By Associated Press
University of Virginia officials say their first round of worldwide free online classes were such a success that they’ll increase the offerings. More than 150,000 took the university’s five free courses this year on the Coursera online network. At least nine classes have been firmed up for the next year — three repeated classes and six new entries — and others are possible, Kristin Palmer, U.Va. director of online learning environments, told The Virginian-Pilot. Popular professor Larry Sabato, who also serves as director for the school’s Center for Politics, will teach a class on President John F. Kennedy’s legacy 50 years after his assassination. It is timed to coincide with the publication of his book on Kennedy. While Sabato said he’s teaching the class at the request of President Teresa Sullivan, he said he’s far from sold on online courses. “That’s one of my questions about this: Can I maintain any real level of educational standard in a class like this?” Sabato said.
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