Links to Open Courseware Sites From Top US Universities

One of my greatest accomplishments is attending Northwestern University and taking challenging, interesting, amazing classes taught by first class professors. I'll be honest, I learned as much outside of the classroom as I did in the classroom, but attending college was the first time I really felt intellectually stimulated and challenged. (High school was great, I studied hard and I learned a lot but I also felt as if I wasn't necessarily being challenged enough despite taking all honors and AP classes and graduating in the top 10% of my class).

A few years ago, I discovered Open Courseware sites. I think I was reading an article that had a link to the Yale Open Courseware site and I was intrigued. I logged on and took an "Introduction to Psychology" class and thoroughly enjoyed it. The course lectures and readings were the same materials that Yale students were exposed to yet I could go through the course at my own pace and on my own time. I was hooked! I then took a few other courses as well as some at Stanford University. Many top universities are now offering free online courses of their already established classes and it's a wonderful thing. The best part is that anyone can take these free online classes! 

The course selection is varied and I believe there is something for everyone.

I love the idea that a small girl growing up in rural india with limited educational opportunities due to coming from a low socio-economic background can now learn about Computer Science and Programming (MIT), Biotechnology (MIT), World Literature (Yale or MIT) or Entrepreneurship (Stanford).

The world is changing fast, and technology is aiding the process. I strongly believe in open access to top rate education and a more level playing field. And these Open Courseware sites are a step in the right direction. Just think of how some little girl or little boy's life might change with exposure to higher level/first- rate academics. For someone who might live in an environment with limited resources and where education is not a priority, this could really motivate them and change their life path. At the very least, they will learn something new and a more educated society benefits all.

Here are links to some of the more popular Open Courseware sites:

1. Massachusetts Institute of Technology
MIT

2. Stanford University
Stanford
Stanford Venture Lab

3. Yale University
Yale

4. Carnegie Mellon University
Carnegie Mellon

4. Harvard University
Harvard

Enjoy!