MOOC

Definition

Massive Open Online Course—free or low-cost online classes promising to democratize education by reaching thousands simultaneously. Initially hyped as higher education's disruptor, most have completion rates under 10%, proving that 'free' and 'massive' don't automatically equal 'effective.'

Example Usage

I enrolled in three MOOCs on Coursera this year and finished exactly zero, but I feel very educated whenever I browse my incomplete course list.

Origin

Acronym coined in 2008 by Dave Cormier and Bryan Alexander; popularized when Stanford launched free online courses in 2011

Fun Fact

The median MOOC completion rate hovers around 5-15%, leading critics to joke that MOOC actually stands for 'Mostly Observers, Occasional Contributors.'

Source: Online education and educational technology

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