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+---- Thread: Open Coursework from MIT (/thread-232915.html)
Open Coursework from MIT - DrTorch - 02-23-2007 09:54 AM
So you no longer have to pay $35K/year
http://ocw.mit.edu/OcwWeb/index.htm
Quote:Apparently, MIT is making class course material (i.e. syllabuses, lecture, and some video of professors) open to the public. There's a pretty extensive list of courses material available. May be a good resource for people wanting to learn about new topics at their own pace without having to formally sign up for a class.
But, what is the real cost?
a coworker, not me, Wrote:Just as a point of clarification -- there was a vigorous debate just as OCW was coming online during my last year at MIT about whether it was a bad idea to post biotech-, aerospace-, and nuclear-themed courses online where anyone (read: terrorists) can get the materials. I believe that the administration and OCW held the line that ALL courses would be available. The concern was starting down a slippery slope where, at some point, the argument would be made that certain foreign students should not be permitted to attend certain classes or even pick certain majors because of security concerns.* Therefore, you will find titles such as "Systems Analysis of the Nuclear Fuel Cycle" and "Advanced Topics in Cryptography" online today.
*Is this such a bad thing? How much federal funding does MIT receive? How many US students pay their costs? Is it so nutty to expect that the people who pay for this, should put restrictions based on safety?
- Fanatical - 02-23-2007 12:20 PM
Seems a little too overly concerned. A group could just as easily go to a bookstore and buy a textbook. If a group had the means to actually construct a nuclear fuel cell, then I don't think the cash to buy a book would matter.
It is good to see the educators standing up for their values and presenting all knowledge for everyone to see, to learn, ad to ponder.
- JTiger - 02-28-2007 08:37 AM
I think MIT is a private institution, not a state funded one. Obviously, they get a ton of money from the federal government for research. I've looked thought some of their coursework and it's not much different from what I went through at college.
If a terrorist wanted this information, it's not that hard to get if they are determined to carry something out. Perhaps the NSA or FBI needs to monitor who logs on there and track the info, maybe that was the intent all along.