Class Central has released its annual list of the top 50\u00a0Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs) around the world.<\/p>\n
With over 10,000 MOOCs from over 800 universities worldwide, Class Central used thousands of written reviews by users to sort\u00a0these courses by the Bayesian average of their ratings.<\/p>\n
It then\u00a0removed all the courses with less than 35 reviews (the low threshold helps smaller providers to compete on quality) and courses for which\u00a0it had doubts whether\u00a0they would be offered again.<\/p>\n
The University of Cape Town is a standout on the list and is only other university alongside Stanford University and the University of Pennsylvania to have three courses named in the Top 50 this year.<\/p>\n
Top 50\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n The three UCT courses included in the top 50 include the following:<\/p>\n What Is a Mind?<\/b><\/a> –\u00a0<\/b>This free online course brings together learners and practitioners interested in how the mind works. It aims to build bridges between traditionally antagonistic approaches to understanding the mind. The course is\u00a0presented by internationally-acclaimed neuropsychologist and psychoanalyst Professor Mark Holms, who heads UCT\u2019s Department of Psychology.<\/p>\n Extinctions: Past and Present<\/a>\u00a0–\u00a0<\/b>This free online course explores how life on earth has been shaped by five mass extinction events in the distant past. At present, biodiversity is facing a crisis, with the prospect of a sixth extinction event today. It is\u00a0presented by renowned palaeontologist Professor Anusuya Chinsamy-Turan (Department of Biological Sciences).<\/p>\n