MOOC verification certificates?

[Conjou]

I started learning programming via edx and at first was just going to learn this stuff as a useful and potentially profitable side gig. I have completed the courses in audit mode, without paying for the verification certificates. Am I being stupid not to pay the $90 for the completion certificate for each course? Anyone else take these massive online courses and find the certificates served some purpose related to employment or contract work?

[AH013]

I don't think many employers value a piece of paper that effectively says "someone purporting to be Conjou took an online course and passed".  I'm sure there are some online diploma mills educational institutes like Atlantic Intercontinental University that will argue with that statement.

Unless a regionally or nationally accredited college is giving you credits, or a legitimate recognized professional organization (think AICPA, etc.) is verifying your achievement, there is little need to get a piece of paper that proves an online course was taken.  The programming skills you claim to have learned will be verifiable quite clearly if you're ever asked to code something as a component of an interview or evaluation of a job opportunity.

[syednaeemul]

Hi Conjou, MOOC certificates are still not accepted as formal education, so not paying the $90 is fine. You can instead say you completed the course, and just talk about the concepts you learned.

[Conjou]

Thanks--that is what I thought about the whole certificate thing and I will just add that it would be nice if education verification moved in the direction of proof by demonstration or doing as opposed to buying degrees/papers from institutions.