The Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) is spearheading a movement of major universities to put online lecture notes, coursework and required readings for MBA courses and other classes on the internet — at no charge.
According to a Wall Street Journal article titled “Yale on $0 a Day”, universities across the United States are offering more than a glimpse into the courses comprising an MBA or other advanced degree.According to the article, “MIT’s pioneering MIT OpenCourseWare (OCW) program, which was launched in 2003, posts the syllabus and class notes for more than 1,500 courses online for anyone who wants them. By this November, it aims to publish materials from virtually all 1,800 of its courses across all its schools.”
The amount of IP given away varies by university. MIT, thus far, seems to be the most generous with class plans, lecture notes, and recommended reading materials. Other universities such as UC Berkeley are “simply making lectures available through audio and video files.”
.jpg)
Diana E.E. Kleiner, an art-history professor and director of the Yale project, said the universities realize there’s no substitute for the real thing. She said, “From Yale’s point of view, there still is nothing more important than direct interaction between students and teachers. Putting a selection of our courses online doesn’t change that.”But what is not mentioned is the effect this can have on education in, for example, Chinese universities. Yes, personal instruction is vital. But to have a course in English from another university — or several courses from several universities cherry picked for a specific course by team leaders — is a totally new direction in education.
The examples are relevannt.
For example, in “PPS.tv,” students describe China’s online video distribution market and the challenges for a China-based online video provider startup as it prepares a growth and exit strategy.
MBA Pursuit lists what is avaiable at MIT. It is a most exciting development especially for Chinese univerisities.
Now the writer has to find a way to download them on to his iPod Touch.