M.I.T. Expands Its Free Online Courses

M3Bahn · 12-21-2011, 11:30 AM

Pretty freakin cool.

Quote:

While students at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology pay thousands of dollars for courses, the university will announce a new program on Monday allowing anyone anywhere to take M.I.T. courses online free of charge — and for the first time earn official certificates for demonstrating mastery of the subjects taught.

“There are many people who would love to augment their education by having access to M.I.T. content, people who are very capable to earn a certificate from M.I.T.,” said L. Rafael Reif, the provost, in a conference call with reporters Friday.

M.I.T. led the way to an era of online learning 10 years ago by posting course materials from almost all its classes. Its free OpenCourseWare now includes nearly 2,100 courses and has been used by more than 100 million people.

But the new “M.I.T.x” interactive online learning platform will go further, giving students access to online laboratories, self-assessments and student-to-student discussions.

Mr. Reif and Anant Agarwal, director of the Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence Lab, said M.I.T.x would start this spring — perhaps with just one course — but would expand to include many more courses, as OpenCourseWare has done.

“The technologies available are much more advanced than when we started OpenCourseWare,” Mr. Agarwal said. “We can provide pedagogical tools to self-assess, self-pace or create an online learning community.”

The M.I.T.x classes, he said, will have online discussions and forums where students can ask questions and, often, have them answered by others in the class.

While access to the software will be free, there will most likely be an “affordable” charge, not yet determined, for a credential.

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/12/19/ed...tificates.html

onesuperboi · 12-21-2011, 12:09 PM

Awesome. Thanks for the info.

Bimmer84 · 12-21-2011, 12:17 PM

Nice.. looks like I will be a 3 credit alum of MIT here pretty soon then... lol

matthewk · 12-21-2011, 12:46 PM

This is going to have to be differentiated from attending MIT credits or it's going to water down the credential of those who have actually matriculated at MIT.

bluespeed117 · 12-22-2011, 12:54 AM

im in!

O-cha · 12-22-2011, 09:23 AM

You're not getting credits, you get a shiny certificate, you can print out.

Epacy2 · 12-22-2011, 09:37 AM

Very cool. Thanks!

12-21-2011, 12:09 PM	#2
onesuperboi Major 52 Rep 1,357 Posts Drives: '08 e92 335i COBB 4.01 Stage 1 Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Bay Area, CA (Alameda) iTrader: (6)	Awesome. Thanks for the info.
	Appreciate 0 Quote

12-21-2011, 12:17 PM	#3
Bimmer84 Guardian of the Night 109 Rep 1,831 Posts Drives: 2010 335i M Sport Coupe Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: San Antonio iTrader: (5) Garage List 2010 335i E92 [7.50]	Nice.. looks like I will be a 3 credit alum of MIT here pretty soon then... lol __________________ 2010 335i M Sport Coupe -- Black Sapphire Metallic\|Coral Red\|Loaded\|JB4 Stage 3\|BMS DCI\|VRSF DPs\|Camaross 6k AE\|Performance Gloss Black Grilles\|CF Performance Spoiler\|CF Quad Diffuser\|Double Layer Black Chrome Quad Tips\|CF Roundels\|Smoked Reflectors\|Red Cyba Scoops\|193s Painted Lamborghini Metallic Dark Gray
	Appreciate 0 Quote

12-21-2011, 12:46 PM	#4
matthewk Private First Class 30 Rep 166 Posts Drives: 2023 X6MC, 2022 M5C Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: OH iTrader: (0)	This is going to have to be differentiated from attending MIT credits or it's going to water down the credential of those who have actually matriculated at MIT.
	Appreciate 0 Quote

12-22-2011, 12:54 AM	#5
bluespeed117 Lieutenant Colonel 116 Rep 1,528 Posts Drives: e90 328i Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: so-cal iTrader: (0) Garage List 2007 e90 328i [0.00]	im in! __________________ Muffler Delete/ Tien S-tech Springs / De-badged /BBS LM Reps 19"/ Nexen tires/DTM M5 Front bumper/ Injen Intake/Blacklines/M-tech Rear/Custom Muffler Tips.... More mods to come
	Appreciate 0 Quote

12-22-2011, 09:23 AM	#6
O-cha Brigadier General 218 Rep 4,726 Posts Drives: Mcoupe Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: In front of you iTrader: (2)	You're not getting credits, you get a shiny certificate, you can print out. __________________
	Appreciate 0 Quote

12-22-2011, 09:37 AM	#7
Epacy2 Major 147 Rep 1,400 Posts Drives: F85 X5M Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: KC iTrader: (1) Garage List 2008 M3 [0.00] 2008 M3 [0.00]	Very cool. Thanks!
	Appreciate 0 Quote