O'm taking an online class for Precalculus II right now through College of DuPage (COD). This class is my third utilizing mostly an online format after doing College Algebra with Udacity back in the Summer of 2013 and Precalculus I through COD this past semester. Udacity had probably the more cutting-edge format. Tests were taken remotely, cost of the three-credit class was $150, and I didn't have to purchase a textbook. All the material was presented through online lectures, and homework was done through the site.
COD uses My Math Lab from Pearson. All the homework is done on my own, but I have to go in for five tests at their local testing center. Cost is the regular per credit hour rate of $140 with an internet course fee of $57.50 and the cost of online access to Pearson's textbook. That was about $80. So, this Precalculus class is costing me about $557 compared to the $150 Udacity class. Still, that $557 is much better than most of the other options out there. A college charging $10,000 for a year's tuition is charging about $1,000 per three hour class. Plus, so much time is saved not having to attend lectures that may or may not be what I need at the moment, and even savings from not having to drive or put miles on my car can't be overlooked.
Udacity's experiment with traditional college classes was shot down seemingly because not enough students were being successful, but I have a tough time seeing how their model won't play a large role in education in the long run. With a mostly automated class as they offered, more students don't mean much in the way of additional costs. I imagine that's a large reason why they were able to offer their classes at such a reasonable rate.
COD uses My Math Lab from Pearson. All the homework is done on my own, but I have to go in for five tests at their local testing center. Cost is the regular per credit hour rate of $140 with an internet course fee of $57.50 and the cost of online access to Pearson's textbook. That was about $80. So, this Precalculus class is costing me about $557 compared to the $150 Udacity class. Still, that $557 is much better than most of the other options out there. A college charging $10,000 for a year's tuition is charging about $1,000 per three hour class. Plus, so much time is saved not having to attend lectures that may or may not be what I need at the moment, and even savings from not having to drive or put miles on my car can't be overlooked.
Udacity's experiment with traditional college classes was shot down seemingly because not enough students were being successful, but I have a tough time seeing how their model won't play a large role in education in the long run. With a mostly automated class as they offered, more students don't mean much in the way of additional costs. I imagine that's a large reason why they were able to offer their classes at such a reasonable rate.