5 ms·

MIT OpenCourseWare introduces courses designed for independent learners

383 points by ashwinl 16y ago

nickpinkston 16y ago
Khan giving them a bit of scare? I bet...
- rtghnthyjnm 16y ago
  I do think this is a genuine attempt to spread knowledge. Even being cynical there is no real downside for them. People will still want to go to MIT 'for real' and they will still fill their lecture halls with paying students - even if MIT could expand to take everyone that wanted to go there - this would dilute the MIT brand. Allowing everyone else to get the knowledge for free simply kills the competition, there is no market for a staet-college online course when you can have the best for free.
  - dagw 16y ago
    Maybe if smaller state-colleges are smart they can leverage OCW to their advantage. Instead of doing their own lectures and coursework, they'll use OCW and focus on adding value where OCW cannot with things like instructor led discussion and Q&A sessions about the lecture you've just seen, helping with and grading coursework, one-on-one assistance with assignments, handing out certificates or diplomas upon completing a set of courses, and all the other good stuff an actual college can to better than a pre-recorded video. In fact I'd probably sign up and pay money for just that.
    - chopsueyar 16y ago
      Exactly. Why cannot OCW serve as a sort of standardized curriculum for state schools to model their classes off of?
    - rtghnthyjnm 16y ago
      That was the idea, and why MIT were surprised that most people were using it on their own. What I meant was that there was no market for a small college selling lectures online for $100s when you could get MIT for free. It won't change the economics of people going to college
- clarkm 16y ago
  Are you sure? Salman Khan did graduate from MIT, so I figure things tend more towards cooperation than competition.
  - nickpinkston 16y ago
    I'm only implying friendly competition, though MIT does have a little "not made here" syndrome.
- kmfrk 16y ago
  If they do, then the universities really have it bad. Universities should leverage what sets them apart from autodidact studies. Mainly the social aspect and all the advantages that it entails.
- scorpion032 16y ago
  It's too early to speak of any "eating into the share". If anything it increases the market which is good for Khan, good for MIT, good for Berkeley.
sruffell 16y ago
The first thought that popped into my mind from reading this was when is there going to be a bachelor's equivalency exam? Perhaps a new potential market for the ETS?
- barry-cotter 16y ago
  It isn't a bachelor's equivalency exam but if you take enough credits you can get a degree entirely by examination. http://www.excelsior.edu/ecapps/exams/creditByExam.jsf http://www.excelsior.edu/ecapps/exams/creditByExam.jsf
hashbrown7 16y ago
This is great news! In most cases the materials on offer were sparse, but an initiative like this will make it really useful both for autodidacts and instructors looking for materials.
maeon3 16y ago
8.01 Physics I: Classical Mechanics is Amazing. Walter Lewin makes the bizarre properties and mysteries of the universe come alive in the classroom. http://ocw.mit.edu/courses/physics/8-01-physics-i-classical-mechanics-fall-1999/video-lectures/ http://ocw.mit.edu/courses/physics/8-01-physics-i-classical-...
thebigredjay 16y ago
As a young autodidact struggling to fit into the traditional education world this is a welcome gift. To me a traditional diploma granting institution is now akin to a rubber stamp. You're not paying for the education, you're paying for the brand under the assumption that it will get you a job. I could rant, but I plan on doing it in a cohesive and informed blog release or something at a later date. MIT diffuses my cynicism with steps like this. In an academic system I do not trust there are clearly intelligent like minded people enabled to make a difference. After years of dreading my involvement with academia, movements like this make me want to wander back in with an open mind. If anyone involved with MIT OpenCourseWare ever reads this please know that I respect and appreciate what you have done for people thirsty for knowledge. Thank you from the bottom of my heart.
- Ixiaus 16y ago
  I'm a fellow autodidact, have been for six years - pursuing my own liberal curriculum and technical specializations. I'd be interested in having a chat over email about your curriculum and the other things I don't get to talk about with other people because I don't have any kin on the same path! (you're the first I've found that also openly referred to themselves as an autodidact!) ixmatus at [google's mail]
- lars512 16y ago
  Well, by attending a traditional institution you're really paying firstly for experts to take partial responsibility for your learning, enough to stake some of their reputation on it, and secondly for entrance to a club of peers of similar ability to learn with. With more and more material available online, I can see how taking full responsibility for your own learning is less daunting than it once was. I'm still curious as to what will replace the role of peers of similar ability in this self-learning model.
  - andrewacove 16y ago
    In my experience at one of those traditional institutions, those experts often couldn't care less about any responsibility to undergrads. Their job is to do research, and to get grants to support that research. The number of professors for whom teaching was clearly a nuisance was one of the most depressing parts of the experience. Having similarly capable peers is really the primary advantage, especially if those relationships carry on after you finish.
brudgers 16y ago
Bill Gates has predicted that the best higher education will come from the web and will be cheaper - this is just another step. [Article: http://techcrunch.com/2010/08/06/bill-gates-education/ http://techcrunch.com/2010/08/06/bill-gates-education/ Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p2Qg80MVvYs&feature=player_embedded http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p2Qg80MVvYs&feature=playe...] In the same vein as MIT, UC Berkeley has many lectures on availble on Youtube. [http://www.youtube.com/user/UCBerkeley http://www.youtube.com/user/UCBerkeley]
kmfrk 16y ago
Great to see that MIT are addressing the most important problem with OCW: organizing the knowledge intelligibly. I'm currently having fun with their introduction to programming that uses Python: http://ocw.mit.edu/courses/electrical-engineering-and-computer-science/6-00-introduction-to-computer-science-and-programming-fall-2008/assignments/ http://ocw.mit.edu/courses/electrical-engineering-and-comput.... (Get the lectures on iTunes U.) Granted, I don't know if that's the best gateway drug to programming, but it has the irrefutable advantage of assignments that apply the information. You always feel morose watching OCW lectures where the lecturer talks about an assignment that you'd love to do.
- rtghnthyjnm 16y ago
  Surprised that MIT TAs haven't setup online sites where you can do the assignments for a fee. There's a business model for you!
- ernestipark 16y ago
  If you're looking for intros to programming, 1.00 is also a fantastic course (it's what made me switch to a CS major) which uses Java. The materials are a bit older than for 6.00 though.
- kaylarose 16y ago
  Also another good "beginner" (was already a programmer, and it was still a great course) course that actually has everything - lectures, notes, textbook, assignments, tests and answers! - available free online is the UC Berkley CS61A course. The course teaches the fundamentals of Computer Science with Scheme (Lisp) and the book is SICP (a really great all-around CS book). I watched all the lectures, and did most of the assignments over a month or two last year and learned a lot. Sometimes you have to Google around for old tests/answer keys, but resources for the entire course are online. I highly recommend it if you are remotely interested in programming. Multiple Semesters of Audio/Video Lectures are on iTunesU Resources from the Summer 2010 Course:http://www-inst.eecs.berkeley.edu/~cs61a/su10/ http://www-inst.eecs.berkeley.edu/~cs61a/su10/ Edit: Formatting
  - 16y ago
ernestipark 16y ago
I didn't realize OCW was meant for teachers... I thought it was for independent learners all along.
alextp 16y ago
I've always been an independent learner, so I think this is great, but the concept of a "course for independent learners" sounds a lot like herding cats.
chopsueyar 16y ago
This is a fantasy come true.
zdxfhgjyt 16y ago
●------ http://u.ly/73I http://u.ly/73I ------● ●------ http://u.ly/73I http://u.ly/73I ------● ●------ http://u.ly/73I http://u.ly/73I ------● ●------ http://u.ly/73I http://u.ly/73I ------● ●------ http://u.ly/73I http://u.ly/73I ------● ●------ http://u.ly/73I http://u.ly/73I ------● ●------ http://u.ly/73I http://u.ly/73I ------● ●------ http://u.ly/73I http://u.ly/73I ------● ●------ http://u.ly/73I http://u.ly/73I ------● ●------ http://u.ly/73I http://u.ly/73I ------● ●------ http://u.ly/73I http://u.ly/73I ------● ●------ http://u.ly/73I http://u.ly/73I ------● ●------ http://u.ly/73I http://u.ly/73I ------● ●------ http://u.ly/73I http://u.ly/73I ------● ●------ http://u.ly/73I http://u.ly/73I ------● ●------ http://u.ly/73I http://u.ly/73I ------●
kaylarose 16y ago
Already posted this in longer form as a reply [1], but the UC Berkeley CS courses that are available online are really great, and you can usually find ALL the material for the course online. If you want to learn Scheme (Lisp), I highly recommend CS61A [2] [1] http://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=2103949 http://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=2103949 [2] http://www-inst.eecs.berkeley.edu/~cs61a/su10/ http://www-inst.eecs.berkeley.edu/~cs61a/su10/ Lectures on iTunesU

383 points by ashwinl 16y ago

nickpinkston 16y ago

Khan giving them a bit of scare? I bet...

rtghnthyjnm 16y ago
I do think this is a genuine attempt to spread knowledge. Even being cynical there is no real downside for them. People will still want to go to MIT 'for real' and they will still fill their lecture halls with paying students - even if MIT could expand to take everyone that wanted to go there - this would dilute the MIT brand. Allowing everyone else to get the knowledge for free simply kills the competition, there is no market for a staet-college online course when you can have the best for free.
- dagw 16y ago
  Maybe if smaller state-colleges are smart they can leverage OCW to their advantage. Instead of doing their own lectures and coursework, they'll use OCW and focus on adding value where OCW cannot with things like instructor led discussion and Q&A sessions about the lecture you've just seen, helping with and grading coursework, one-on-one assistance with assignments, handing out certificates or diplomas upon completing a set of courses, and all the other good stuff an actual college can to better than a pre-recorded video. In fact I'd probably sign up and pay money for just that.
  - chopsueyar 16y ago
    Exactly. Why cannot OCW serve as a sort of standardized curriculum for state schools to model their classes off of?
  - rtghnthyjnm 16y ago
    That was the idea, and why MIT were surprised that most people were using it on their own. What I meant was that there was no market for a small college selling lectures online for $100s when you could get MIT for free. It won't change the economics of people going to college
clarkm 16y ago
Are you sure? Salman Khan did graduate from MIT, so I figure things tend more towards cooperation than competition.
- nickpinkston 16y ago
  I'm only implying friendly competition, though MIT does have a little "not made here" syndrome.
kmfrk 16y ago
If they do, then the universities really have it bad. Universities should leverage what sets them apart from autodidact studies. Mainly the social aspect and all the advantages that it entails.
scorpion032 16y ago
It's too early to speak of any "eating into the share". If anything it increases the market which is good for Khan, good for MIT, good for Berkeley.

sruffell 16y ago

The first thought that popped into my mind from reading this was when is there going to be a bachelor's equivalency exam? Perhaps a new potential market for the ETS?

barry-cotter 16y ago
It isn't a bachelor's equivalency exam but if you take enough credits you can get a degree entirely by examination. http://www.excelsior.edu/ecapps/exams/creditByExam.jsf http://www.excelsior.edu/ecapps/exams/creditByExam.jsf

hashbrown7 16y ago

This is great news! In most cases the materials on offer were sparse, but an initiative like this will make it really useful both for autodidacts and instructors looking for materials.

maeon3 16y ago

8.01 Physics I: Classical Mechanics is Amazing. Walter Lewin makes the bizarre properties and mysteries of the universe come alive in the classroom. http://ocw.mit.edu/courses/physics/8-01-physics-i-classical-mechanics-fall-1999/video-lectures/ http://ocw.mit.edu/courses/physics/8-01-physics-i-classical-...

thebigredjay 16y ago

As a young autodidact struggling to fit into the traditional education world this is a welcome gift. To me a traditional diploma granting institution is now akin to a rubber stamp. You're not paying for the education, you're paying for the brand under the assumption that it will get you a job. I could rant, but I plan on doing it in a cohesive and informed blog release or something at a later date. MIT diffuses my cynicism with steps like this. In an academic system I do not trust there are clearly intelligent like minded people enabled to make a difference. After years of dreading my involvement with academia, movements like this make me want to wander back in with an open mind. If anyone involved with MIT OpenCourseWare ever reads this please know that I respect and appreciate what you have done for people thirsty for knowledge. Thank you from the bottom of my heart.

Ixiaus 16y ago
I'm a fellow autodidact, have been for six years - pursuing my own liberal curriculum and technical specializations. I'd be interested in having a chat over email about your curriculum and the other things I don't get to talk about with other people because I don't have any kin on the same path! (you're the first I've found that also openly referred to themselves as an autodidact!) ixmatus at [google's mail]
lars512 16y ago
Well, by attending a traditional institution you're really paying firstly for experts to take partial responsibility for your learning, enough to stake some of their reputation on it, and secondly for entrance to a club of peers of similar ability to learn with. With more and more material available online, I can see how taking full responsibility for your own learning is less daunting than it once was. I'm still curious as to what will replace the role of peers of similar ability in this self-learning model.
- andrewacove 16y ago
  In my experience at one of those traditional institutions, those experts often couldn't care less about any responsibility to undergrads. Their job is to do research, and to get grants to support that research. The number of professors for whom teaching was clearly a nuisance was one of the most depressing parts of the experience. Having similarly capable peers is really the primary advantage, especially if those relationships carry on after you finish.

brudgers 16y ago

Bill Gates has predicted that the best higher education will come from the web and will be cheaper - this is just another step. [Article: http://techcrunch.com/2010/08/06/bill-gates-education/ http://techcrunch.com/2010/08/06/bill-gates-education/ Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p2Qg80MVvYs&feature=player_embedded http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p2Qg80MVvYs&feature=playe...] In the same vein as MIT, UC Berkeley has many lectures on availble on Youtube. [http://www.youtube.com/user/UCBerkeley http://www.youtube.com/user/UCBerkeley]

kmfrk 16y ago

Great to see that MIT are addressing the most important problem with OCW: organizing the knowledge intelligibly. I'm currently having fun with their introduction to programming that uses Python: http://ocw.mit.edu/courses/electrical-engineering-and-computer-science/6-00-introduction-to-computer-science-and-programming-fall-2008/assignments/ http://ocw.mit.edu/courses/electrical-engineering-and-comput.... (Get the lectures on iTunes U.) Granted, I don't know if that's the best gateway drug to programming, but it has the irrefutable advantage of assignments that apply the information. You always feel morose watching OCW lectures where the lecturer talks about an assignment that you'd love to do.

rtghnthyjnm 16y ago
Surprised that MIT TAs haven't setup online sites where you can do the assignments for a fee. There's a business model for you!
ernestipark 16y ago
If you're looking for intros to programming, 1.00 is also a fantastic course (it's what made me switch to a CS major) which uses Java. The materials are a bit older than for 6.00 though.
kaylarose 16y ago
Also another good "beginner" (was already a programmer, and it was still a great course) course that actually has everything - lectures, notes, textbook, assignments, tests and answers! - available free online is the UC Berkley CS61A course. The course teaches the fundamentals of Computer Science with Scheme (Lisp) and the book is SICP (a really great all-around CS book). I watched all the lectures, and did most of the assignments over a month or two last year and learned a lot. Sometimes you have to Google around for old tests/answer keys, but resources for the entire course are online. I highly recommend it if you are remotely interested in programming. Multiple Semesters of Audio/Video Lectures are on iTunesU Resources from the Summer 2010 Course:http://www-inst.eecs.berkeley.edu/~cs61a/su10/ http://www-inst.eecs.berkeley.edu/~cs61a/su10/ Edit: Formatting
- 16y ago

ernestipark 16y ago

I didn't realize OCW was meant for teachers... I thought it was for independent learners all along.

alextp 16y ago

I've always been an independent learner, so I think this is great, but the concept of a "course for independent learners" sounds a lot like herding cats.

chopsueyar 16y ago

This is a fantasy come true.

zdxfhgjyt 16y ago

●------ http://u.ly/73I http://u.ly/73I ------● ●------ http://u.ly/73I http://u.ly/73I ------● ●------ http://u.ly/73I http://u.ly/73I ------● ●------ http://u.ly/73I http://u.ly/73I ------● ●------ http://u.ly/73I http://u.ly/73I ------● ●------ http://u.ly/73I http://u.ly/73I ------● ●------ http://u.ly/73I http://u.ly/73I ------● ●------ http://u.ly/73I http://u.ly/73I ------● ●------ http://u.ly/73I http://u.ly/73I ------● ●------ http://u.ly/73I http://u.ly/73I ------● ●------ http://u.ly/73I http://u.ly/73I ------● ●------ http://u.ly/73I http://u.ly/73I ------● ●------ http://u.ly/73I http://u.ly/73I ------● ●------ http://u.ly/73I http://u.ly/73I ------● ●------ http://u.ly/73I http://u.ly/73I ------● ●------ http://u.ly/73I http://u.ly/73I ------●

kaylarose 16y ago

Already posted this in longer form as a reply [1], but the UC Berkeley CS courses that are available online are really great, and you can usually find ALL the material for the course online. If you want to learn Scheme (Lisp), I highly recommend CS61A [2] [1] http://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=2103949 http://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=2103949 [2] http://www-inst.eecs.berkeley.edu/~cs61a/su10/ http://www-inst.eecs.berkeley.edu/~cs61a/su10/ Lectures on iTunesU