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MITx (or You Too Can Go to MIT, For Free.)

Discussion in 'General Discussions' started by Hektore, Feb 14, 2012.

  1. Hektore

    Hektore Slightly Tilted

    http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/education-17012968

    Program Site: http://mitx.mit.edu/

    If you don't want to click the links, MIT is going to offer a fully automated online course, which grants a certificate upon completion. The course designation is 6.002x
    I'm not quite sure what to make of this, is it the future of post secondary education? Some people seem to think so, but I doubt it. While at first I was super excited, now I think there are some logistical problems - principally, the enforcement of academic integrity. At best I think a program like this will certainly provide the opportunity to learn a great deal for those highly motivated individuals but the certificate will mean next to nothing in terms of weight in the real world.

    What do you all think? Anyone going to sign up (class starts March 5) for prerequisites the course recommends:
    Which, while well within the scope of my undergrad, it's been a while and I'm not sure I'd be quite up to the challenge academically on such short notice (I think a refresh is in order). I may well sign up in the fall though.
     
    Hektore, Feb 14, 2012
    #1
  2. martian

    martian Server Monkey Staff Member

    Location:
    Mars
    This is actually part of a small but growing trend. Khan Academy is easily the most prominent and famous example, but I think we're only going to see more of this as time goes on. As someone who supports the free exchange of information, I'm all for it; making these kinds of resources available for anyone who wants to learn is an excellent idea.

    It'll be interesting to see what form the certificate takes. It's not going to be worth much for some time in any case, for the simple fact that it's not going to widely recognized.

    What I'd love to see long-term is a sort of self-study college format, where the students learn on their own, and then take a proctored exam for the actual certificate. The IT industry has been using a model like this for years, and I see no reason why it couldn't be expanded into other disciplines. Academic integrity isn't really an issue, since the exam is what counts and the knowledge required to pass it can't be easily faked.
     
    martian, Feb 14, 2012
    #2
    • Like Like x 3
  3. ASU2003

    ASU2003 Very Tilted

    Location:
    Where ever I roam
    In theory, it is the future of education. I would love it if I could take on-line classes with the best presentations of what works to engage and teach students in a fun and interesting way.

    The problem is that it goes against the capitalist system even more than socialist public schools do. Free on-line classes are communism (economically). But it is a good type of communism. It is a type that has never been tried, where expenses are reduced through technology and machinery.

    And if they produce these on-line classes like NOVA or Mythbusters, they would be fun to watch and learn from.
     
    ASU2003, Feb 14, 2012
    #3
  4. Cayvmann

    Cayvmann Very Tilted

    Location:
    Central North Carolina
    I must try this out. I'm a big fan of their youtube videos.
     
    Cayvmann, Feb 20, 2012
    #4
  5. EventHorizon

    EventHorizon assuredly the cause of the angry Economy..

    Location:
    FREEDOM!
    really cool idea. i wonder how long it'll take to add some other more "interesting" courses?
     
    EventHorizon, Feb 21, 2012
    #5
  6. Pixel

    Pixel Getting Tilted

    Location:
    Missoura
    I've been wanting to start tinkering in electronics engineering. I'll have to check it out.
     
    Pixel, Feb 28, 2012
    #6
  7. Hektore

    Hektore Slightly Tilted

    I think an education model like the IT industry uses could be fantastic in some other disciplines and obviously wouldn't work at all in others still. One thing I think that is different and important is that this is one of the premier universities in the world. I mean, if they can translate that quality into a study at home program it would be a significant achievement beyond anything else that has been done - a step beyond what I'm familiar with.

    I really hope it does well. Extremely well.
     
    Hektore, Feb 28, 2012
    #7
  8. EventHorizon

    EventHorizon assuredly the cause of the angry Economy..

    Location:
    FREEDOM!
    Khan Academy is fucking sweet.
     
    EventHorizon, Feb 28, 2012
    #8
  9. SuburbanZombie

    SuburbanZombie Housebroken

    Location:
    Northeast
    Heard of Khan Academy in passing several times over the past few weeks. Kept forgetting to check it out.
     
    SuburbanZombie, Feb 29, 2012
    #9