Can MOOCs be harnessed to help higher ed? - LARRY MITCHELL, the Mercury Register

A type of online college course known as a MOOC has great potential but also presents challenges for higher education, according to Mike Ward, dean of the College of Engineering, Computer Science and Construction Management at Chico State University. MOOCs — massive open online courses — are being offered by some large universities and private companies, Ward said. Anyone can sign up to take them. Ward talked about the promise of MOOCs for a campus like Chico State in an email he wrote. "There is interest in them because, think about it: anyone sitting in Chico can listen to lectures from one of the world's foremost authorities in a given subject matter, from Stanford or MIT or Harvard. Who wouldn't be interested? This is the up side." http://www.orovillemr.com/news/ci_22913950/can-moocs-be-harnessed-help-higher-ed