Thursday, September 28, 2006

UC Berkeley Courses On Google Video For Free

From this release:

The best of college is now available, for free, without unpleasantries such as 8 a.m. classes, pop quizzes or term papers.

In a new deal with Google Video, the University of California-Berkeley is sharing with the public, via the Internet, dozens of videotaped seminars, speeches, special events and even entire courses taught by some of the campus' leading professors.

``It's click and play,'' said Dan Mogulof, director of public affairs at the university.

Easy to view and accessible to everyone, the Web site offers more than 100 introductory-level lectures in subjects such as physics, biology, chemistry, information systems and bioengineering. Viewers can't earn credit, but they don't have to find a parking space either.


You have to love that Berkeley attitude. Their non-major's intro Physics-light class is entitled "Physics for Future Presidents."




Curriculum reformers take note of the syllabus implicit in the class lists and descriptions! It clearly shows that high school AP curricula are failing to keep up with the trends in Physics (or even the trends in college Physics courses). Note that this INTRODUCTORY Physics class includes 4 lectures on Quantum Mechanics, 2 on Relativity, and 2 on new discoveries about our Universe. 8 out of 24 lectures, or 25% of the class is focused on NEW physics as opposed to 4% of the traditional AP curriculum.

Any of my biology, chemistry, or health-sciences colleagues want to take a crack at comparing those topic areas?

Start learning right now! Here is the link to all the Cal content on Google.

No comments: