I really have to take exception to this (characterizing MOOCs as some sort of useful-only-for-signalling high-tech "vocational training" for the privileged). I

I really have to take exception to this (characterizing MOOCs as some sort of useful-only-for-signalling high-tech "vocational training" for the privileged). I've been working through Andrew Ng's Machine learning class (https://www.coursera.org/learn/machine-learning/home/welcome https://www.coursera.org/learn/machine-learning/home/welcome) on Coursera, and I think it's wonderful. It begins a bit slow-paced, and I definitely supplement the lectures with readings and the class notes for CS 229 (http://cs229.stanford.edu/materials.html http://cs229.stanford.edu/materials.html) that broadly match the content of the online course, but I absolutely love the course. The lectures are well-paced and have 'in-line' quizzes to test your understanding as you go. The problem sets are easy to do at any time, with optional components and instructions that let you understand the material better if you want to deep dive. The course itself is available to start whenever you choose, which means barrier for entry is very low. MOOCs may not be everything that they first promised, but they definitely win in terms of the sheer accessibility of content and the flexibility of the format. I would not be learning machine learning right now if the only available format was dead-tree or (worse) putting together information piecemeal from blog posts.