Massively open? College unbound? What are the roots of Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs), and how much of a trend is it? What promises and anxieties do MOOCs bring to higher education, academic leaders, and faculty? 2013 has witnessed one of the most rapid and enthusiastic adoptions of educational innovation in history, generating numerous…

Despite the lack of a viable business model and very high student attrition rates, Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs) have become the current obsession in higher education. Even so, there is still no broad agreement about what a MOOC actually is. Although the current MOOC format(s) may not be a solution to our problems, they may be a symptom of…

This study reports faculty members' and students' responses to the technological and pedagogical challenges they faced in completing computer-based distance education. Topics include the need for adequate faculty training, the need for adequate student training, and the need for technical support available 24 hours a day. (Author/LRW)