Hacker News Board Hacker News, browsed like a classic message board
Live data from Hacker News

I’m Attending MIT, Stanford & Harvard

mattiasgeniar.be

Post reply on HN
Print view View original

21–30 of 46 posts

Re: I’m Attending MIT, Stanford & Harvard

#21

Post by jimbokun »

Frocer wrote: post #6

Hulu for Academia, this is awesome! I don't know if any of you feel the same way, but I didn't appreciate how much random and interesting subjects I could learn from college until I graduated. Now I can attend lectures on my own schedule and in the comfort of my home, nice!

I used to go through the course catalog as an undergrad the same way I looked at the Sears Christmas catalog as a kid. Trying to pick the most interesting classes out of so many choices, like trying to pick the toys I wanted at the top of my Christmas list.

Agreed that it's amazing to be able to "attend" so many of these lectures for free now, just need to make the time.

Re: I’m Attending MIT, Stanford & Harvard

#23

Post by stevenrace »

I understand this is likely a PR under the guise of a blog post - but it seems unfair to overlook iTunesU and MIT's already mentioned OpenCourseware.

The benefits of viewing lectures within the iTunes/iPhone/Boxee environment shouldn't need to be recounted here - but it's important point to reinterate for less techy folk who may be looking for something similar and already have an itunes store account.

http://www.apple.com/education/mobile-learning/

Re: I’m Attending MIT, Stanford & Harvard

#24

Post by unalone »

stevenrace wrote: post #23

I understand this is likely a PR under the guise of a blog post - but it seems unfair to overlook iTunesU and MIT's already mentioned OpenCourseware. The benefits of viewing lectures within the iTunes/iPhone/Boxee environment shouldn't need to be recounted here - but it's important point to reinterate for less techy folk who may be looking for something similar and already have an itunes store account. http://www.app…

Quick! Edit away your fixed text and stop messing up the page layout!

There's still time! You can do it!

Re: I’m Attending MIT, Stanford & Harvard

#25

Post by yters »

netcan wrote: post #14
kaiser wrote: post #3

Although it is great to have lectures, slides etc. online (check also the Open Course Ware initiative from MIT), it is still a difference if you are just listening to the lectures or if you can really interact with the people attending. Education is more about interaction and struggling for ideas than it is about listening to lectures. Still great complimentary resources ... (also for lecturers).

>Education is more about interaction and struggling for ideas than it is about listening to lectures. I disagree. Education is about acquiring skills & knowledge. Lectures, interactions, books, tutors, classmates.. these are the way education is delivered. Maybe university experience is "more about interaction and struggling for ideas than it is about listening to lectures," but saying that about education as a whole…

Education is about learning how to learn. You can either learn by yourself or with others. Learning with others is more effective and enjoyable, which is why sites like HN exist. Learning to learn with others is something you get from going to university, i.e. interaction and struggling for ideas.

Re: I’m Attending MIT, Stanford & Harvard

#26

Post by netcan »

yters wrote: post #25
netcan wrote: post #14

Earlier quoted context omitted.

>Education is more about interaction and struggling for ideas than it is about listening to lectures. I disagree. Education is about acquiring skills & knowledge. Lectures, interactions, books, tutors, classmates.. these are the way education is delivered. Maybe university experience is "more about interaction and struggling for ideas than it is about listening to lectures," but saying that about education as a whole…

Education is about learning how to learn. You can either learn by yourself or with others. Learning with others is more effective and enjoyable, which is why sites like HN exist. Learning to learn with others is something you get from going to university, i.e. interaction and struggling for ideas.

I don't disagree that this (the recent availability of online lectures) is not a mirror replacement for uni. It's also not entirely new. The possibility of getting a uni equivalent education without enrolling has always existed (at least partially). Books, uni Libraries. Many places will let you sit in on virtually all classes without enrolling. But it has always remained in the sidelines.

But... Pointing to any developed of this kind and saying 'this isn't uni' as if it means something really substantial is short sighted. The improvement & accessibility of free online learning materials is going to have a profound effect, most probably.

If Universities' value is kept only in the fringe: 'interacting with others,' 'the personal & social experience' & the rest of the things that cannot be replaced by online study, well... Universities have an educational (skills & knowledge, if you prefer) role and a gate-keeping role. If they loose their edge on those, they loose their edge.

Re: I’m Attending MIT, Stanford & Harvard

#27

Post by jonursenbach »

Frocer wrote: post #6

Hulu for Academia, this is awesome! I don't know if any of you feel the same way, but I didn't appreciate how much random and interesting subjects I could learn from college until I graduated. Now I can attend lectures on my own schedule and in the comfort of my home, nice!

Even using the Hulu design.

Re: I’m Attending MIT, Stanford & Harvard

#28

Post by jpcx01 »

This is a pretty incredible compilation of lectures. I also really like the fact that they post Sample Exams, so you can test your learning.

My question... whats the licensing of these materials. What would stop me from setting up my own mini college, with a big screen TV, and use these courses instead of hiring professors. The value prop would be to combine these lectures with a classroom setting and a program that would encourage students to read along with the courses (textbook) and graded exams for feedback.

Re: I’m Attending MIT, Stanford & Harvard

#29

Post by jpcx01 »

jpcx01 wrote: post #28

This is a pretty incredible compilation of lectures. I also really like the fact that they post Sample Exams, so you can test your learning. My question... whats the licensing of these materials. What would stop me from setting up my own mini college, with a big screen TV, and use these courses instead of hiring professors. The value prop would be to combine these lectures with a classroom setting and a program that…

Looks like MIT's stuff is licensed under creative commons, which means noncommercial. Wonder how hard it would be to get commercial authorization.
Post reply on HN