[dv_dt]

Yup, concluding that MOOC formats are more effective is similar to the charter school problem. If you filter for committed people then you end up with better looking success stats. But all it might be doing is finding and filtering those motivated enough to go through a school change process, or willing to put up with some hassle factor of something "online" but still requiring scheduled times, or other commitments. Similar for attendance being a factor for success in the article - it sounded like going in person was the key way to access the extra learning resources.

Filtering for the subset of people committed in a certain way isn't really a proof of a good learning format. And to me, not necessarily the best way to bring education to a wider range of students. Filtering for commitment might be argued that it's effective on some level as an efficient use of teaching resources - but I think that needs deeper examination too.

[MisterOctober]

I agree that there's a lot of shaky assertions made about this pedagogical method. From my own perspective, though, on-demand courses like on udemy essentially solve all the problems I hated about classes for my brick-and-mortar university degree. To wit :

1) No distracting interruptions from self-absorbed students asking 'questions' [more often than not, really just statements] that would have better have been reserved for after class / office hours

2) Prof / TA doesn't show up drunk and disorganized

3) If you miss something while taking notes, no sweat -- just rewind and listen again! As a copious note-taker, this is huge for me.

4) Flexible class times keep me much more healthy [can get sleep when needed, etc]

5) No travel time, finding a seat, wanting to talk to a girl instead of focus on lecture, etc etc with all the frustrations / inconveniences that are just not there in online courses

I could rattle on a lot more, but ca suffit for now