Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs), have been gaining momentum in the higher education community as a way to take a course in your favorite subject- and from one of the top universities in the world. These classes are available to anyone with access to the internet. MOOCs are free to take, and a simple search online will list thousands of different courses- everything from nutrition to literature to engineering.

Those wanting to break into a new field or reinforce their traditional classroom education, MOOCs allow the user to experience a top university’s lecture. These courses are also an easy way to stay connected to different fields, and stay current about cutting edge research.

For Arts et Métiers students, this can be a great way to preview an American learning environment, and hear real lectures before attending an American university. This can also be an opportunity to reinforce and expand IT skills- more and more engineering positions require computer science abilities.

Online learning is evolving to become more flexible and user-friendly. Students can enroll in a course from anywhere in the world, in any subject they choose. MOOCs may never replace a live classroom environment, but to the autonomous learner, MOOCs can be the perfect complement to a well-rounded education and lifelong love of learning.

Sources:
https://www.coursera.org/
https://www.edx.org/