3 ms·
If it were successful, it would be (a substitute). I disagree with that definition of success. OCW is very successful -- its goal is fundamentally different
by aneesh 18y ago
If it were successful, it would be (a substitute).
I disagree with that definition of success. OCW is very successful -- its goal is fundamentally different from the degree-granting part of MIT.
Success for OCW means that everyone who wants to access university-level content can do it for free. If MIT wants to charge tuition for the "premium" version where you live on campus, can ask questions of the professors, get to know your classmates, get a degree, etc, then they certainly have the right to. That is a scarce resource, and can command a price like many other scarce resources people pay for.
- netcan 18y agoI disagree with that definition of success. Fair enough, but I hope it's not just a matter of semantics. My definition of the success for making educational materials available is making education available. The absolute goal would be 'the best education.' I admit, this is probably not the goal of this particular project. Universities have an inherent interest in maintaining a big enough gap between free & premium education. It seems to me that you're objections are base on an assumption that education cannot be acquired outside of institutions with an equivalent quality or ease. No chance. Universities don't have to worry about that, so no conflict.