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

[Jay Lozier]

On 10/19/2012 10:12 PM, Pete Hardie wrote:
> I saw an update (on Slashdot?) that indicated Minnesota was
> backpedalling on the ban
> Pete Hardie
> --------
> Better Living Through Bitmaps
They are. Apparently the best disinfectant for incompetent bureaucrats 
is ridicule.
>
>
> On Fri, Oct 19, 2012 at 7:28 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/
>>>>> *
>>>>> _______________________________________________
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>>>>
>>>> --
>>>>         Derek Atkins                 617-623-3745
>>>>         derek at ihtfp.com             www.ihtfp.com
>>>>         Computer and Internet Security Consultant
>>>>
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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/
>>>
>>>
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>>
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>>
>>
>> --
>> Jay Lozier
>> jslozier at gmail.com
>>
>>
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-- 
Jay Lozier
jslozier at gmail.com