The point was not to show the disciplines that MIT supports, but rather an instituiton that delivers a huge amount of online content. I found it interesting that they label it "Open Course Ware". The corrolary in the computer world is "Open Source Software" or "freeware". This does not mean it is free, but rather the distribution of the product is free. The understanding, implementation and putting it to use in the real world is what costs. Especially if your understanding is not complete. It does however give you a starting point. The main reason for pointing to the site was to inquire as to how the authors are compensated and the argument (from other threads) that USM would use WebCT as a method of "picking the faculties pocket" by archiving course material and using it at a later date.

MIT puts many of its courses online as a general service to the community. Most of it started as a way for the students at MIT to refer back to what happened in class and to be able to concentrate on listening rather than note taking. For MIT students registered for the class they are even able to text search the lectures.

Anyone is allowed to view them and many students use these bone up in their field. However, no credit is given for listening to the lectures unless signed up for MIT credits and a professor (or administrator) who wants to use the lectures for their course needs to pay a use fee.

Neat stuff, shows us that we are not far away from having one professor for 10,000 students! Just think of the profit and loss numbers one could rack up by this method.

 

OM