I don't understand the Coursera subscription and timed organisation.
I mean, why don't they simply post the videos with a short text description, so I can choose what&when?
Like Barbara Hecker on youtube, teached me Android programming.
Maybe because it is more than just a set of youtube videos.
- the course spans a specific period of time during which all events take place. In that respect it mimics a true on-campus course. Sure, that is inconvenient for some but then physically attending on-campus would be considerably more so. And the timing give a backbone to the course by creating the schedule. It is so easy to start things and never finish them or even make significant headway if you are the sole scheduler.
- the syllabus is a coherent set of topics unlike so many tube videos that bounce here and there without actually ever really completing the point
- you enroll so you are recognized as a student of the course. Unlike youtube, at the same time you make a commitment to study (to yourself only, of course)
- after the course is over you get a statement of accomplishment if one is warranted
- there is the associated discussion forum and a number of facilitators and assistants to clarify things if necessary
- the professor of the course is actually available on the forum during the course
- the assignments have deadlines to make it possible to issue the statements in a timely manner
- the statements are issued by the professor of the course based on what you accomplished during it.
I have a hard time seeing how all of this could happen if you just had a set of clips in the tube.
IMO this is much closer to the real thing than anything youtube can manage. I don't see it as a failure at all, instead just the other way around. And i like it. If others don't then that's all right and there are other ways to learn in the net.