Last month I wrote about the possibility of free education (or cheaply priced education) through iTunes U. They aren’t the only game in town, of course. Back in late 2010, Fast Company offered a short profile on the founder of Udemy: the Academy of You, Gagan Biyani. Biyani built this simple site to host courses from anyone, yes even you, about any subject at all. If you take a quick look, you’ll note that most of the classes offered are really more about hobbies and personal passions. They look great and have a wide variety. This, by the way, is an excellent example of how technology can aid our lives, rather than ultimately controlling our lives. It is the epitome of the peer-to-peer idea that the web really promises. I know something, I can post that knowledge in some way, I can choose to charge or just give it away, and you can choose to partake.
But, as I wrote about last month, there is also the possibility (happy or scary) that this impacts the education industry. As you should know, as a history professor, I have a slight interest in this. I don’t know if something like Udemy will ever overtake the idea of education through a university or college, but it could. Is this a good thing? Hard to know. Having taught many online classes through my work at the College, I know online education can be a good thing, and it can be a terrible thing.
I suppose we’ll all find out together, but as we go, let me urge you to stay focused on avoiding any sense of “quick fixes” or looking for ways to simply avoid the work. I am not suggesting that you MUST have a “traditional” college degree. Rather, I’ll be the first to tell you that college isn’t for everyone, nor does every person who is successful have to have a college degree.
But, college degree or not, traditional college or online university, Udemy or iTunes U—realize that learning takes hard work, devotion and effort on your part.