I was intrigued yesterday by an article about philosophy courses available free on line. The article cited openculture.com (the title a subject in itself perhaps). The site is rife with ads for things you can buy, but there is a plethora of courses that can be played through iTunes (downloads available free at iTunes.com) an hour's lecture at a time. Under each category (free language lessons, free textbooks, free movies, etc.), you have to scroll down beyond the paid ads and find free options. I examined a Yale finance course , a French movie and an introduction to electrical engineering. Anybody with a computer can theoretically acquire a college education.
I am not likely to pursue electrical engineering or, to tell the truth, heavy philosophy courses. I may listen to some of the finance lectures, given that my economics education is dated while the financial world continues to churn. I am drawn as well to some history, art, literature and language courses.
Most of all, I am impressed with the range of possibilities. Ah, but there is no free lunch, as economists are fond of saying. Without the structure of an institution, do we have the discipline to concentrate and absorb all these possibilities?
Further, how much do we need to know? Want to know? In a world of more food than we can possibly eat, how do we plan our meals?
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
What is at risk is the concept that a non-profit university issues the only credible credentials of knowledge. Those who seek knowledge for its own sake, or for specific skills, are now free to enter a marketplace of teachers with a wide variety of means. Of course, also a wide variety of scams.
ReplyDeleteA world of unlimited education is a better world than a world of education bound by monopoly.
How much is enough? We all make our own judgment, and those hiring skill in employees must seek new standards for judging.