E-tailer offers E-ducation

While many consumers will tell you on-line shopping is an education in itself, patrons of Barnesandnoble.com might get a diploma to prove it.

The on-line bookseller bought a stake in (and is teaming up with) notHarvard.com to offer free, on-line classes. Most of the courses will be conducted via on-line chats, and e-mail and student will get an e-mailbox,, on-line notebook and Web calendar to help organize assignments.

Starting out, the total course load will include 30 classes, but the company expects to expand the curriculum rapidly. Several of these courses will be based on books, and Barnesandnoble.com will invite authors to instruct.