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New online course offerings from some of the most prestigious universities are gradually changing the higher education landscape. Elite institutions like Harvard and Stanford have rolled out multimillion-dollar initiatives that allow anyone in the world to access their courses, free of charge. Even HKUST has signed an agreement in September 2012 with Coursera to bring our courses online worldwide. These free massive open online courses provide teaching to learners through short video segments, interactive quizzes, online forums and different tracks. After completing the class, a “statement of accomplishment” and a grade will be given.

In comparison with the traditional classroom platform, face-to-face mode of teaching and learning, do you find this online mode of learning attractive and effective? Why? Will online learning replace traditional teaching someday? Are there any components or aspects of traditional teaching that would still be valued and treasured, and cannot be replaced by online teaching?