[an_opabinia]

Does Coursera provide an education?

I don’t mean to be a blowhard.

But if you’re going to argue that it does, that you’d send your kids to CourseraU, you are conflating the aesthetic experience of learning with actual learning.

Much like many video games, quite successful ones actually, reenact the aesthetics of work but are in no way shape or form actual work. This may be important for why they are an appealing product but don’t go and argue (as hardly anyone does) that League of Legends is work. That’s why it would also sound absurd to say Coursera is learning.

The University of Phoenix people are total shitbags. Charging for some shit certificate is a complete shitbag move. Just because it’s online doesn’t make it special.

In that sense, yes, expect that ads will happen. I think you’re onto something.

[Gunax]

I had a really good experience with Coursera... In fact it's where I learned to code.

I don't think I understand the comparison to video games. Yes, sometimes games will simulate work, but that's not at all like online education simulating education.

It has its issues, but motivated students can and do learn online.

[mywittyname]

I like Coursera and I'm quite experienced. Their courses don't enforce the rigor of a college course; practically anyone could pass them without reviewing the content through sheer brute force. So I feel like the certificates themselves are worthless, but the actual content is good enough to learn from if you put forth the effort.

[woah]

Huh...? Coursera provides video courses, readings, and quizzes. Is your assertion that it is impossible to learn from written material or videotaped lectures?