Deadline Approaches For Registration In Stanford's Free CS Classes 89
First time accepted submitter Gastrobot writes "Stanford University is offering some computer science classes for free. This has been discussed here twice before. The classes begin on Oct. 10th. At this point in time I'm aware of Stanford offering an Intro to Databases course, an Intro to AI course, and a Machine Learning course."
Exciting Time to Be Alive (Score:4, Interesting)
It is an exciting time to be alive. We are discovering planets around stars that people didn't know even existed 50 years ago. We can communicate with people around the world in real-time for free. We have access to information that you would have had to be rich and/or connected to access.
Now we are truly gaining access to knowledge from world class teachers for free. It is a truly amazing time to be alive and I am grateful to be living in this era. Our grandkids will take it for granted... my kids might too. But we are in a true inflection point in history. In a thousand years, people will look at the idea of countires and wars and not understand why they existed. World War II sparked a real change in thinking. The UN was a step toward a world community and world thinking. The internet has provided the techical means for connecting. Other technology has helped bridge the gap.
The vision has been there for a while and we are just beginning to realize that dream. We have growing pains for sure and will for a while... but we are getting there. This Stanford course is just one of the tremendous side effects.
Re:Exciting Time to Be Alive (Score:4, Interesting)
Yup. I agree.
But there are costs for the Stanford lessons too... and they too are absorbed by someone else (US govt.? California? The other students who pay the tuition fees?).
Teaching certainly didn't become more efficient overnight. For proper education, students will still require individual attention from skilled teachers. Students will have to make tests, some of which are not multiple choice and must be corrected again by teachers. In short: education costs money.
Re:Misleading Headline (Score:4, Interesting)
I signed up for the course on databases, and I see that there are scheduled due dates for homework assignments and exams. This implies that there will be a record of successful completion. What's more, the requirements are more demanding than the online course I'm taking that will give me college credits from an accredited institution.
I know the college I attend has rules for testing to fulfill requirements in lieu of taking a course. I'm hoping that completing this course and demonstrating I know the material through a test will let me complete a certificate I've been working on.
Online education is rapidly becoming more widespread. Employers will have to start acknowledging that people who've taken online courses and can prove they know the material have a valid claim to skill.