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Chris Prosser
I have mixed feelings about this...
As someone who got into software development through a combination of online education, learning on the job and my own projects (rather than having a Computer Science degree), I love the concept. I have done a few free courses with Udacity (from when they used to offer free statements of accomplishment) and have generally had quite good experiences with them, the first course I did (Intro to Computer Science) was excellent.
In relation to the paid courses and nanodegress I think that the cost is a little excessive until we can really learn how useful the credential is in practice. I think to justify ~$200 per month it really needs to be either a recognised academic credential e.g. that counts as credits towards a degree and is recognised by institutions like The Open University so that people can use them work towards a degree or carry significant weight in industry (or preferably both).
While I have no doubt they are aiming for the later, at present there are only a few companies that they have said will take on paid interns with the nanodegree in the silicon valley area (see Will Udacity's partner companies hire me if I complete a nanodegree?). Well, thats a start but what if you don't want to live in Silicon Valley or are not interested in an intern level position at one of these companies?
I like the idea of what they are trying to do, I have heard Sebastian Thrun (Udacity founder) talk about the idea of getting small installments of education when you need them rather than having to decide what you want to do in life at 18 and spend 3-4 years on it then, which is meant to equip you for a career (things move too quickly for this, particularly in Computer Science). Whilst this idea makes a lot of sense to me, I don't know how long it will take for a significant number of employers to adjust to this or how much weight a Udacity Nanodegree will carry.
Until more companies catch up and start to recognise this sort of credential then the real value may be in the skills acquired rather than the certificate. It seems to me that those signing up have a lot of uncertainty to deal with, they really don't know whether it will pay off in terms of helping them to achieve their career goals. If you don't live in Silicon Valley or the US at all will there still be partner companies? Will there only be entry level positions (e.g. for those trying to get their first job in tech) or are Nanodegrees also relevant for people already working in tech who may want to just change focus a little or get a credential to help them progress? I think that they really need to address these sorts of questions to provide more reassurance for those signing up who will be committing 6-12 months of their time and ~ $1200 - $2400.
Coursera and edX also offer identity verified certificates and specialisations that group courses together for a slightly more affordable price. Whilst they have a slightly more academic focus in my experience I have also found them very good for building transferable skills.
It is worth keeping in mind that Udacity also offers tutor support and feedback on assignments as part of their paid courses which I'm sure adds to their costs significantly. For those who feel they need this support then it may be a good opportunity. I have personally found that I get on okay without this, I'm happy to do a little reading from elsewhere if needed. If Udacity offered another option of identity verified certificates / Nanodegrees without the tutor support for prices closer other providers e.g. $25 - $50 per course then I would be much more onboard and would be seriously considering some of the courses myself.
It's not my intention to put people off. To be clear, I have no doubt that you can build up some really useful skills completing a Udacity Nanodegree and probably a useful portfolio of projects to go with this. My uncertainty is around the value of the credential - only time will tell how useful this is. In the meantime I would love to see Udacity offer some reassurance for those who don't fit the 'Silicon Valley, first job in tech' mould, offer cheaper alternatives with less support or offer a path to making these count towards a recognised academic qualification.
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I have mixed feelings about this...
As someone who got into software development through a combination of online education, learning on the job and my own projects (rather than having a Computer Science degree), I love the concept. I have done a few free courses with Udacity (from when they used to offer free statements of accomplishment) and have generally had quite good experiences with them, the first course I did (Intro to Computer Science) was excellent.
In relation to the paid courses and nanodegress I think that the cost is a little excessive until we can really learn how useful the credential is in practice. I think to justify ~$200 per month it really needs to be either a recognised academic credential e.g. that counts as credits towards a degree and is recognised by institutions like The Open University so that people can use them work towards a degree or carry significant weight in industry (or preferably both).
While I have no doubt they are aiming for the later, at present there are only a few companies that they have said will take on paid interns with the nanodegree in the silicon valley area (see Will Udacity's partner companies hire me if I complete a nanodegree?). Well, thats a start but what if you don't want to live in Silicon Valley or are not interested in an intern level position at one of these companies?
I like the idea of what they are trying to do, I have heard Sebastian Thrun (Udacity founder) talk about the idea of getting small installments of education when you need them rather than having to decide what you want to do in life at 18 and spend 3-4 years on it then, which is meant to equip you for a career (things move too quickly for this, particularly in Computer Science). Whilst this idea makes a lot of sense to me, I don't know how long it will take for a significant number of employers to adjust to this or how much weight a Udacity Nanodegree will carry.
Until more companies catch up and start to recognise this sort of credential then the real value may be in the skills acquired rather than the certificate. It seems to me that those signing up have a lot of uncertainty to deal with, they really don't know whether it will pay off in terms of helping them to achieve their career goals. If you don't live in Silicon Valley or the US at all will there still be partner companies? Will there only be entry level positions (e.g. for those trying to get their first job in tech) or are Nanodegrees also relevant for people already working in tech who may want to just change focus a little or get a credential to help them progress? I think that they really need to address these sorts of questions to provide more reassurance for those signing up who will be committing 6-12 months of their time and ~ $1200 - $2400.
Coursera and edX also offer identity verified certificates and specialisations that group courses together for a slightly more affordable price. Whilst they have a slightly more academic focus in my experience I have also found them very good for building transferable skills.
It is worth keeping in mind that Udacity also offers tutor support and feedback on assignments as part of their paid courses which I'm sure adds to their costs significantly. For those who feel they need this support then it may be a good opportunity. I have personally found that I get on okay without this, I'm happy to do a little reading from elsewhere if needed. If Udacity offered another option of identity verified certificates / Nanodegrees without the tutor support for prices closer other providers e.g. $25 - $50 per course then I would be much more onboard and would be seriously considering some of the courses myself.
It's not my intention to put people off. To be clear, I have no doubt that you can build up some really useful skills completing a Udacity Nanodegree and probably a useful portfolio of projects to go with this. My uncertainty is around the value of the credential - only time will tell how useful this is. In the meantime I would love to see Udacity offer some reassurance for those who don't fit the 'Silicon Valley, first job in tech' mould, offer cheaper alternatives with less support or offer a path to making these count towards a recognised academic qualification.
See Questions On Quora
Continue reading...
