As with all of the EdX courses, Introduction to Computer Science and Programming was entirely free, no strings attached. Students have the option of purchasing a textbook (for only $24.99—a great price compared to the cost of most college textbooks), but even so the course does not rely on it, so it is truly optional. In fact, instead of purchasing the optional textbook, my son decided he would take his chances with a book we already owned (Python in a Nutshell: A Desktop Quick Reference by Alex Martelli), and it was more than adequate.
Now let me digress for a moment to point out that this, right now, is a special moment in time, and I predict it will not last. We have an opportunity to benefit from all of the prestigious universities who want to research how students learn and how technology can transform learning. To test their ideas, they need to experiment. So, here they are, offering free courses as a sort of preliminary field test. We get to explore these courses, for free, as they are being developed. Naturally, the courses won't be perfect, but I've noticed that they are getting better all the time. Eventually, they'll get really good, and at that point I expect the Great Course Giveaway will most likely end and be replaced by a pay-as-you-go type of system. But for now? Enjoy the freebies.
Introduction to Computer Science and Programming is already remarkably good. I watched a few of the lecture videos with my son, and I noticed how he responded to them. He seemed to like the way the lectures were broken into small segments (8 to 12 minutes each), and he laughed at all the jokes and funny examples. The instructors were lively and engaging. Often, this EdX course was the first subject my son would choose to study on any given day, and since he tends to procrastinate and save his least favorite subjects for last, such preferential treatment was a good indicator of his enthusiasm. (In comparison, he has to drag himself to the tedious online coursework provided by the Virtual Learning Academy Charter School; more about that later).
Now, if lecture videos were all this course offered, I wouldn't regard it as a huge improvement over most of what is available for free these days on YouTube or iTunesU. What sets this course apart are the supplemental learning aids. The course includes built-in self-check questions (called "finger exercises") at the end of many of the lectures, reasonable programming assignments, two challenging mid-term exams, and a tough final exam. Incredibly, the assignments and exams are all graded by the instructors or their teaching assistants, so they don't have to be limited to multiple choice. Students have an opportunity to see how well they have mastered the material and where they've made mistakes. There's also an online discussion forum, which students can (and do) use to ask questions and get more information.
At the end of the course, my son received an "honor code certificate," stating that he had successfully completed the course. Some might complain that being awarded a certificate is not the same as receiving college credit, and they would be right. (Accreditation is another aspect of online learning that is evolving to suit changing needs and attitudes; more on that later.) Others might question the EdX Honor Code, which asks to students to avoid cheating because cheating does nothing to aid learning. That's another problem researchers are working to solve.
As far as my son and I are concerned, though, the EdX course was a great success. It was effective and fun: it taught my son how to program, and he was sufficiently inspired by the instructors and the course material to do additional programming on his own after the course ended.
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