MIT Quality, EdX Accessibility

For his fall semester, my son enrolled in an Introduction to Computer Science and Programming course through EdX, a "a not-for-profit enterprise built upon the shared educational missions of its founding partners, Harvard University and MIT." If you have never heard of EdX, take a few minutes to read About EdX before you go on. At the very least, check out the selection of free courses they offer. While all of the courses are described as undergraduate level, a highly motivated high school student could learn from them as well.

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.