OK, so now I fall into the 90% or so who drop out of online courses. It wasn't so much the fault of the program as it was my inability to stay engaged. This has been a difficult year to take on anything new. But, it wasn't a total waste - certainly not of money since it was free. I did begin to learn how the courses pay for themselves.
As I got into the third or fourth session, I received an email congratulating me for how well I was doing. The email suggested i might be able to handle more material which could be mine for a fee. The fee wasn't large - I can't remember exactly - but like 29 or 39 dollars. With 120,000 people in the MOOC, and if 90% dropped out, that would leave 12,000 to get such an email. If only 10% of those "bought in" to the suggestion, that would be 1200 people at say $30 which is $36,000. Not a bad haul for one 8 week course, though it would be split at least three ways with three instructors and of course the university would take a cut. Later on, more money could come in if people wanted credit for the course.
The course was good in another way for me. I don't often take the time to sit down and consider plans for myself, and that was what I was doing. I regret that I dropped out on that, even though I know I can do it on my own. I recognize that I work more diligently and completely when I have deadlines and requirements. Doing it on my own allows too much freedom to change the rules. Maybe the course will be offered again.
