How HBX Differs From MOOC courses

HBX, a digital learning initiative of the Harvard Business School (HBS), was set up to extend the reach of HBS’s on campus offerings to a large number of people, some of them even without any previous exposure to business education.

How is it different from other onlne initiatives like Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs) offered by the top universities and colleges?  First, a bit of background.

Late entrant advantage

Harvard was a relatively late entrant into the online EdTech field. Having seen the experience of several pioneering Universities and  institutions, it decided to build its own platform rather than depend on some other companies.

MOOCs such as Coursera and EDX allow several universities and educational institutions use the platforms without having to incur additional expenses of developing the technology for the purpose.

However, on the flip side, the universities do not have any control on the way the content is delivered or on providing an interactive experience for the students.

One of the main motives for the HBS decision to ramp up its online presence was to reach its famous ‘case study method’ to more people.

What is case study method?

The case study method is an inductive form of instruction rather than the deductive method all of us are more familiar with. A professor explaining the steps to get an answer using a formula or process is deductive method.

Inductive learning, however, allows students to imbibe concepts while working through a problem. It involves asking questions, not only to professors, but discussing it with fellow students.

Thus, putting the student at the centre with the pedagogy in mind, led HBX to build its own platform to ensure that this method of instruction would not be compromised, says HBX Executive Director Patrick Mullane.

Learning platforms

HBX has two learning platforms– CORe and Disruptive Strategy,   HBX Live Studio.

CORe (Credential of Readiness) is a 150-hour course that teaches students economics, accounting, and data analytics.

It provides the most essential things you need to know to get started in a business career, whether it is at a big company, a tiny start-up, or a non-profit organisation.

Disruptive Strategy focuses on encouraging innovation and establishing a framework for making strategic business decisions.

Applicants need to spend only about 20 minutes to complete the admission process that measures the applicant’s motivation and aptitude. Candidates have to answer a few basic skills questions which assess their reasoning and ability to perform basic math. They also have to write a short essay.

HBX Live Studio

HBX Live is a virtual classroom in which participants from around the globe can log in and join real-time, case-based sessions with HBS faculty who teach from the HBX Live studio, located in the Boston-based facility of public broadcaster WGBH.

In the studio, a high-resolution video wall mimics the amphitheater-style seating of an HBS classroom, where up to 60 participants are displayed on individual screens simultaneously.

In addition, others can audit sessions via an observer model. The  participants get a feeling of being in a real classroom.

Student participation essential

Despite being self paced like MOOCS, HBX programs are deadline driven and community based. Students have to actively participate  throughout the course.

Whenever students log onto the platform, the first thing they see would be a map with pulsating bubbles showing others who are active anywhere in the world.

This particular design element facilitates the peer-to-peer interaction and social learning environment of a Harvard Business School classroom. After the student answers a question, the reflection will be shared with their peers. They can engage in one-to-one messaging.

Everything for a fee

Unlike MOOC courses that are available free of cost, HBX charges a Credential Cost of $1,800 and For Credit Cost of $3,600 for most of its programs.  Need based scholarships are available.

Mullane says because of the fee payment, the programs attract serious students with the average completion rate from 85% to 90%. Free MOOC courses typically have it only in single digits.