have several options to choose from as you consider your best course of action.
Individual course certificates are the most affordable and sensible option if you only wish to enroll in one course. These range in price from $49 to $99 and require a single, one-time payment.
You can also pay for a certificate of specialization or professional certification. Typically, these are offered on a subscription basis for between $39 and $79 per month.
A MasterTrack certificate is a second option. This is where the costs will begin to escalate significantly. A MasterTrack certificate typically costs around $2,000, whereas a bachelor's degree can cost as much as $15,000.
Remember that, in order to pursue a degree in the traditional manner, you will be paying that amount (easily!) at least once per semester.
If you intend to take multiple courses on Coursera but do not believe a certificate or degree is appropriate for you, you may wish to enroll in a Coursera Plus membership. This membership is a good choice if you wish to broaden your horizons and take classes in a wide range of disciplines.
You can earn certifications by enrolling in courses offered by a variety of universities, businesses, and organizations. Coursera Plus is brand-new for 2020 and will provide access to over 3000 courses for an annual subscription fee of $399.
Coursera's benefits (pros)
Speed
One of the greatest advantages of taking a course on Coursera is that you can complete it quickly
Although the student experience is not quite the same as it would be if you were taking classes on campus, you can move much more quickly and earn a degree much more quickly than if you were to take classes in the conventional manner (and for much less money, too!).
However, you can also take longer to complete your degree if that suits your needs and schedule better. In addition, you will not be required to leave your hometown or quit your job in order to earn a degree or complete a course. Coursera's adaptability should not be overlooked.
Large Course Selection
On Coursera, you can choose from thousands of courses. There are classes in virtually every area of interest, although some niches naturally dominate the platform (like business and technology). You can enroll in or audit certain courses without cost.
Expert-Level Instruction
My favorite aspect of Coursera, which I've mentioned multiple times in this Coursera review, is that you will be taught by instructors who are experts in their fields. This is not true for every MOOC. In fact, many include classes taught by true novices or individuals who may not have a background in the subject being taught.
Consequently, you may not master the material as well as you would like. Coursera is not an example of this. Coursera offers courses taught by professionals, so you need not worry about receiving a substandard education.
Brief but Sweet Homework and Lectures
Coursera's video assignments and lectures are organized in an excellent manner, which is yet another of its outstanding characteristics. The majority of courses are organized and engaging.
The instructors have a wealth of knowledge in their respective fields, and the science video lectures are brief (most are less than a half-hour), so you'll be able to quickly absorb the lecture's key points and move on with your day.
Interactive Environment
I've taken classes on other course platforms before, and the fact that many platforms are passive is something I dislike.
You take a class on your own time and on your own terms, which is great for scheduling purposes but makes it too easy to fall into autopilot while taking the class.
Coursera is not an example of this. You will be able to move quickly and easily through course material, but you will be able to interact more with the material and with other students and instructors. While the Coursera discussion boards leave something to be desired – more on this later – there are numerous opportunities to collaborate with classmates on assignments, take quizzes, and communicate with instructors about the material.
Certificates
Coursera is one of the few online course platforms where you can earn career-relevant certificates. Despite the fact that many platforms offer a certificate feature, these certificates are typically meaningless and do not lead to career advancement.
However, a Coursera certificate can help open new doors. It may transfer for college credit, especially if you are enrolled in a MasterTrack or degree program. As more universities are added to the platform, the popularity of these courses continues to increase.
Coursera's disadvantages (Cons)
Application Method
For many students, one of the most irritating aspects of Coursera is the inability to choose a course, pay the fee, and enroll immediately. You must submit an application and then be accepted into the program.
There is an element of waiting involved. Although it is still a fraction of the time it would take to apply to and be admitted to a typical university, many students view this as a disadvantage.
Not the Best Online Forums
Many MOOCs provide discussion forums where students and instructors can interact about the course and related topics. While this feature is available in the majority of Coursera courses, the vast majority of Coursera course reviews claim that these courses miss the mark. This is especially true for larger, anytime-accessible classes.
As with many other online courses and platforms, you will have limited interaction with your instructors when taking a course on Coursera. If you are taking a longer course on Coursera that requires you to log in at specific times, you may have more success with this, but in most cases, your interactions with your teachers will be infrequent at best.
You will not always receive feedback. Although you can upgrade and pay for graded assignment features, you may not always have access to them (at least not in-depth). It is not an exhaustive system, and you will not necessarily receive the feedback you desire regarding your assignments.
Only certain niches offer a greater variety of course options.
Similar to the majority of MOOCs, it appears that certain niches dominate Coursera. Technology, business, and personal development appear to reign supreme, while the humanities are scarce (like language learning).
Few Evaluation Opportunities
If you expect to complete an assignment and receive pages upon pages of instructor feedback, you're mistaken. This will not occur with Coursera. You will frequently write papers and receive feedback, but not to the extent that you would in a traditional course. Occasionally, assignments are self-graded.
Coursera Plus Membership Fee Increase
Coursera Plus is advantageous if you wish to pursue multiple specializations in a variety of disciplines. Nonetheless, many individuals consider the price to be quite high. While the high subscription rate of $399 per year is a deterrent for many people, the plus side is that it might encourage you to take more classes so you can get your money’s worth out of the program!
Top Coursera Alternatives
- Pluralsight Skills
- LinkedIn Learning
- Udacity
- Udemy Business
- Cloud Academy
- CBT Nuggets
- A Cloud Guru
- Khan Academy
- Codecademy
- DataCamp
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How sir, please can you update this Coursera premium cookies. Abeg 🙏
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