在線網絡公開課Mooc學歷開始獲得認可

If the first chapter in the evolution of massive open online courses (Moocs) was written in the US, it may well be in Europe that they make their next significant advance.

如果說大規模開放在線課堂(Mooc)發展的開篇是在美國書寫的，那麼它們的下一個重大進展很可能會發生在歐洲。

This is the view of Hannes Klöpper, co-founder and chief academic officer at Iversity, a Berlin-based Mooc platform that launched in October 2014. Mr Klöpper argues that the European Credit Transfer and Accumulation System (ECTS) presents an opportunity to transform Moocs – free, standalone courses – from academic novelty to meaningful qualifications.

Iversity的聯合創始人及首席學術官漢內斯•克洛珀(Hannes Klöpper)就是這樣認爲的。Iversity是一個位於柏林的Mooc平臺，成立於2013年10月。克洛珀認爲，歐洲學分轉換與積累體系(ECTS)提供了一個徹底改變Mooc（免費的獨立課程）的機會，它將使Mooc從學術界的新奇玩意轉變爲正經八百的學歷。

The ECTS is a standard for comparing student attainment and performance in higher education institutions across Europe. Under the system, students can transfer credits for study already completed towards an appropriate equivalent degree in any of the 53 countries that have ratified the Lisbon Recognition Convention.

ECTS是一套標準，用來比較歐洲各地高等院校學生的學識及成績。在該體系下，學生可在已批准《里斯本認可公約》(Lisbon Recognition Convention)的53國中的任何一國，將已修學分轉換成該國相應的同等學歷。

Should European universities start awarding students credit for attainment in Moocs, Mr Klöpper says that the ECTS provides a legal basis for mutual credit recognition.

克洛珀說，ECTS爲學分互認提供了法律依據，一旦歐洲大學開始向學生在Mooc中完成的學業授予學分，這些學分就能在歐洲各國得到承認。

Mr Klöpper says that this sets Europe apart from the US. No national mechanism for credit transfer exists in the US and students must demonstrate the eligibility of their credit to university admission boards.

他說，這一點將歐洲與美國區別開來。由於美國在國家層面上不存在學分轉換機制，因此學生必須向大學錄取委員會證明自己的學分符合要求。

“The ECTS shifts the burden of proof to universities to prove that course credit is not relevant,” says Mr Klöpper. “Credit from other accredited institutions must be accepted by default [and] any refusal must be justified.” Moreover, he adds, universities are not permitted to make students resit work for their credit to be recognised. “The incentive structure and legal framework work in our favour.”

“ECTS將證明課程學分不合要求的舉證責任轉嫁給各個大學。”克洛珀說，“在默認情況下，大學必須承認學生從其他認證機構修得的學分；如果拒絕承認，必須給出正當理由。”他接着說，此外，大學不得要求學生重考相關課程、然後才承認他們在這些課程上的學分。“激勵結構和法律框架對我們有利。”

Michael Gaebel, head of the Higher Education Policy Unit at the European University Association, says there is no legal obstacle to Moocs playing a role in the European credit market. “The question, if universities start doing this, is under what conditions [they do so].”

歐洲大學協會(EUA)高等教育政策部門負責人邁克爾•格貝爾(Michael Gaebel)說，不存在任何法律上的障礙阻止Mooc在歐洲學分市場上立足。“問題在於，如果大學開始承認這些學分，那麼是基於何種條件（來承認）。”

Credibility is paramount, says Stephen Jackson, director of reviews at the Quality Assurance Agency for higher education in the UK. “It is only by demonstrating learning outcomes that credit should be granted.”

英國高等教育質量保證局(Quality Assurance Agency for higher education)評審主任斯蒂芬•傑克遜(Stephen Jackson)說，最重要的是可信度。“只有證明學習成果是實實在在的，才應被授予學分。”

Ensuring the quality of the Moocs learning experience, and of student achievement, remains a major concern. “At the moment, certificates [for completing Moocs] do not specify any level of attainment,” says Mr Jackson.

如何確保Mooc學習經歷和學生成績的質量，仍是人們目前關心的一大問題。傑克遜說：“現階段，（完成Mooc課程的）證書並不明確標出學識達到了哪一水平。”

Coursera and edX, leading US-based Mooc platforms, have introduced optional certification on some courses. For a fee, students receive a certificate, but no credit, upon completion.

美國知名Mooc平臺Coursera和edX已在一些課程上引入了可選的證書。學生在完成課程後，可付費獲得一個證書、而不是學分。

A significant hurdle to the awarding of certificates – let alone credit – is verifying the online identity of participants. To tackle this, Coursera has introduced technology to identify students enrolled on its “Signature Track” certification option.

頒發證書（更別提授予學分了）面臨的一大障礙是覈實參與者的網絡身份。爲了解決這一問題，Coursera引入了相關技術，來識別註冊了其“簽名追蹤”(Signature Track)證書選項的學生的身份。

Simon Nelson, chief executive of Futurelearn, the UK-based Mooc platform, although unconvinced about remote invigilation, says that “new forms of authentication are clearly helpful for gaining credibility”.

英國Mooc平臺Futurelearn的行政總裁西蒙•尼爾森(Simon Nelson)雖然對遠程監考持懷疑態度，但也表示“這些新形式的認證顯然有助於增強可信度。”

To bypass the identity verification issue, proctored – or supervised – assessment may offer a solution.

若想繞開身份驗證問題，帶監考或監督的評定或許是一種解決方案。

“Proctored exam centres could take us very quickly to the point where universities can award credit for Moocs,” says Jeff Haywood, chief information officer at the University of Edinburgh, which offers courses through Coursera and Futurelearn.

愛丁堡大學(University of Edinburgh)首席信息官傑夫•海伍德(Jeff Haywood)說：“帶監考的考試中心一下子就幫我們解決了這個問題，大學由此便可向Mooc課程授予學分。”愛丁堡大學在Coursera和Futurelearn上都提供了在線課程。

Indeed, Iversity has opted for traditional in-person exams to assess students enrolled on pilot for-credit courses.

事實上，Iversity已選擇用傳統的現場考試來評定那些註冊了試點學分制課程的學生。

Coursera, meanwhile, is experimenting with online proctoring. Students enrolled on five Moocs sit online exams with live supervision. These Moocs have been approved for credit recommendation by the American Council on Education (Ace).

Coursera則開始嘗試在線監考，註冊了5門Mooc課程的學生需參加帶實況監督的在線考試。美國教育委員會(Ace)已批准對這批Mooc課程授予學分推薦。

Students are not awarded credit by either Coursera or the university offering the course, but can present their Ace credit recommendations to more than 2,000 US universities and colleges. However, the decision whether to accept them as credit towards a degree programme rests entirely with each admissions office.

無論是Coursera還是提供在線課程的大學都不會向學生授予學分，但學生可向全美2000多所大專院校出示自己的Ace學分推薦。至於這些學分推薦能否被承認爲某學位項目認可的學分，則完全取決於各個大學錄取辦公室。

Although autonomous university systems may stifle credit transfer in the US, Mr Klöpper anticipates that the ECTS will create credit federations among European universities. “Arguments against mutual recognition of credit came from mistrust of other qualifications,” he says. Moocs, by contrast, are transparent in that they are open to public scrutiny. Course quality will be largely self-regulated, he says, as universities wish to uphold their reputation and brand.

儘管自治大學系統或許會扼殺美國的學分轉換，但克洛珀預期，ECTS將在歐洲大學之中創造出學分聯盟。他說：“對學分互認的反對源自於對其他學歷的懷疑。”相比之下，Mooc對公衆監督開放，因此是透明的。他還表示，由於各個大學希望維護自身的聲望和品牌，因此課程質量將在很大程度上得到自我管控。

Prof Haywood, however, identifies a potential limit to the role that Moocs, in their current form, could play in any credit market. Despite the provisions of the ECTS, he says it will ultimately be up to individual universities to decide if the content and structure of a given Mooc can count towards any of their degrees.

但海伍德教授認爲，Mooc在現有的形式下，在任何學分市場上發揮的作用都面臨一個潛在的限制。他說，儘管ECTS給出了相關規定，但最終還是要由各個大學來決定某個特定Mooc課程的內容和框架能否被計入它們的學歷。

The main challenge, says Prof Haywood, is that the content and workload of a Mooc does not align with degree-level work. He cites Edinburgh’s first six Moocs, delivered on Coursera, that are each only five weeks long. “You need a set of Moocs that can be strung together to form something useful,” he adds.

海伍德教授說，最主要的挑戰在於Mooc的課程內容和學習量與學位所需的學習量不相符。他拿愛丁堡大學在Coursera上推出的首批6門Mooc課程舉例，每門課程的時長僅爲五週。“你需要的是一套能被串接在一起、形成某種有價值東西的Mooc課程，”他補充道。

There are also many competencies – verbal, interpersonal and team-working skills – that Moocs currently cannot develop in students, says Martin Boehm, dean of programmes at IE Business School, Spain. “Top schools will reject this credit . . . it would be dangerous to accept lower standards.”

西班牙IE商學院(IE Business School)項目主任馬丁•伯姆(Martin Boehm)說，還有許多能力——比如語言能力、人際交往能力和團隊合作技巧——是Mooc無法培養的。“一流學校不會承認這種學分……接受較低的標準將是危險的。”

However, like any prior experience, the completion of a Mooc will factor into an impression of a candidate. “Moocs are a demonstration of additional commitment,” says Mr Nelson.

不過，就像所有先備經驗(prior experience)一樣，完成一門Mooc課程將增加申請人的印象分。尼爾森說：“完成Mooc課程證明你付出了額外的努力。”

Mr Jackson warns that while hurdles remain, employers may lend Moocs status by independently recognising them. “If employers are willing to take a badge, then you might bypass the system. Moocs are potentially very subversive to existing practices and institutions.”

傑克遜提醒說，雖然仍存在種種障礙，但僱主們或許會以自行認可的方式提升Mooc的地位。“如果僱主們願意給予認可，你或許就能繞過這套系統。Mooc對現有實踐和慣例可能具有很大的顛覆力。”