There have been a great number of online or other distance learning courses for many years. They vary quite a bit in how they are presented, who offers them, whether they are are college credit/college equivalent, or something else entirely. Before online there were correspondence courses. I was a dean (science and technology) at New Jersey's distance learning college for adults for twenty-five years. I am also teaching online courses now. The MIT/Harvard courses, I believe, are recorded lectures with no interaction. There are many other sources of college level courses as well. Other courses (often that you pay for and receive college credit) include many interactive components. My Biology 1 students have a lab simulation disk, textbook, material online, a discussion board, multiple choice, and essay questions and lab report each week, and two proctored exams, and email me and other students frequently.