Take a class with me!

[usernamenumber]

I recently saw a TED talk by the co-founder of Coursera.org. Many .edu establishments nowadays are putting courses online, but Coursera is a bit different in that, rather than just putting recordings of classroom lectures online, their courses are designed for online delivery. More importantly, while all of the course materials are freely accessible, they are designed to be taken like a regular course, at set dates in collaboration with classmates who are going through the materials at the same rate you are (all still for free). The courses include examinations and certificates.

I am very curious about this as an e-educator (note to self: come up with a less cringe-inducing term than "e-educator"...), and they have an "Algorithms I" course starting in a few days, which will hopefully both give me a sense for how they approach course design and help me fill in some of the gaps in my mostly-self-taught IT background (assuming I don't end up overwhelmed by zomgmaths).

Anyone interested in taking the class with me?

https://www.coursera.org/course/algs4partI

Even if this isn't your thing, check out the rest of what they have to offer. Here's the TED talk that turned me on to them. Edu people (ultimatepsi?) may find some of her data quite interesting.

http://blog.coursera.org/post/28489511739/daphnes-ted-talk-what-were-learning-from-online

Comments

[moria923.livejournal.com]

I'm currently doing a "Fantasy and Science Fiction" course with them. I must say, it's a lot of work! It's also been a mixed experience: the lectures and forum discussions have been interesting, but my first peer-evaluated essay didn't turn out so well. (Actually, *I* still think the essay was fine, but some of my peer evaluators did not.) And as for accessibility, let's just say they're trying. In other words, the essay submission process is accessible if you know what you're doing (which I didn't), or if you're willing to experiment (which thorbol was.) I'll be fascinated to her the TED Talk.

[hahathor.livejournal.com]

Not really interested in Algorithms, but I just signed up for the Model Thinking Course and Social Network Analysis.

[usernamenumber.livejournal.com]

I was thinking about that one, too. Also some friends of mine are interested in the Gamification course, which looks like something you might dig too. In both cases, I'll see how the algos course goes before I consider switching or trying to do two at once, but maybe...

[medeaschild.livejournal.com]

I think my baby sister may be taking that class.

Also, my sisters are usually awesome.

[shinyquill.livejournal.com]

I've joined the course, we'll see how this goes I guess. No guarantees about whether or not I'll break out in brain problems about academia and drop out at some point, though.

[ultimatepsi.livejournal.com]

I looked at Coursera after moria923 mentioned it, and was intrigued. I really don't have the time to take a course right now, but I love to hear your opinions.

[hippie1025.livejournal.com]

Hmmm, if I wasn't feeling like a bear of very little brain at the moment, I might be interested in some of those (not the algorithms class though). I'll be interested to hear your thoughts on the class.

Very cool!

[taerowyn.livejournal.com]

Thanks for sharing...just signed up for a course (and sent link to recently retired Dad and expect similar enthusiasm). The lack of accountability of other .edu offerings has always been my downfall...what can I say, I need a (non-self-imposed) deadline and the related panic to get things done. Will be interested to see how this works out.