Is it worth it to pay for a certificate from edX?

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the value of obtaining a certificate from edX after completing an online course. Participants explore the recognition of these certificates by academic institutions, the motivations for paying for certificates, and alternative forms of demonstrating mastery in a subject.

Discussion Character

  • Debate/contested
  • Exploratory
  • Conceptual clarification

Main Points Raised

  • One participant questions the worth of edX certificates and their recognition by academic institutions, noting that they do not transfer as school credits.
  • Another participant highlights the backing of prestigious institutions like MIT and Harvard but expresses uncertainty about the general awareness of edX among academic institutions.
  • Some participants suggest that motivation and personal satisfaction from completing the course may outweigh the need for a certificate.
  • There are mentions of alternative certifications, such as those from the American Society of Quality (ASQ), which may be more recognized in certain fields.
  • One participant proposes that publishing a white paper could serve as a better demonstration of mastery than a certificate, although this is debated in terms of relevance to the course level.
  • Concerns are raised about the high cost of verified certificates compared to traditional tuition rates, leading some to question their value.
  • Participants express a desire to connect and discuss course content further, indicating a collaborative interest in the subject matter.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants do not reach a consensus on the value of edX certificates. There are multiple competing views regarding their recognition, the motivations for obtaining them, and alternative methods of demonstrating knowledge.

Contextual Notes

Some discussions hinge on the specific type of courseware being taken, and there are unresolved questions about the recognition of certificates and the appropriateness of alternative certifications.

Ahmad Kishki
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I am doing an online course on edX, but the policy is that i will not get a certificate if i don't pay for it. So are certficates from edX really worth it? Are they recognised by academic institutions?
 
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Thank you, the link was very useful. I don't think i will pay, i am motivated enough to work through the course material.
 
You did not specify what type of courseware you are planning to take.

If you were trying to show a mastery of statistics for example, you could look at certification through ASQ (American Society of Quality). All of their certifications are well regarded (I believe this organization is 20 years or older). There are other types of professional certifications as well, depending upon your area of interest.

And there are online programs as well.

Let us know what your area of interest is.
 
CalcNerd said:
You did not specify what type of courseware you are planning to take.

If you were trying to show a mastery of statistics for example, you could look at certification through ASQ (American Society of Quality). All of their certifications are well regarded (I believe this organization is 20 years or older). There are other types of professional certifications as well, depending upon your area of interest.

And there are online programs as well.

Let us know what your area of interest is.

I am taking 8.05x masterinng quantum mechanics. Its already too late to pay for the certificate anyway, but tell me your opinion.
 
You are probably smart by not paying for that.

What would help you best upon finishing some of these type of classes is a published White paper to reference when you need to prove your mastery of the subject.

At the very least it will help you in future graduate work, if you can apply it to your studies or research. Not all coursework will be relevant to you in the near or often even the far future aside from personal satisfaction of knowledge gained.
 
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CalcNerd said:
a published White paper

:oldconfused: I don't remember ever seeing the term "white paper" in this context. What would be in that paper, and where would he publish it?
 
http://physicsworld.com/cws/channel/whitepapers

This is not something I would suggest for someone taking anything but Phd quality coursework, but 8.05 X indicates doctorial level type study. (I am editing, mea culpa) This is an intermediate class and the rest of my comments DO NOT apply. But it is good information for someone who may pursue upper level independent study.

This isn't for some undergrad who believes they are formulating new unproven frontiers of science. There really is no other alternative if someone wants to demonstrate a knowledge of his advanced independent studies than to publish.
 
Last edited:
Ahmad Kishki said:
I am taking 8.05x masterinng quantum mechanics. Its already too late to pay for the certificate anyway, but tell me your opinion.

I'm taking that too :)

I don't normally pay for MOOCs. Sometimes I do, but it's because I enjoy the program and want to support it, not because I think it will actually get me anything. I know edX has a scheme for some of the courses where you can decide how much to donate (I'll usually leave $10 or $20) and on Coursera they're not terribly expensive. The groups that produce MOOC content do so for free, and if they can't expect some kind of compensation then they're going to stop. And as the upshot, showing universities that this is a potentially profitable venture will encourage the production of more high-quality content.

OTOH, I also have seen edX courses where the fee for the verified certificate is more than the per hour tuition rate at my own college. Let me think, no.
 
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jack476 said:
I'm taking that too :)

I don't normally pay for MOOCs. Sometimes I do, but it's because I enjoy the program and want to support it, not because I think it will actually get me anything. I know edX has a scheme for some of the courses where you can decide how much to donate (I'll usually leave $10 or $20) and on Coursera they're not terribly expensive. The groups that produce MOOC content do so for free, and if they can't expect some kind of compensation then they're going to stop. And as the upshot, showing universities that this is a potentially profitable venture will encourage the production of more high-quality content.

OTOH, I also have seen edX courses where the fee for the verified certificate is more than the per hour tuition rate at my own college. Let me think, no.

Oh great! I would love to have a colleague to chat with about some of the subtelties of the course! I will send you a message with my fb profile, please add, chat soon :)
 

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