 I have been using these resources for a few years, and I am a huge proponent of free knowledge so I would like to take the time to share a little of it with you all. Below, I've listed a few resources and then detailed some specific classes which I recommend. I mostly prefer the courses with have video, but there are some audio-only courses as well such as some computer science classes.
I will also describe how to use each resource as it can become a little confusing if you don't know your way around- but don't worry, it'll be easy if you read through:)
Each class is video (or audio) of each course literally watching (or listenning to) the professor, in the class, talking to his students as if you were in the classroom. Through the websites you can also download coursenotes, textbooks, tests, etc. Everything is available online for free.
NOTE: the coolest thing about this, aside from the free knowledge which everyone should treasure and be able to appreciate, is that once youv'e taken the course, studied the coursenotes, tested yourself, and read the literature, and you're certain you know the material - you can take any comparable course at any college, and most classes will allow you to challenge the course by taking a test and if you pass, to receive full credit for that course. You can practically get a doctoral degree simply from watching some videos and making sure you know the material. Once you have the knowledge, you're all set!
First off, I'll list the resource I find to be most detailed and complete. That's UC Berkeley's "Berkeley Webcasts" - The URL for this is http://webcast.berkeley.edu/courses.php
Please note that on the top-right of the main body of that page is a drop-down list with a season in it. Each season has new classes taught by new professors. Once you've selected a class you can click on the link for it, and it will take you to a new page. On that page you will see the main body of it is entitled "Lecture archive". Underneath that section there are 1-3 links.
NOTE: ALL BERKELEY COURSES REQUIRE REALPLAYER TO LOAD PROPERLY AND QUICKLY.
The link icon on the left side (if there is one) should look like a purplish eye on a yellow square background. If the leftmost icon is a speaker or an MP3 download icon then that course does not offer video. However it's possible that if you look back in the archives to say Spring 2006, you might find the same or a similar class with video - although video isn't usually necessary for most classes.
If you click the purple eye icon it will load up your realplayer and begin loading the video which you can play almost immediately. If you click on the speaker it will also load realplayer but will instead load up audio. If you have a slow connection I would recommend that anyway. You may need to download an upgrade to your realplayer to play the files.
For UC Berkeley, the one course I would most strongly recommend for everyone since most of the other courses I prefer are either very specialized, highly advanced (as in take this course first) or you can easily find them on your own - The one course I would most recommend is "Physics for Future Presidents" by Professor Muller. It is a course that isn't about the math of physics, but about the ideas behind the math. This mind-blowing course absolutely shook me to my core in terms of how I look at the world around me.
From the site: "The most interesting and important topics in physics, stressing conceptual understanding rather than math, with applications to current events. Topics covered may vary and may include energy and conservation, radioactivity, nuclear physics, the Theory of Relativity, lasers, explosions, earthquakes, superconductors, and quantum physics."
This is the Fall 2006 course so you'll have to select "Fall 2006" from the drop-down list to view it. Alternatively, you can go to this URL: http://webcast.berkeley.e...
YALE
http://open.yale.edu/courses/courses.html
Yale is new to this whole online education thing but as a sort of public trial, they offer several courses of several sorts online for free as well. Not nearly as many as Berkeley, but several of their best to be sure. This site has a very simple interface, simply click on the course you'd like to watch and a new window opens with high quality streaming video. The video is somewhat small dimentionally speaking. There is a way to make it larger by loading the direct url of the applet but it's somewhat complicated. if you're a techie you can figure it out.
My personal favorite here is the Spring 2007 course by prof. Shelley Kegan: "The Philosophy of Death". It is very deep and details the nature of a human being, the nature of a soul, the potential and "goodness" or "badness" of immortality, and so on. The direct link for this course is: http://open.yale.edu/cour...
"ETC"
http://education.jimmyr.com/
This website details many more courses and available resources for "Free Knowledge" including classes through MIT and various state universities. You can also learn languages, download free textbooks, and much much more.
I hope at least some of you get something from this post you didn't already know. Please comment and let me know what you think of my recommendations or provide any other resources you know of!:-)
_______________________________________
ANY EARNINGS from this Mylot account will go to the new Cult Awareness Network.
Go to www.youfoundthecard.com to find out why, then google "scientology cult awareness network".
|