Rate My MOOC

From edX and Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT)

From MIT Launch comes one of the most popular online courses made for the entrepreneurially minded. Whether you’re an aspiring serial entrepreneur or curious about the prospects of starting your own business some day, you’ll get a thorough look at the processes involved in taking an idea to the next level.

This course follows MIT’s successful approach to entrepreneurship. Packed in is a combination of short videos, thought-provoking case studies, and activities that will challenge you to get you away from your computer screen and into the community to make a real impact.

What we liked:

Accessible to anyone—no prior business background required

Easy to understand with useful case studies that reinforce concepts

Comprehensive overview of what entrepreneurship means today

From edX and La Universidad Carlos III de Madrid (UC3M)

As citizens of the Space Age, we live in a world transformed by our expeditions in space. Space exploration plays a major role in the history of humankind. The cultural, political and sociological repercussions are extraordinary, and the amount of resources dedicated to space exploration is enormous.

But how and why did we launch ourselves from our world into the vastness beyond?

This course seeks to answer that question by covering a major chapter in the history of space exploration while covering technical developments. You’ll also cover the the evolution of space exploration in the Apollo and post-Apollo era and find out where we’re headed with future projects in space exploration.

What we like:

An excellent mix of history and science

Perfect for space and rocket enthusiasts

Detailed overview of current trends and where we’re headed next

Could be better:

Focused mostly on American space and rocket programs

Despite being offered by a Spain-based university, lacks detailed information in Spanish

Can you remember something you recently learned? Recalling facts or details minutes, hours, and days after we first encounter them helps us better retain them.

From Coursera and the University of Michigan

Most of us work in groups or teams of people. Yet, how often do we think about how effectively we’re communicating with others and setting expectations so that everyone’s on the same page?

This course, from the Ross School of Business at the University of Michigan, teaches leaders, aspiring or current, how to motivate others and bring out the best in your team. The course also teaches how to align goals and improve engagement, something that most leaders struggle to do.

You’ll also learn why someone who’s under-motivated might not necessarily be “bad” or “unambitious,” why their lack of motivation might not necessarily be attributed to a faulty “attitude.”

What we like:

Lessons are backed by evidence, including relevant research and experiments

Highly applicable to anyone working in a team environment, especially those who manage others

Well structured

Practical advice

If you think contracts are just documents that lawyers should be concerned with, think again. This is especially true for entrepreneurs, business owners, business leaders, managers, and anyone else who reviews and signs off on contracts.

We are exposed to contracts in all areas of our life — agreeing to terms when downloading a new computer program, hiring a contractor to repair a leaking roof, and even ordering a meal at a restaurant. But when will the law refuse to honor a promise? What happens when one party does not hold to their part of the deal?

This course answers these questions and explores the principles surrounding contract law today. You’ll learn from Harvard Law Professor Charles Fried, one of the world’s leading authorities on contract law.

What we like:

ContractsX makes contract law accessible to everyone

Understand how we enter into contracts almost everyday and what that means

Learn at your leisure—this course is self-paced

Newly revised for 2017

From FutureLearn and the University of Reading

Here’s a course that combines English history, food, and science all in one place. From the 15th century court of King Henry VIII the celebrations of Victoria as she turned 17 in 1836, you’ll learn about the foods that played an integral role in royal society and the kitchens that prepared them.

This is one of just a handful of courses that ever made us salivate. Lucky for you, you’ll get to do some feasting yourself. Learn how these foods were prepared and cook them yourselves.

What we liked:

Explore documents and diaries that describe food of the past

Historic recipes designed to be used at home

A unique perspective on English history

“Flavors” those Shakespearean plays we’ve all read

Yesterday, we introduced a MOOC from MoMA that we absolutely love. If you’ve ever been exposed to modern art or walked into an modern art museum (maybe the MoMA itself?) and come out craving more, we think you’ll enjoy it too.

Get a taste for what’s in store with this short trailer.

From Coursera & MoMA

If you’ve ever been interested in modern and contemporary art, then you’re in for a treat. Join The Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) as they explore common themes that their educators often teach: Places & Spaces, Art & Identity, Transforming Everyday Objects, and Art & Society.

You’ll have the opportunity to explore modern and contemporary art. You’ll also hear directly from artists and the museum’s educators and curators about the ideas and processes behind their works.

Awesome:

Bite-sized learning that’s entertaining and educational

Inspires creativity and new ideas among artists and admirers

Fresh perspectives on art

Excellent supplementary course materials (readings, videos, etc.)

Could be better:

Quizzes are somewhat flawed

Short (2hrs/wk x 5 weeks)

From Coursera & Georgia Tech

Energy and electricity powers nearly every aspect of our modern lives. As a society and individually, we use energy every moment of our lives to improve our quality of life. Yet, how many of us know about how our energy works?

Energy 101 will develop the big picture and connect the details of our energy use, technology, infrastructure, impact, and future. You’ll learn about the principles of energy and sustainability issues facing us today and in the future.

This is one course we recommend to everyone. Energy plays a large part in the sustainability equation. Understanding its dynamics, trends, and technologies can inform us of what we as consumers should demand and what we as global citizens can expect.

Awesome:

Well presented information and data

Professor’s deep dive on energy and sustainability issues

Comprehensive introduction about energy

Very accessible to all audiences

Could be better:

The course is very US-oriented, citing data from American energy use

A short trailer from “Introduction to Health and Wellness,” a course we recommended earlier today. Want to learn how you can better maintain your health, fitness, and diet? This is your course.

From: edX & Arizona State University

Your health is more important than anything else. A healthy mind and body form the basis for just about everything else we enjoy in life. Yet, more of then than not we find ourselves neglecting our wellbeing.

We can be more proactive about keeping healthy.

Take this course to explore ways to maintain your health, diet, and fitness. You’ll learn about nutrition, stress management, the importance of sleep, and managing disease risk. You’ll even assess your own health throughout the course, learning what to work on and monitor.

Awesome:

Exceptional instructors

Detailed information

Helpful personal assessments

Steeply discounted vs. the campus counterpart

Could be better:

Some difficulty understanding accent of professors

Fairly basic and could go into more depth

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Rate My MOOC spotlights online courses and shares creative ideas for MOOCs. We created this blog because we thought the idea of browsing for classes tedious, especially since there are so many now.

Here’s how we do it. 

Our editorial team of three combs through millions of reviews and articles on the web. Each week, we’ll also interview learners and educators on their thoughts about online education. Think of us as a daily newsletter or magazine that gives you bite-sized summaries when you’re looking for something to learn.