edX Joins Stanford's Class2Go to Create Open-Source Online Learning Platform

edX, a way of learning created specifically for interactive study via the Web, announced on Wednesday that it will be teaming up with Stanford in hopes of becoming an open-source platform to provide free and open online learning tools to higher education institutions around the globe.

According to TechCrunch, Stanford will be integrating some of the features of its existing Class2Go platform into the edX platform, using Class2Go’s infrastructure as an internal platform for hosting coursework for on-campus and distance learners both online and offline.

“Since launching in September, Class2Go has attracted a number of universities (and courses) to its platform, and, while Stanford plans to keep the platform running this quarter for those already using it, the partners will look to transfer those schools and courses to edX’s platform thereafter,” said Rip Empson in his article on TechCrunch.

“By turning edX into an open-source online learning platform, the company hopes to allow universities to develop their own ‘delivery methods’, collaborate with other institutions in ways that make sense for their needs and more effectively collect data while controlling their own branding.”

This news comes shortly after it was announced that 15,000 students at the University of Texas in Austin have registered for the university’s edX classes in just the first three days of enrollment.

“We are so proud of these courses and the fact that they will showcase our outstanding faculty on a global stage,” said Gene Powell, chairman of the UT System Board of Regents. “The success of these inaugural courses is an important step in achieving our goals of  better meeting the learning needs of a wide range of students, raising graduation rates and cutting the cost of higher education, all while maintaining our commitment to education of the highest quality. The fact that we are seeing this much progress just five months after the Regents approved our partnership with edX is amazing.”