The brave new world of online education and MOOCs--WeTakeYourClass

Parent Cafe
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<p>WeTakeYourClass.com</a>, Others an Issue for Online Ed Credibility</p>

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WeTakeYourClass.com advertises its services thusly:</p>

<p>“WeTakeYourClass.com is a site dedicated to helping students with online classes. I’m sure you are here because you are wondering “how will I have time to take my online class?” It may be that one class such as statistics or accounting. We know some people have trouble with numbers. We get that. We are here to help. We offer an affordable solution, which includes having a tutor take your class for you. Whether it’s one test, homework, project, or whole class we are there for you when you need us.”</p>

<p>They go on to say that 99% of the time they end up earning an A in the course, and promise to only agree to take over the course if it falls within their “range of ability.” The website lists its specializations as mathematics, business and science, but offers help to students in many other subject areas.

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<p>I figured we were heading this way, but I didn't realize how far along we are. I guess soon we can just scrap the whole pretense and auction off the credentials.</p>

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<p>I’m almost speechless.</p>

<p>Almost.</p>

<p>Just awful.</p>

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<p>[‘We</a> Take Your Class’ Goes Offline | Inside Higher Ed](<a href=“http://www.insidehighered.com/quicktakes/2012/09/26/we-take-your-class-goes-offline]'We”>'We Take Your Class' Goes Offline)</p>

<p>Apparently, this site has been taken down but there are lots more out there following in its footsteps. The good news is that it does not seem to be very lucrative - yet…</p>

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<p>That’s what that article says, but if you google it, it’s clearly still up and running–I guess they put it back up when the dust settled.</p>

5

<p>I read an article a while back about online services for college papers, so this doesn’t surprise me. It is the logical next step. Sad, sad, sad. Many students value the piece of paper, rather than the education it represents. I am old fashioned, and I feel that the education itself is the goal … but I am feeling a bit like I need to hang onto my dinosaur a little more tightly.</p>

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<p>Yes this is a huge problem, but there’s certainly ways to cut back on these practices.</p>

<p>My uncle teaches an online, for credit, calc class at a community college and he cuts down on cheating by logging the IP addresses of the students when they’re taking the test as well as requiring them to record video footage of themselves taking the tests (they’re all online so they just have to flip the webcam on and show a timestamp). Perhaps MOOCs could offer something similar or only administer exams at regional testing centers with security measures similar to that of the SAT.</p>

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<p>Yikes. I never thought of that. But then my mind doesn’t work that way.</p>

<p>whenhen ~ my H teaches online too and I will send him the article and mention your solutions to him.</p>