Higher education eventually might eventually consist of three classes of students much like a passenger ship – like the Titanic, for example.  First Class (pay the big bucks, get personal attention from the instructor, only a few others around to cramp your style), Second Class (personal attention if you ask for it repeatedly, sharing classroom space every so often since most of the work will be done online), and Steerage (pay little, completely online, no contact with instructors or other students, and you’re in some trouble if the ship hits an iceberg).

Peter Sacks at Minding the Campus discusses that here.  No doubt, Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs) are emerging as a challenge to the traditional structure of higher education.  And even though students who choose MOOCs might be considered higher ed’s steerage, according to Glenn Reynolds, they’ll still get to where they need to go.

(h/t:  Instapundit)