Here's yet another article on the popularity of online courses. As always, the writers agree that business is booming, and will only increase. They do offer a different perspective, though: rather than seeing a division line between 'traditional' classrooms and online environments, they posit that online degrees are becoming more popular as the two worlds are joined together.

About 80 percent of online students are undergraduates, and they are generally older and more likely to be working and have families. But only about half are pursuing online degrees, according to Eduventures.

The rest are taking individual online courses or increasingly mixing online courses with more traditional campus-based classes.

One reason online enrollment may be growing is that the difference between traditional and online classes is becoming less obvious.

It's not unusual now for traditional classes to post syllibi and homework assignments online or to have class discussions in group forums. Some classes take place more than 80 percent online, which makes them count as online courses for the Sloan survey.

"That's bumping up enrollment," said Eduventures senior analyst Richard Garrett.

A new and interesting perspective. What do you think?

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