Two years ago, when Florida lawmakers overhauled the state’s virtual education system, the idea of students taking MOOCs for high school credit stole much of the spotlight.
Now, as the state’s new online course choice program debuts, Massive Open Online Courses are nowhere to be found.
Late last week, the state Department of Education approved a single provider — Minnesota-based online learning company Edmentum — to offer courses through the new Florida Approved Courses and Tests system, which is going live for the 2015-16 school year.
The program, created by 2013 legislation, is intended to diversify the online learning options available in the state, giving students a new way to choose individual courses.
Two other providers, Mosaica and Odysseyware, applied to offer courses this year but were not approved.
Edmentum won approval for 26 courses, from physical education to Advanced Placement Calculus, which will be available to students in the state’s online course catalog alongside other options. None of its approved courses are in a MOOC format. See the full list here.
The company is one of six online learning providers that, along with Florida Virtual School and its local franchises, can already offer online courses in the state. The 2013 law change also allows students anywhere in the state to enroll in the courses they offer.
While MOOCs for credit haven’t gotten much traction, some schools have started using their videotaped lectures to as a curriculum supplement.
