The names are familiar - Harvard, Yale, MIT, and so on. They represent some of the most famous and well-respected colleges on the planet. Wouldn't it be nice to take a course at one of these premier institutions? It would be especially nice for high school students seeking to complement or enrich their academic load, or simply wanting to take a course unavailable to them in their own schools.
But any willing learner might relish an opportunity like this, no?
Guess what - it is possible.
These days it is easier than ever to take a course from some of the most prestigious universities in the world - and attendance is not even required. But wait, there's more - the course is free.
A course such as this is called a MOOC.
What's a MOOC? The term stands for "Massive Open Online Course". Major universities offer these courses online and they are open to all. Participants may find traditional and non-traditional courses in virtually every discipline, including science, math, technology, business, arts and humanities.
Stanford, Yale, Harvard, MIT and numerous other institutions in the United States, Canada, Europe, Asia, Australia, and Latin America provide lectures, videos, feedback, and more at the university level and high school level.
Generally, the courses are free, but there may be a fee if participants seek certificates or degree credit. Those interested should check with the institutions about their fees, if any, and their requirements for specific courses.
A list of courses offered may be found at the following sites:
Coursera - https://www.coursera.org/
MOOC List – http://www.mooc-list.com/
