Dive Brief:
- Technology investors shared their insights at a National Education Association panel on investing in education, citing four key characteristics of good investments and calling MOOCs a mistake for institutional investment.
- According to eCampus News, they are not too far outside of the box, they are independently tested, they have a solid branding and distribution plan, and they are ripe for mass marketing.
- Investors say the blue chip investment now is in data analytics software because, whether it can handle Big Data or more simple data, any insights about improving outcomes can help organizations.
Dive Insight:
Investors at the NEA panel called MOOCs a mistake for institutions, as they never reached the disruptive power anticipated for them. Part of the problem was that many colleges and universities put all their eggs in one basket, expecting MOOCs to be an effective digital strategy on their own. Now rather than focusing on simply getting courses online, the NEA investors say to use online for personalized learning. Tracking outcomes based on any online activity is a start for data analytics, helping institutions tailor courses to students' needs.