Coursera

As we discussed earlier in the semester Stanford professors were offering free online classes to everyone.  After completion, those in the class would receive a certificate of completion rather than actual class credit.  This idea has spurred a lot of conversation especially with the announcement of Coursera last week.  Coursera is an expansion of the idea, which now includes Princeton, the University of Michigan, and the University of Pennsylvania.  Coursera has received $16 million from venture capitalist firms Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers and New Enterprise Associates. 

Other instances of this free online learning are occurring as well.  Dr. Thrun of Stanford University left his position to start Udacity, a similar online learning site.  MIT is also jumping on board and offered their first free course on circuits and electronics in March.

There is a lot of concern among universities as to where the future of higher education is heading.  There is also concern that the prestigious universities offering the free courses will lose some of their name brand appeal.  I think just the opposite.  I think it positions these schools in a more favorably light as they no longer seem elitist and exclusionary.