Penn State MOOCs attract more than 50,000

More than 50,000 students have enrolled in five Massive Open Online Courses being offered by Pennsylvania State University in partnership with Coursera, the university said this month.

The enrollments in courses on art introduction, geospatial science, creativity and innovation, the future of energy and the dynamics of epidemcs have occurred since Feb. 21.

The most popular course is Creativity, Innovation and Change, which has attracted more than 18,000 students, the university said in story posted on its web site. Kathryn Jablokow, associate professor of mechanical engineering and engineering design and one of the instructors, said the course will teach students to develop their own "brand of creativity."

Introduction to Art: Concepts & Techniques has proven one of the most popular with 17,800 students signed up, the university said. The course is being taught by Anna Divinsky, lead faculty member of the digital arts certificate program. Students will be expected to conduct research, do writing assignmetns and create works of art for the course, which will focus on fundamental theories and techniques of visual arts.