We're having a debate in my office about online learning that has led me to revisit the various online learning sites that I've used, tuned into/downloaded from. Simultaneously I'm noticing a sudden surge in interest in the possibilities of online access enabling an education for everyone. As an example in two recent issues Fast Company published articles on technology: the first How Web-Savvy Edupunks Are Transforming American Higher Education which made the point that, Suddenly, it is possible to imagine a new model of education using online resources to serve more students, more cheaply than ever before. and the second Cellphonometry: Can Kids Really Learn Math From Smartphones?
I'm a fan of open and on-line learning. Years ago I was an Open Learning Development Officer – aiming to convert traditional face to face curriculum to (in those days) text based distance learning. For many years I taught for the UK's Open University and currently I teach at Capella University which is totally online. A friend's children attend PAcyber an on-line American charter school (also totally online) dedicated to: the success of all students who have not had their needs met in a traditional educational setting.
Below are listed some of the free sites that I learn stuff from
Free to individuals
Harvard Business Review Idea Cast (on i-tunes)
MIT Open Courseware is a web-based publication of virtually all MIT course content. OCW is open and available to the world and is a permanent MIT activity.
Peer2Peer University combines open educational resources, structured courses, and recognition of knowledge/learning in order to offer high-quality low-cost education opportunities. It is run and governed by volunteers.
University of the People tuition-free, online academic institution dedicated to the global advancement and democratization of higher education.
Academic Earth is an organization founded with the goal of giving everyone on earth access to a world-class education. A
But it's also worth looking at these two pay sites
50 lessons More than 1,000 personal and authentic video lessons from over 200 of the world's most respected business leaders, 50 Lessons is the world's premier multimedia business resource.
i-minds – a new company that is developing a first-of-its-kind catalog of 8-minute audio books that deliver bursts of knowledge on an array of topics to iPods and other MP3 devices.
And corporates might benefit from membership
IMD's Corporate Learning Network
Or some of the link ups available through I-tunes U
(Apple also has an education department dedicated to working with educational institutions to develop and make available on-line curriculum).
Naomi Stanford 