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Coursera does an about-face, wants to compete with Blackboard instead.

I wonder if it would be necessary to strike a deal with one of the MOOC 'distributors' to incorporate one of their MOOCs into our curriculum. What if, for example, UNB decided to incorporate a MOOC as resource material in one of our own courses, and leave it to a TA to manage discussions, assignments, tests, tutorials and so on at this end?

I see that you found it already.

"A leading platform for the popular "massive open online courses" offered by elite universities is moving into a new realm: the expansive field of continuing education for teachers."

Don't jump on the MOOC bandwagon just yet!

Its best not to see lecture and educational technology as either/or, bad/good. If educational technology does not improve lectures and teaching/learning in general in ways that nothing else can, then it should not be used. There is, however, lots of good brain and teaching methods research on which to base effective ways of using educational technology to improve student learning. I've got lots of it here in TLS, and part of our committee work could be to create a repository of this research and details of the associated educational technology methods that have been proven to work. Faced with research-based evidence, most instructors are willing to incorporate new methods.

I'm looking forward to starting my MOOC on Disruptive Technology through Coursera. Sure, a good lecture is great, but I like the prospect of watching a great lecture at home by the fire. Plus, I like the idea of getting content delivered to me by some of the most highly rated teachers/researchers in the world... for free at that!