Missouri State University is offering its second Massive Open Online Course (MOOC) on Laura Ingalls Wilder in April. The free online course, titled “Laura Ingalls Wilder: Exploring Her Work and Writing Life – The Later Years,” will begin April 6.

The course will be taught by Pamela Smith Hill, who taught the first MOOC last fall. Hill, an author and biographer, is the editor for Wilder’s previously unpublished autobiography, “Pioneer Girl.” The first printing of “Pioneer Girl” sold out in preorder, as fans around the world clamored for more about Laura and her family. As editor of the project, Hill put Wilder’s work in historical context by using historical records, letters and archives to piece together her real story.

The course runs for eight weeks and participants can enroll at any time during that period. Course material will open one week at a time, but will not close until the class is completed. All course materials are completed online. Students can register online.

Nearly 7,000 participants signed up for the first course last fall, with backgrounds ranging from high school students to people holding doctorates.

How does the course work?

• Enroll
• Anyone can register – you don’t need to be a registered Missouri State student.
• Course is offered free of charge to anyone interested.
• Course content is available online.
• No course credit is offered for completion, but there is a certificate for participation.
• Participants can enroll in the course at any point during the eight weeks.
• Participants will need access to several of Wilder’s books (listed on site and should be widely available at local libraries).

For more information, contact Lacey Geiger, open-course coordinator, at (417) 836-8803 or LaceyGeiger@missouristate.edu.