Online education holds promise for students who truly wish to learn, but there are risks of abuse, too. Reader Paul worries about cheating:

An online course may be a great way for someone who wants to learn a subject to do so. However, as soon as a grade is attached to the course, or the course becomes a required part of a degree program, then rampant cheating by those who just want the credential will wreck any hope of maintaining any notion of academic integrity. Don’t tell me about the technologies to prevent cheating — the cheaters are always a step ahead of them.

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