(pronounced MA-sihv OH-pehn AHN-lyne KORS)

Also known as a “MOOC,” this relatively new mode of distance learning allows a sizeable amount of students to participate in the same educational session at the same time via the World Wide Web. Often interactive, this techno-savvy method of instruction is made possible by the prevalence of Internet access, higher connection speeds, and improvements in software platforms, and its growth shows no sign of slowing down. Learn more at Wikipedia.

Example: As he was living in a remote, rural area for the indefinite future in order to care for his ailing parents, Joaquin relied solely on massive open online courses to advance his education.