Ask HN: "Just Works" Solution for MIT OpenCourseWare?

#1

Post by Jarred » Fri, Apr 08, 2011, 10:23 PM UTC

I was looking at the MIT OpenCourseware and it's not very easy to use, or learn from. It's not presented in a particularly intuitive way. What about a "just works" front-end for MIT OpenCourseware that would help people learn from home?

For example, if you wanted to get a solid understanding of Computer Science through MIT's OpenCourseware, but didn't know where to start this would help you find your way.

In other words, Blackboard for OpenCourseware that doesn't suck

What do you guys think?

Re: Ask HN: "Just Works" Solution for MIT OpenCourseWare?

#2

Post by stonemetal » Fri, Apr 08, 2011, 11:41 PM UTC

You miss the point of OpenCourseware. It is to help other professors put together high quality classes, not for self learning. That is why they have lecture notes and not much else.

The only thing I would think you could do would be to provide better organization maybe based on MIT's degree plans, and forums so people could interact. Maybe "register" for classes so you feel like you have deadlines when homework is due and the like.

Re: Ask HN: "Just Works" Solution for MIT OpenCourseWare?

#3

Post by webginja » Fri, Apr 08, 2011, 11:48 PM UTC

mindflash.com

Re: Ask HN: "Just Works" Solution for MIT OpenCourseWare?

#4

Post by Jarred » Sat, Apr 09, 2011, 12:27 AM UTC

stonemetal wrote: post #2

You miss the point of OpenCourseware. It is to help other professors put together high quality classes, not for self learning. That is why they have lecture notes and not much else. The only thing I would think you could do would be to provide better organization maybe based on MIT's degree plans, and forums so people could interact. Maybe "register" for classes so you feel like you have deadlines when homework is du…

Most of the classes on there have lecture notes, videos, assignments, and projects. They basically have the entire participating classes online. If there was an educational medium that combined all of the OpenCourseware's with other free online educational content providers like Khan Academy, it could be really helpful.