I love this idea (with some reservations re: gibybo's comment), and it brings to mind an important quote from Thomas H. Huxley that has been with me for a while

I love this idea (with some reservations re: gibybo's comment), and it brings to mind an important quote from Thomas H. Huxley that has been with me for a while: "Perhaps the most valuable result of all education is the ability to make yourself do the thing you have to do, when it ought to be done, whether you like it or not; it is the first lesson that ought to be learned; and, however early a man's training begins, it is probably the last lesson that he learns thoroughly." The issue of motivating people to learn is often neglected in online and/or self-directed education. This is an interesting take on the issue—and, at least, an acknowledgement that this disconnect exists between the "no degrees necessary" zeitgeist and socioeconomopolitical structure (or whatever) of university degrees: on some level, your degree is also "free" (or profitable, rather) if you finish your courses, and costly if you don't.