Success of Gender through Comics MOOC Raises Questions about the Role of Online Education

Earlier this year, Christina Blanch, an adjunct professor at Ball State University, taught what turned out to be a very popular MOOC, titled "Gender Through Comic Books." The course's popularity offered insight into the success of MOOCs and the role of online courses in education.
About the Course
According to the course page, students used comics as a medium to analyze gender identity, roles, and stereotypes. Real-time interviews, interactive video lectures, and online student discussions were all parts of the class. In January, Blanch told Wired that the class would have the chance to interview notable comic-book writers; including Mark Waid, Terry Moore, and Gail Simone; as well as Marvel editors Sana Amanat and Steve Wacker. As for reading material, Blanch mentioned that the class would read a range of works, from DC's Batman to smaller publishers' works, such as Saga and Strangers in Paradise. See more...