What's a MOOC?

 I have heard about these Massive Open Online classes, but it is hard to imagine a class with 18,000 students!  How do they communicate with the instructor?  Or do they?  How do they get grades? Are there grades? How do the instructors know who has done what?  Is there any interaction between students?  Is it a series of video lectures and PowerPoint presentations?  What about homework?  Are there class presentations?  

The courses are free.  How do instructors get paid?  How does the supporting college or university make money?  I have heard that the students who want credit for the course have to take a test in a location where they must prove their identity.  Otherwise, you don’t know who actually did the work to get the credit.  And what is the cost of credit?  Is it the same as a seated class or an ordinary online class?

There are so many questions, I decided to experience it for myself.  Penn State is offering a MOOC on creativity in Coursera.  I have signed up.  I do have a Master of Science in Creative Studies, and I teach the subject, so I really don’t need the course except to satisfy my curiosity.  I also signed up for a course in how to do a MOOC to get the “behind the scenes” view in case I would like to run one.  Many people have asked that I keep them informed about both courses so I am starting this blog to journal the processes.  Stay tuned!