Observations of a MOOC

I'm currently enrolled in Coursera's Fantasy and Science Fiction class. As a teacher, it's been an interesting couple of weeks observing the formation of the class community. Here are my take-aways so far:

For the instructor:

• Peer review is only as good as your peers. Proper modeling and a rubric are necessary for everyone to be on the same page. 
• If a forum is provided for students to discuss the class, it's good practice to interact yourself. Even with a MOOC, a professor can regularly check in so that students feel their voices are heard. 
• Instructions need to be clear and direct. If something needs to be changed (it happens, we've all been there), a timely note or email to students is appropriate. Do not ignore the issues. 

For the student:

• Relax. It's a free course. Enjoy the ride.