As for your second point, I don't fully agree with that one.
I think that credentials and requirements are indeed wanted by many students, but not by all of them. If you already have a degree from a university, and you take some MOOCs for fun, why would you bother with it?
In my case, I have my degree in compsci, but later realised I do have an interest in philosophy as well. Due to working I could not go study the full-time course, but my uni offered me to study philo at my own pace (each semester, just take courses a,b, whatever). Without having a degree at the end of this.
To conclude, I believe some students do MOOCs purely out of interest, and don't attach as much value to the certificate because of that.
I don't disagree that some do MOOCs purely out of interest. But I'm shocked by the number that do really want some kind of certification, even when that certification is worthless. I've had people with a Ph.D asking if they'll get a certificate for completing a free four-day bootcamp.
I think that credentials and requirements are indeed wanted by many students, but not by all of them. If you already have a degree from a university, and you take some MOOCs for fun, why would you bother with it?
In my case, I have my degree in compsci, but later realised I do have an interest in philosophy as well. Due to working I could not go study the full-time course, but my uni offered me to study philo at my own pace (each semester, just take courses a,b, whatever). Without having a degree at the end of this.
To conclude, I believe some students do MOOCs purely out of interest, and don't attach as much value to the certificate because of that.