[ale] (OT) Minnesota bans Coursera: State takes bold stand against free education.

Sat Oct 20 09:26:35 EDT 2012

Well, not rescinded, but their bluff has been called.

--Cameron
Sent via mobile
On Oct 20, 2012 9:25 AM, "Cameron Kilgore" <ghostfreeman at gmail.com> wrote:

> Minnesota has rescinded its stance
>
>
> http://mobile.slate.com/blogs/future_tense/2012/10/19/minnesota_coursera_ban_state_won_t_crack_down_on_free_online_courses_after.html
>
> --Cameron
> Sent via mobile
> On Oct 19, 2012 8:09 PM, "Jay Lozier" <jslozier at gmail.com> wrote:
>
>>  On 10/19/2012 02:38 PM, Cameron Kilgore wrote:
>>
>> Ice burn!
>>
>> Coursera is more useful than most of my college textbooks. Then again,
>> I've always used it post-secondary. I remain skeptical of its use in higher
>> ed, but Minnesota's ban isn't a good start.
>>
>> --Cameron
>> Sent via mobile
>>
>> There are two different issues. First is Cousera offering any degrees or
>> continuing education credit; certificates of completion do not count even
>> if highly regarded. Second is the course content on par with say an
>> introductory college level computer science course. Coursera does not offer
>> degrees AFAIK does not offer continuing education credit. This means they
>> are offering training and education to any one who wants some form of self
>> improvement. Essentially this is not any different than someone studying
>> the material from a book bought from Amazon. The second issue is trickier
>> because all the courses are offered by reputable, well known universities.
>> My impression is that the content is generally lower undergraduate level
>> but the requirements to successfully complete are not as rigorous.
>>
>> The problem I see with Minnesota's stupidity is it appears that they do
>> not want any competition that can not harass with their rules and
>> regulations with their state university system. Even worse, Coursera is
>> free with content supplied by other universities. I doubt the morons who
>> signed off on this even bothered to review Coursera's website.
>>
>>  On Oct 19, 2012 12:36 PM, "Jim Kinney" <jim.kinney at gmail.com> wrote:
>>
>>>
>>> Georgia can't spell "Coursera" yet so they are trying to figure out how
>>> to cash in on Alabama and Tennessee water access.
>>>
>>> On Fri, Oct 19, 2012 at 12:25 PM, Derek Atkins <derek at ihtfp.com> wrote:
>>>
>>>> States are greedy.
>>>>
>>>> Apparently their issue is that Coursera isn't "registered" and isn't
>>>> paying the state fees associated with said registration.  It almost
>>>> sounds
>>>> like something Georgia would do!
>>>>
>>>> -derek
>>>>
>>>> On Fri, October 19, 2012 12:18 pm, Jim Kinney wrote:
>>>> > the world is screwy.
>>>> >
>>>> > On Fri, Oct 19, 2012 at 10:20 AM, Michael Trausch <mike at trausch.us>
>>>> wrote:
>>>> >
>>>> >> I am currently taking a class on this site as is Erica. Mine is a
>>>> logic
>>>> >> course from Stanford; hers is programming and I think also from
>>>> >> Stanford.
>>>> >>
>>>> >> What is the problem with our world? Now we can make free services
>>>> >> illegal
>>>> >> too? What the hell happened to criminal activities having to cause
>>>> harm
>>>> >> to
>>>> >> person or property?
>>>> >>
>>>> >>
>>>> >>
>>>> http://mobile.slate.com/blogs/future_tense/2012/10/18/minnesota_bans_coursera_state_takes_bold_stand_against_free_education.html
>>>> >>
>>>> >> _______________________________________________
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>>>> >>
>>>> >
>>>> >
>>>> > --
>>>> > --
>>>> > James P. Kinney III
>>>>  > *
>>>> > *Every time you stop a school, you will have to build a jail. What you
>>>> > gain
>>>> > at one end you lose at the other. It's like feeding a dog on his own
>>>> tail.
>>>> > It won't fatten the dog.
>>>> > - Speech 11/23/1900 Mark Twain
>>>>  > *
>>>> > http://electjimkinney.org
>>>> > http://heretothereideas.blogspot.com/
>>>> > *
>>>> > _______________________________________________
>>>> > Ale mailing list
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>>>>
>>>>
>>>> --
>>>>         Derek Atkins                 617-623-3745
>>>>        derek at ihtfp.com             www.ihtfp.com
>>>>        Computer and Internet Security Consultant
>>>>
>>>> _______________________________________________
>>>> Ale mailing list
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>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> --
>>> --
>>> James P. Kinney III
>>> *
>>> *Every time you stop a school, you will have to build a jail. What you
>>> gain at one end you lose at the other. It's like feeding a dog on his own
>>> tail. It won't fatten the dog.
>>> - Speech 11/23/1900 Mark Twain
>>> *
>>> http://electjimkinney.org
>>> http://heretothereideas.blogspot.com/
>>> *
>>>
>>> _______________________________________________
>>> Ale mailing list
>>> Ale at ale.org
>>> http://mail.ale.org/mailman/listinfo/ale
>>> See JOBS, ANNOUNCE and SCHOOLS lists at
>>> http://mail.ale.org/mailman/listinfo
>>>
>>>
>>
>> _______________________________________________
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>>
>>
>>
>> --
>> Jay Lozierjslozier at gmail.com
>>
>>
>> _______________________________________________
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>>
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