I have a new word. I love new words. Here's my new word: MOOCs. MOOCs is short for massively open online classes. I would have preferred MOOSE or massively open online senseless exercises, but that wouldn't be right. 

Harvard and MIT have teamed up to create edX, which will offer free online courses from both universities. Cousera is a rival operated by Stanford, the University of Pennsylvania, Princeton, and the University of Michigan. There's also Udacity, which a Stanford professor operates. 

I love the idea that there's free information out there. A poor farm kid in Nebraska with a love of the Greeks can watch a lecture on Plato's Republic and be happy. I like that there's a rival to over-priced, elitist colleges. but I'm not sure how this will all pan out.

David Brooks is sceptical. What do you think? 

I might watch a few of those lectures this afternoon and write a review.