Alternative Credentials

The dominant model may not make sense for liberal arts colleges, but if you take away the "massive" part, there is great potential, write W. Joseph King and Michael Nanfito.

The American Council on Education's plan to pursue credit recommendations for Coursera's massive courses is among wave of MOOC-related grants announced by Gates Foundation.

MOOCs are changing the relationships that are at the center of higher education, and those changes could end up affecting all colleges, writes Alison Byerly.

Competency-based education is poised to spread, with expected backing from the Education Department and new ground charted by Southern New Hampshire University.

Growth in adult students' interest in online education is stagnating, report finds, and colleges will have to do more to stand out online.

Already the largest provider of massive open online courses, Coursera doubles its list of university partners. Just how broad will the company's emerging MOOC empire become?

The Gates Foundation is ponying up to learn if MOOCs could work for remedial students, a departure from the current slate of MOOCs. Developmental education experts say the idea could work, but others remain skeptical.

Before these massive online courses truly transform higher education, they need to focus on some key teaching issues, writes Gary S. May.