Posted on Monday, April 30th, 2012 by Natalia Farbiarz
Going to College or University is a huge decision: Which one is the best? Are you willing to move out from your state? And most importantly: Can you afford it? Even though I never had the American experience of studying, I can tell something about my own country, Argentina: It’s the State’s duty to provide it for all its citizens and paying is only a matter of choice. And even better, the public University is considered to be among the top ones in South America. Now imagine such privilege in the USA: having the opportunity to access the world class education so far only available to a select few, with millions of other students, without having to leave your home. “If you will it, it is no dream” assured Theodore Herzl. I guess Coursera proves him right…
Are you serious? is it really free?
Coursera is a “social entrepreneurship company that partners with the top universities in the world to offer courses online for anyone to take, for free.” Envisioning a future where the top universities (including Ivy League colleges like Princeton and Stanford) educate millions of students, the website provides the technology to participate in a global community of students with interactive online courses, led by some of the World’s top professors: from watching high quality lectures, achieving mastery via interactive exercises, and collaborating with the global students community. Also, taking into consideration the busy life most students have, the courses are designed to help students master new concepts quickly and effectively. Besides, feedback is provided frequently to enable students to monitor their progress in mastering the material. Believe it or not, the aim behind this website is to”empower people with education that will improve their lives, the lives of their families, and the communities they live in.” No profits involved, just a ton of good will.
Take your time, choose between Humanities and Social Sciences, Computer Science, Mathematics and Statistics, Helthcare, Medicine and Biology, Economics, Finance and Business or Society, Networks and Information… and join the class! There’s always room for another student!
For more reviews of the Web’s top education sites, explore the ‘Education’ category in our blog, or check out our Education Homepage… it’s great on a smartphone too!
