MOOC

(pronounced: mook)

A type of online education consisting of a series of lectures streamed to tens of thousands of students instead of just to those in a classroom. By using such lectures as the basis for a new menu of educational options—ranging from degree programs mixing traditional and virtual classes, to purely online vocational training—universities tailor programs to individual students, offer access to the best professors in any field, and cut costs and tuitions significantly. For example, San Jose State University offers an online course for $150, rather than the usual $2,000 class fee.

An acronym used in texting, online chat, instant messaging, e-mail, blogs, and newsgroup postings, it is also considered a form of online jargon or text message shorthand.