The actor James Earl Jones, who won Tonys, Golden Globes, Emmys and an honorary Oscar throughout his career, died at 93 last week. Mr. Jones was best known for his “voice of rolling thunder.”
Which of the following iconic characters did Mr. Jones NOT perform the voice for?
By Jeff Maggioncalda, Coursera CEO
Classrooms around the world are bustling with students of varying skill levels and career goals, each striving to succeed in a rapidly changing workforce. Educators work hard to support every learner, but with crowded classrooms and limited time, it’s a daunting task.
Today, at Coursera Connect, I’m excited to announce the expansion of AI-powered Coursera Coach to serve our learner and educator community in three unique ways: providing learning assistance, offering career guidance, and facilitating interactive instruction. This evolution of Coach is designed to enrich the human interactions that define education and maximize the impact of instructors in online settings. We’ve also expanded other advanced features on our platform, including Course Builder, which will soon include Coach for instructional design support.
Coursera Coach: Using AI to bring in-classroom teaching methods and career guidance online
Since its debut at last year’s conference, Coursera Coach has transformed the way learners interact in the online classroom. Today, we’re excited to share its early impact and introduce several new enhancements:
World-renowned instructors, including University of Michigan’s Vic Strecher, Oakland University’s Barbara Oakley, Vanderbilt University’s Jules White, and DeepLearning.AI’s Andrew Ng, Coursera co-founder, are among early adopters using Coach to integrate more personalized, interactive teaching methods into their online courses. Starting today, learners can experience a Coursera Coach-powered Socratic dialogue in University of Michigan’s Finding Purpose and Meaning in Life and Grow with Google’s AI Essentials. Pilot in progress with select instructors.
Click here to watch CEO Jeff Maggioncalda’s keynote at Coursera Connect 2024, with product demos and more.
Course Builder: Helping organizations scale custom training with Coach for instructional design support
Organizations such as Hult International Business School and L&T have used Course Builder, our GenAI-powered authoring tool, to create, update, and deploy custom training at scale. Compared to last year, we’ve seen a 2.8x increase in institutions beginning to author on Coursera, with 715+ Course Builder courses launched since March and nearly 137,000+ enrollments so far this year.
Course Builder will also include Coach for instructional design support in the new year. Coach functions as an AI-powered thought partner for the Course Builder authoring experience, helping authors refine course content, suggest course modifications, and uphold pedagogical best practices. Pilot launching in the coming months.
The Coursera Connect Conference 2024 highlights the critical role of collaboration among institutional leaders in transforming real challenges into meaningful change. Together, we are excited to use AI to better equip learners and instructors, achieve greater educational outcomes, and provide pathways to new economic opportunities.
Click here to read about the exciting new degree pathways, content, and credentials announced at Coursera Connect 2024.
* This blog contains forward-looking statements regarding upcoming content, product, or platform developments that reflect our current plans and beliefs as of the publication date. Purchasing decisions should not be made on the sole basis of forthcoming content and features. Actual developments may vary due to a number of risks and uncertainties, including those discussed in our recent filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). Market data and statistical information are provided as estimates and may not reflect actual outcomes or future plans. We undertake no obligation to update any forward-looking statements or estimates except to the extent required by law.
Welcoming 4 new university partners and 5 industry partners, including Saïd Business School – University of Oxford, Amazon, and Xbox
By Marni Baker Stein, Chief Content Officer, Coursera
Today, we are excited to announce several new partnerships and a major expansion of our content catalog at Coursera Connect 2024, our annual flagship conference. This expansion includes numerous certifications and Specializations, with a particular focus on generative AI.
We are honored to welcome prestigious universities such as Saïd Business School – University of Oxford, Dubai College of Tourism, IMD Business School, and Real Madrid Graduate School Universidad Europea, along with industry leaders like Airbus Beyond, Amazon, Johns Hopkins Medicine, Liberty Mutual, and Xbox to our partner community. These partnerships enhance our ability to deliver job-relevant content for learners around the world, empowering them to meet the rapidly changing demands of the labor market.
Introducing a new degree pathway from the University of London
Coursera hosts 55+ flexible, job-relevant degrees from over 30 top universities to help learners advance their careers. We’re excited to announce the International Foundation Programme (IFP) for Computer Science from the University of London (UoL), which prepares learners to pursue the UoL bachelor’s degree in computer science in less than a year.
Designed for all learners – regardless of prior academic or professional experience – this program features a foundational curriculum in mathematics, statistics, and computer programming. Students will use industry-standard tools like Python, Tableau, and Pandas in practical computing challenges and activities. Upon successful completion, students will be offered a place in the UoL’s online BSc Computer Science degree, without the need to apply.
Applications for the IFP for computer science open in mid-September 2024, with the first cohort starting in January 2025.
Expanding career pathways with 8 new Professional Certificates
Professional Certificates from industry partners help learners break into or progress in high-demand careers. Entry-level certificates, many of which can be completed in six months, are particularly valuable for non-degree holders or beginners. We’re pleased to expand our portfolio with 7 entry-level and 1 advanced Professional Certificate:
6 Entry-level Professional Certificates from Google, enhanced with GenAI updates
In addition to introducing new Entry-level Professional Certificates, we have continued to work with our partners to enhance our existing portfolio of certificates with GenAI content. We are proud to announce that the following certificates from Google now incorporate a refreshed curriculum – including activities, readings, and videos – that feature practical, field-specific AI training directly from Google’s own industry experts:
New Specializations from IBM and Microsoft teach GenAI skills for job roles
Sixty-six percent of leaders wouldn’t hire someone without AI skills, but a study from the University of Toronto shows that more than half of people globally aren’t sure how ChatGPT is useful to their work. To help workers apply GenAI skills to their specific job roles and enhance productivity, IBM and Microsoft have introduced a variety of GenAI Specializations in functions such as cybersecurity, data science, HR, marketing, and more.
IBM has launched the following Specializations to help learners unlock the potential of GenAI in their current roles:
Microsoft has launched the following Specializations to help learners integrate Copilot into their day-to-day work:
We are honored to work with our partners to expand our offerings, helping learners everywhere prepare for a new future and gain from the economic opportunities created by AI.
Click here to read about several platform-related announcements made at Coursera Connect 2024.
* This blog contains forward-looking statements regarding upcoming content, product, or platform developments that reflect our current plans and beliefs as of the publication date. Purchasing decisions should not be made on the sole basis of forthcoming content and features. Actual developments may vary due to a number of risks and uncertainties, including those discussed in our recent filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). Market data and statistical information are provided as estimates and may not reflect actual outcomes or future plans. We undertake no obligation to update any forward-looking statements or estimates except to the extent required by law.
What are the local, national and global problems, small or large, that you most want political leaders to address?
Do celebrities have an obligation to speak out about politics since they have such large platforms?
This word has appeared in 51 articles on NYTimes.com in the past year. Can you use it in a sentence?
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Niche.
One area I added is niche when identifying learning system vendors for the 2024 awards (end of the year).
It doesn’t mean that every vendor has to have this, but rather, it means exploring those who do and whether or not they find success.
I like to think of niche as a way to differentiate vendors because some accept all verticals and industries, and some do not.
Today, vendors are rumbling by the masses into the association market, which is generally recession-proof.
The problem, though, is that many vendors have no idea what area to focus on: trade associations, professional associations, or both.
Do they need to be able to integrate without an issue with an Association Management Platform (yes)?
Do they need to have already some processing providers they connect with, and will some associations need this because they have never done it? (Yes).
Are they familiar with ASAE? (They should become a member).
Does their system have capabilities specifically for the association space, which is relevant? (You better).
Do they know the #1 player and leader in the association market? I find many have no idea. And no, you have to find out yourself.
Sure, you will get some associations—everyone does. But if you want to be among the top five vendors, you must decide if you will be committed.
I always wondered why vendors are happy with being at the bottom or mid-tier in any market. It is as though they watch and understand the Premier League (English soccer), whereas fans get excited about finishing 8th.
I bring this up because it is a factor in my decision for 2024, not just with associations but across all market segments.
It plays a role, more so than in the past.
Niche and Christmas
I’m not sure how it works in your country, but many stores in the States put out Christmas stuff in July. I always wonder who sees this and says, “I must have it now, to prepare.”
You don’t see this with Valentine’s stuff—i.e., putting it out in November. Nor do you see it with Easter bunny stuff, nor Halloween—i.e., putting out stuff in April.
Christmas, though, is different.
I spent a whopping eight minutes, seeing if other places like the UK, with Harrods – the overpriced tourist trap, with stuff nobody needs – but hey it is from Harrods.
Oh, thank God. Harrods has over 780 products for Christmas in September.
Niche.
The stores that sell Christmas stuff are targeting customers who want it early assuming, no doubt, that they will get it for far less than if they wait until, say, November or December.
There isn’t any validation to this presumption.
Nevertheless, those stores see demand – and therefore aimed towards an audience – a niche.
While I am not eyeing a niche for Christmas here, I did place it as a small factor, as noted earlier.
The Approach for End of the Year Awards 2024
People always want to know my Approach, specifically what factors I consider when deciding which vendor ends up where.
My philosophy is simple – who is the buyer here? It’s not me – it is you.
What does the buyer see as relevant – from an overall perspective AND what the buyer should be looking at.
After all, the buyer has limited knowledge, generally speaking, of the trends to look at, what learning tech is in a system, why X or Y doesn’t make sense for adding in a system (not in 2024), and why you must look to the future.
Way too many vendors rely on what their clients tell them they want in a system. I always tell the vendor you are supposed to be the expert, not the client.
Why are you in this industry if you are not the expert? Have you ever thought about selling chestnuts around the wintertime?
Clients have purchased your system for various reasons – and wait for it; they are clients. Your job is to land new business. Did you read that? New Business.
A retort I often hear is that the potential buyer never mentioned X or Y, so it isn’t relevant or necessary at this time.
Again, who is the expert here? The vendor or the prospect. It should be the vendor.
I’m not saying that people lack knowledge here.
Rather, if you are buying a system, you better know this or this—or identify what are truly your needs—and not stuff I see like, “I need a system that offers a course catalog and can upload video.” Uh, every system can do that—but besides that, if you are relying solely on that as the key, then I promise you, you will end up with a system you hate.
The Factors
I decided to focus this year, on some different factors, new ones, plus some you have seen before. Each are weighted, and points assigned to each – with the maximum score being 150 points which is perfect. I am still looking at systems – so those vendors – surprise, I’m looking at the following:
Anyway, I look at the learner side across the entire system, not just the home screen, because there are vendors who have a nice UI/UX for a few screens, and then the rest is awful.
Another aspect I focus on is the admin side of the system. The cleanliness of this interface is a significant factor in the overall usability of the system.
It’s important to consider whether non-technical users, without L&D or Training knowledge, can navigate the system without needing to contact support. A user-friendly system is key to its successful adoption.
If the system has been tossed over to HRIS or Marketing, for example, could that person figure out how to use at least the basics of it?
All relevant – and yet so many people ignore it.
The UX—user experience—is by far the most crucial aspect here, and it is looked at by those who have no idea what they are looking at, including folks I know from L&D who do not know what metrics are relevant.
All played a role here.
Oh, UI is essential – because people want fresh, and not yesteryear.
Anyway, do those in customer training have the right metrics that are relevant to people who overwhelmingly sell content or whatever and need to generate revenue?
Yes, I know plenty provide fee, still certain data is highly relevant.
View for example? Is not.
But the number of people selecting X content versus Y, which you created, tells me that something is wrong with Y.
Was it designed poorly?
Does it provide the right information? Is it static or engaging? If you are in training, for example, you need to figure it out—not the system.
And if you are seeking to generate profit – what content is selling the most? What is popular? What trends are you seeing?
If you have chapters – which ones are people going into the most – that tells me, that it is relevant to create another course on that chapter expanding it.
You want to see which courses/content are duds. This is essential, but sadly, it is rare for a vendor to offer this data point.
L&D has to include the skills tied to the content data point, such as how often someone is going into a course/content on that specific skill more than another.
What courses on soft skills are effective and which ones are not. I recommend you read my latest post on LinkedIn under my name – trust me you will find it very important.
Too many folks zero in on how long – that isn’t relevant – because they could have the course open to a specific area and be surfing the net on another tab or on their phone.
What is relevant is how often, what day of the week (you will see a trend here – over some time), trend lines that make sense and are relevant to your learning story, types of content to usage – you are using 95% videos and 5% authored courses. You see that your audience is going into the content that isn’t a video 82% of the time.
That’s relevant – However, you need to ask yourself why?
While many people do not believe in learning styles, I do—and have seen it firsthand, as have many people in training and L&D.
Unless you have been in the trenches, and in various business or markets, you wouldn’t know.
I couldn’t care what Fred on the net says from their research – You and I know it’s true.
Again, this data point is rare to find, but it is so relevant, and it is the preferred type of learning from a content side.
Anyway, I look at the metrics. And yes, the reporting, too. Can I see the report data visually, or do I have to download it to chop up stuff?
The vendors all have data on support ratios avg number of tickets per issue; they all have response time; they all have data on the top issues the learn about. Any vendor who says they do not – I strongly recommend not using them.
I hear vendors tell me they don’t know the prospect until they become clients.
I’ve also heard the NDA a prospect must sign to find out about support.
What are you – the secret police or a learning system? If a vendor makes you jump through hoops to learn about this data – move on. It yells out RED FLAG.
Ignore the NPS score—and if you are like, “I must know this,” ask them how many detractors they had (very relevant) and what their methodology was.
Funny, I find vendors never require folks to sign an NDA.
On the other hand, I will often ask a vendor to send me the deck ahead of hand and see if they will comply.
I can read and use my brain.
If I have questions, I will send them ahead of time.
Less than 40% of vendors ever do this.
I’m looking at that for my analysis.
That’s the list! I do look at some other lesser items, forward-thinking for one, but the above is the real stuff—the meat, if you will. Plant-based is recommended.
What Awards will be given out
As always, this is a global analysis – in other words, I am not focusing solely on the US. If you look at previous years, you will see systems from all over the world.
Bottom Line
As in year’s past, the rankings will slowly trickle out in early December. The Top 10 post comes out the second week of December.
E-Learning 24/7
Previous Award Winners (Top 10 only)
2017 (Part 1 #10 to #6)
2014 (2013)
A report was published for 2011, 2012, 2013 – very detailed, around 600 pages per year. (inc. top 50)
By Marni Baker Stein, Chief Content Officer
Today, I’m excited to introduce a new Coursera survey of more than 1.000 higher education leaders—including deans, provosts, and chancellors representing 850+ institutions across 89 countries — which shows a major acceleration in the adoption of micro-credentials among campuses globally.
Students and employers agree that supplementing degree programs with industry micro-credentials produces more job-ready graduates in today’s dynamic labor market. While universities have been slower to respond to changing workforce needs in previous years, leaders are no longer sitting on the sidelines.
The key findings in the Micro-Credentials Impact Report 2024 include:
Higher education leaders are now championing micro-credentials
Students are more engaged in programs with micro-credentials
Among leaders offering micro-credentials:
Micro-credentials improve job prospects for students and advance careers for staff
Among leaders offering micro-credentials:
But obstacles remain for leaders adopting and expanding micro-credential programs
In May 2023, Coursera launched Career Academy to help universities supplement their degree programs with industry micro-credentials from the world’s top companies including Google, IBM, and Microsoft. Added to a degree program, these entry-level Professional Certificates help students explore and pursue in-demand career paths in growing fields such as cybersecurity, project management, and software development. ACE, ECTS, and NSQF Credit Recommendations make it easier to give and receive academic credit for eligible certificates. The University of Texas System, for example, offers Career Academy for-credit across its campuses to prepare 240,000 students for in-demand local careers. Since launch, over 10,000 students enrolled in 1 or more Professional Certificates and students have completed more than 25,000 courses.
Coursera’s global report findings, grounded in a robust survey with an industry-standard range of error at a 95% confidence level, present new research in the understudied field of micro-credentials and their impact on campus. As higher education evolves, we hope this report serves as a valuable resource for institutions exploring and integrating micro-credentials into their learning ecosystems.
To download the full report and explore the key findings, click here. To learn more about Coursera for Campus, visit coursera.org/campus.
At Alison, we’re proud to work with a diverse range of course creators who bring unique perspectives and expertise to our learners. One such educator is Kelvin Kobina Fosu, a humanitarian passionate about merging art and technology to make education more accessible. With a Bachelor’s Degree in Fine Arts and certifications in computer science and business strategies, Kelvin has developed content now used in over 170 countries. In this interview, Kelvin shares his journey, philosophy on education, and valuable insights for learners looking to develop new skills.
Alison: You have a rich educational background, including a Bachelor’s Degree in Fine Arts and certifications in computer science and business strategies. How has this diverse education equipped you to create the wide range of courses you offer on Alison?
Kelvin: I believe in arts, science, technology, and humanitarian activities because they are the building blocks of every nation. My curiosity about understanding how things work and our purpose on earth has driven me to learn anything that challenges my thoughts. Having diverse knowledge through research and experimentation in arts, computer science, and business (for a better world) makes me versatile in creating courses on topics that are relevant to learners. Most of the courses help learners acquire a concept, idea, or skill they need to accomplish something.
Additionally, participating in international hackathons allows me to learn new things from teams, judges, and the overall experience, which influences the content I create. Lifelong learning is key, and I find myself helping people with projects even beyond my expertise—delivering results that go beyond expectations.
Alison: You believe in putting people and the planet over profit. How does this belief influence the courses you create, and why is it important for learners to consider this in their own education?
Kelvin: As a child, I always had philanthropy at the core of my aspirations, whether it was dreaming of being an astronaut, a doctor, or a cartoonist. I’ve realised that society is built on caring for one another, whether it’s humans, plants, animals, or the environment. Learners should understand that their education isn’t just for personal gain but also for the benefit of their community, country, and the world.
When I create courses, I think about the ripple effect they might have on learners and their communities. Ultimately, we learn to make a difference in our lives and society.
Alison: Your courses are used in over 170 countries. How do you ensure that your content, like “Master the Pandas Library in Python Programming,” is accessible and valuable to learners from different backgrounds?
Kelvin: The concept that drives my courses is called AnyBodyCanDevelop (ABCD), which was inspired by my experience teaching kids through the Girls Education Initiative of Ghana (GEIG). This approach ensures inclusivity by making the foundations of lessons relatable to learners from all backgrounds. I focus on building blocks and ideas that people can easily connect with from fields such as arts, science, history, and technology, making the content relevant and applicable in everyday life.
Alison: Many learners struggle with starting something new, especially in fields like programming or digital illustration. What advice would you give to those who feel intimidated by these subjects?
Kelvin: Struggling is part of the process of understanding things, and in many cases, those struggles reveal new ways of solving problems if you’re determined to push through. I’ve faced my own struggles, but my curiosity to know how things work drives me to find solutions.
For learners, my advice is: don’t force yourself to learn something you’re not passionate about. Focus on your natural abilities, improve on them, and excel.
Alison: Among the courses you’ve created, such as Fundamental Illustrations in Adobe Illustrator and Understanding Python Sentiment Analysis Methodology, which one are you most proud of, and why?
Kelvin: While I love both, I’m particularly proud of Understanding Python Sentiment Analysis Methodology. It’s fascinating to learn how computers predict, autocorrect, and even translate text using Natural Language Processing. Working on this course gave me insight into how artificial intelligence operates, and seeing the results in practice through Python was incredibly satisfying.
Alison: Can you share an example of how learners have applied the skills from your courses in real life, particularly in ways that surprised or inspired you?
Kelvin: I have three learners in Ghana who I often collaborate with in hackathons. Two of them work at the Ghana-India Kofi Annan Centre of Excellence in ICT as IT instructors, and one is a UX engineer at Hubtel. They’ve proven their skills time and again, helping us win several international hackathons. Seeing their growth and success has been truly inspiring.
Alison: You’ve worked with initiatives like the Girls Education Initiative of Ghana. What lessons from these experiences do you incorporate into your online courses?
Kelvin: At GEIG, I was given the freedom to experiment with teaching methods, which helped us develop many courses. We encouraged kids to explore different programs on laptops and Kindle devices. One key lesson I took from this experience is to design courses that are experimental but ensure that the basics are easy to understand without compromising inclusivity.
Alison: Learning online can be challenging for many. How do you stay motivated when facing difficult topics, and what tips can you share to help learners stay on track?
Kelvin: Self-motivation is key. Many learners don’t complete courses because they treat them like “popcorn courses”—something to consume casually, like Netflix. But if you stay motivated by the desire to truly understand the material, not just for certificates or badges, it will pay off in your work environment. My motivation comes from the “aha moment” when things click, and I achieve the results I’m aiming for.
Alison: As someone deeply involved in both technology and education, what exciting trends or tools do you see on the horizon that could benefit Alison learners?
Kelvin: AI tools like ChatGPT, Copilot, and code chats are exciting trends that can make coding easier and more accessible. For content creation, tools like InVideo AI and Uizard offer endless possibilities. The future looks promising with these technologies.
Alison: Finally, what advice would you give to Alison learners who are just starting their educational journey, especially those looking to develop new skills or switch careers?
Kelvin: Find your natural abilities and focus on improving them. Don’t force yourself into areas that don’t come naturally. If you’re switching careers, be open to adapting and evolving with the change. It might be difficult, but staying relevant is worth the effort.
Kelvin Kobina Fosu’s passion for education, coupled with his diverse expertise, makes him a unique and inspiring figure in the world of online learning. His commitment to creating accessible, impactful content is clear, and his insights offer valuable lessons for learners everywhere. Whether you’re looking to dive into digital illustration, Python programming, or explore the fascinating world of artificial intelligence, Kelvin’s courses are designed to help you succeed.
Ready to start your learning journey? Enrol in one of Kelvin’s courses today and take the next step towards gaining practical skills that can open doors in your career and personal growth. Explore his courses on Adobe Illustrator, Python Programming, and more.
