MOOCs

1. Play teaches kids to be adults. That's how humans evolved, argues Peter Gray, professor of psychology at Boston College. But our educational system stifles playfulness, and that can hamper kids' ability to learn. 

2. Doing homework wastes a lot more than paper. Professor Jim Davies thinks too many assignments are busy work, and young people should embark on more projects that matter.  

3. One-on-one learning is finally coming to traditional classrooms, thanks to technology and a company called New Classrooms. Co-founders Joel Rose and Chris Rush explain why the ideal learning environment involves computers, personalized learning, AND group lessons.

Dr. Robert Goddard at Clark University. Credit: NASA / Flickr Creative Commons

In this web exclusive, Nobel prize-winning economist Bob Shiller shares his thoughts on massive open online courses.  Read More...