Hello all, I thought I might add some points as I have been working in Coursera under their support team head Jade Wang( as Not for profit Volunteer) since August 2015 and am with Coursera as learner since July, 2013.
What I used to like about Coursera is that it actually provides you enough chances to learn what you want and in your way. In the old format there used to be weekly quizzes and fortnight peer graded assignments and, all the substance consisting the answer was completely covered by course videos. Unlike my college teachers they seemed really cool to me. Technical assistants were 24x7 online to help you and discussion forums used to resolve any problem you could have with the course substance. And to be honest, cheat codes were available in net too( I used for my image processing class). People were friendly but too calm and composite with their stuffs on board. As for certificates, they used to provide "Statement of Accomplishment"
which actually is not bound to give you any sort of college credit unless he is good enough to respond to your earnest request. It could only encourage you and help you enrich and expand your knowledge. Here is the image, it might explain the difference between 2013 and 2015 coursera.
Its unreadable after compression, it says:
PLEASE NOTE: THE ONLINE OFFERING OF THIS CLASS DOES NOT REFLECT THE ENTIRE CURRICULUM OFFERED TO STUDENTS ENROLLED AT COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY. THIS STATEMENT DOES NOT AFFIRM THAT THIS STUDENT WAS ENROLLED AS A STUDENT AT COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY IN ANY WAY. IT DOES NOT CONFER A COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY GRADE; IT DOES NOT CONFER COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY CREDIT; IT DOES NOT CONFER A COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY DEGREE; AND IT DOES NOT VERIFY THE IDENTITY OF THE STUDENT.
The system changed gradually and verified certificates entered with the credit hour system. Right now it consists of some great "specialisations" which actually has 7-8 courses together and after doing all these they help you to get a Project( sometimes alone / sometimes with a team). Speaking about contents they basically are offered by the best universities all around the world. Except MIT( as MIT is mostly with edx) and some other you will find universities like Stanford,UCLA, UC sandiego,NTU, Arizona state, Michigan. (Link for all the <a href="https://www.coursera.org/about/partners/us" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer">Exceptional Educators and Partners from the United States | Coursera</a>) So there won't be any chance of learning something wrong( well if you are a person who go with the brands). What's more, this verified certificate actually has an advantage. Like accomplishment statements these are also
Not Bound to give you any credit BUT it verifies your recognition which gives you a chance to appear in the University online students list itself as these courses and certificates are completely offered by the University. Coursera team actually does nothing except maintaining the site. There is actually a big chance for you to get selected as a regular student for higher studies if you apply in the same subject referring to your success.
PS. All of these heavy specialisations can be availabe free of cost for the needy. "Apply for financial aid" is where you get all the info.
Now Credit Courses are again one step ahead and these CONFIRMS your credit to pursue a course in that University. In 2013 Professor Walter Lewin used to take 8.01,8.02 and 8.03 physics class in edx in which if you could get 80% in 8.01, MIT opened the door for you to give their own university exam. People who passed it, got direct chance in 2nd year Physics Major Course in Mit, remeber this was the magic of simple honor code certificate provided by edx.
Back to credit again, I do actually prefer Edx over Coursera when it comes to Credit courses. The concept is, each subject bears some sort of credit point that detects how much you officially know about the subject. Suppose an edx course is giving you 2 credit points for completing a course. That means you got 2 credits for the subject given by the University itself.
The bad thing about Edx, Verfied certificates are no way free for you ! you have to pay.
But this MOOC system is about to be obsolete as POOC is coming up. POOC is the Personalised Open Online Courses. Other details will soon be coming when it will be adopted by these giant Course Providers.