Academic Earth - online video lectures

[Traitorfish]

http://academicearth.org/

This looks like a great resource. They have individual lectures and full courses on a range of topics in the sciences, humanities and social sciences. I can't speak for the academic quality of it all, obviously, but given that it's free, I can't see that making a huge difference if you're just pursuing a personal interest.

 

[Eat_Up_Martha]

Not a huge selection, there's only a few classes (with 20 or so individual lectures) in each category. Still a pretty nifty site though, thanks for the link.

There were a lot of classes I was interested in at University that I couldn't take, either due to lack of my time or their availability, that I look forward to checking out here.

 

[Monsterzuma]

thanks; this is really good. enjoying the behavioral finance lessons as i type this.

 

[Truthy]

Pretty useful stuff. I often use free lecture/video coursework for review in my classes.

 

[Neonanocyborgasm]

It's just a compendium of the many online lecture series from around the world, which have their own mirrors on university sites. I did the Political Philosophy course from Yale, and, btw, was bored out of my skull, and couldn't finish it. That's just my take, even though it's given an A- grade.

 

[innonimatu]

It's just a compendium of the many online lecture series from around the world, which have their own mirrors on university sites. I did the Political Philosophy course from Yale, and, btw, was bored out of my skull, and couldn't finish it. That's just my take, even though it's given an A- grade.

Personally, I think that video lectures have always been a bad idea. A good lecture should allow the audience to react, and the lecturer should adjust to it. Video kills the positive things about a lecture. It's non-interactive, I'd rather spend the time with a well structured book or a video which did not pretended to be a lecture.

 

[Terxpahseyton]

Well those pretentious lectures are in comparison cheap to be produced and may still be of high quality.

 

[Traitorfish]

Personally, I think that video lectures have always been a bad idea. A good lecture should allow the audience to react, and the lecturer should adjust to it. Video kills the positive things about a lecture. It's non-interactive, I'd rather spend the time with a well structured book or a video which did not pretended to be a lecture.

To be fair, in most cases these are actual university lectures that have just been filmed so I don't think that they're really pretending to be anything they're not. It strikes me as more of a "here if you want 'em" sort of thing, at least for the non-credit courses, and the best way to approach them.

 

[Red Door]

It's just a compendium of the many online lecture series from around the world, which have their own mirrors on university sites. I did the Political Philosophy course from Yale, and, btw, was bored out of my skull, and couldn't finish it. That's just my take, even though it's given an A- grade.

Well, you were bored because it was political philosophy.

 

[Neonanocyborgasm]

Personally, I think that video lectures have always been a bad idea. A good lecture should allow the audience to react, and the lecturer should adjust to it. Video kills the positive things about a lecture. It's non-interactive, I'd rather spend the time with a well structured book or a video which did not pretended to be a lecture.

Better than going to the college and sitting in the classroom, if you can even get that far without being a registered student.

Well, you were bored because it was political philosophy.

No, I was bored of the lecturer. He also didn't seem to understand what some of the assigned readings were even saying, at times.

 

[Monsterzuma]

Personally, I think that video lectures have always been a bad idea. A good lecture should allow the audience to react, and the lecturer should adjust to it. Video kills the positive things about a lecture. It's non-interactive, I'd rather spend the time with a well structured book or a video which did not pretended to be a lecture.

emphasis on "should". it's not what you get at the average real life lecture.

Well those pretentious lectures are in comparison cheap to be produced and may still be of high quality.

i noticed the London School of Economics (economics department ranked 4th internationally) is offering accredited online bachelor degrees for no more than 5000 US Dollars. there may be even better bargains than this. based on the price tag alone I'm three quarters of the way toward being convinced this is the future of education.

ps. one thing i like about watching a lecture on video is the ability to pause and rewind the vid. very useful for cross checking the material with other sources.

 

[dutchfire]

I glanced at their maths and physics courses, they all seemed pretty basic (first year) stuff. Also, a good university education is not just a bunch of courses, there should be some order in the curriculum.

Still, it is a pretty sympathetic idea which is probably nice for people who want to learn a little bit more about a subject. Over here, there increasingly are classes organized for older people who are retired and want to learn more about physics. This could be nice for them.

 

[Mise]

Ehh, it's easier to learn it from a textbook. I agree with innonimatu that there's not much point in having lectures if you're just being talked at, and not given the chance, either during the lecture or afterwards at office hours/tutorials, to talk things through with an academic. The lectures are nice, but IMO they're not even as good as wikipedia.

In short, buy a textbook.

 

[asbestos]

http://academicearth.org/courses/starcraft-theory-and-strategy

awesome.

 

[Traitorfish]

In short, buy a textbook.

Aye, there's the rub.

 

[Narz]

Ehh, it's easier to learn it from a textbook. I agree with innonimatu that there's not much point in having lectures if you're just being talked at, and not given the chance, either during the lecture or afterwards at office hours/tutorials, to talk things through with an academic. The lectures are nice, but IMO they're not even as good as wikipedia.

In short, buy a textbook.

Well they're useful if you can convert them to MP3 and listen to them while walking, biking, commuting, driving, exercising, etc.

For example I listened to this series while driving over the course of a couple of months. I probably never would have be arsed to sit down & read a similar course.

However, I'm not sure if these can be transfered to audio only. Is it even possible to download them?

Only four lectures on psychology , I may listen to this one : http://academicearth.org/courses/psychology-of-families-and-couples

 

[Thoughtful Thug]

Watched a few clips on Game Theory while eating a subway sandwich. Not bad. I don't think it is better than TED.