I have been using online courses for a while, here is my pitch:
Most online courses are still under the old mindset of the conservative education model. Why does a course have a start and end date? I learn on my OWN time since I'm constrained by full-time employment. Why does a course have tests/exams? I came here to learn not obtain a badge, degree, or a set of meaningless numbers/grades. Why does a course NOT have a programming/application-centric method of learning? Why does an online course not have GREAT material and resources (i.e. lackluster application tests, labs, programming projects)? All these block me from doing what I want when I join an online course - to learn.
Most online courses are still under the old mindset of the conservative education model. Why does a course have a start and end date? I learn on my OWN time since I'm constrained by full-time employment. Why does a course have tests/exams? I came here to learn not obtain a badge, degree, or a set of meaningless numbers/grades. Why does a course NOT have a programming/application-centric method of learning? Why does an online course not have GREAT material and resources (i.e. lackluster application tests, labs, programming projects)? All these block me from doing what I want when I join an online course - to learn.