edX Inc, the venture created by MIT and Harvard University, has reached 46 charter members and 48 partner members as of today. When partnering with edX, there are two maintenance models for a university or corporate partner, according to the Perpetual Learning Open edX consultancy. Partner uses edX as a free LMS for a course with a revenue sharing agreement. The courses are created by Partner without course-production assistance from edX. Once the course is live on edx.org, edX will collect The first $50,000 generated by the course, or $10,000 for each recurring course edX and Partner will evenly split all revenues beyond that threshold. MODEL 2: edX-Supported edX is a consultant and design partner, offering production assistance to universities for their MOOCs. edX charges a base rate of $250,000 for each new course, plus $50,000 for each time a course is offered for an additional term. Partner gets 70 percent of any revenue generated by the course. In addition, there is a membership fee for contributing members of $500,000 and an annual maintenance fee of $100,000 or $45,000 starting in the second year of the term.
Dogwood, the latest Open edX version, will be released this coming week, according to edX. Dogwood's new features include XBlocks such as Oppia, Office Mix and LTI. This LTI XBlock will replace the existing LTI XModule and will offer course teams the ability to configure the way LTI components open when learners use them: in a modal window, in a separate web browser window, or embedded in a course page. Another interesting feature is Partial Credit. In Studio, course teams will be able to configure four problem types (checkbox, multiple choice, numerical input and write-your-own-grader) so learners can receive partial credit for a problem if they submit an answer that is partly correct. The edX Release Notes contain a summary of changes that are deployed. Those changes are part of the master branch of the edX platform in GitHub. A major characteristic of this Dogwood version was the upgrade from Django 1.4 to Django 1.8.7.
The solution to improve learning outcomes is mostly based on launching open software ecosystems. And Open edX is a step in that direction. Stephen Laster, Chief Digital Officer at McGraw-Hill Education, has written a revealing analysis on EdSurge, highlighting the idea that technologies that live within closed systems create roadblocks in students' learning pathways. "Building digital content and learning technology around open standards ensures that educators and students can determine what’s most effective without worrying about whether different technologies will work together," he states. "The simple solution to accelerate open edtech for everyone is to support technology standards set forth by organizations like the IMS Global Learning Consortium."Â
These are Educause's top 10 IT technologies of 2016 to focus on: Incorporation of mobile devices in teaching and learning Software as a Service (SaaS) Administrative or business performance analytics App development (responsive design, hybrid, etc.) Accessing online components of blended/hybrid courses from mobile devices Mobile apps for enterprise applications Service desk tool and management strategy Learning analytics Data collection and sophisticated analytics methodologies for information security Application performance monitoring. Educause Review: Top 10 IT Issues, 2016: Divest, Reinvest, and Differentiate
An interesting initiative from edX and the Jack Kent Cooke Foundation –the "Cooke edX Challenge"– to help qualified 7th grade students. They enroll in selected edX courses and successfully complete one of five. Up to 70 eligible students will receive many benefits, such as individualized counseling and funding for educational programs, through the Young Scholars Program. Tsunamis and Storm Surges: Introduction to Coastal Disaster – Waseda University The Art of Structural Engineering: Bridges – Princeton University Introduction to Computer Science and Programming Using Python – MIT Solving Public Policy Problems: UC Berkeley's Eightfold Path – Berkeley Greatest Unsolved Mysteries of the Universe – Australian National University
