Addicted to MOOCs (free online classes)

Page 1 of 1 [ 6 posts ] 

ourlostprophet
Hummingbird
Hummingbird

User avatar

Joined: 1 Jul 2013
Age: 56
Gender: Female
Posts: 19
Location: New Jersey

02 Jul 2013, 1:32 pm

Has anyone else been taking MOOCs - free online classes from various places? I had to drop out of college years ago because the anxiety and stress got to be too much, and I have been delighted to see this movement in major universities offering classes online for free.

I've taken sociology, world music, cooking, nutrition, archeology, art, poetry, writing, philosophy and other such courses from major universities all without leaving home.

My favorite site is Coursera , but I've also taken a few from Canvas and Udacity. Anyone else into educating themselves this way?


_________________
~Laura Cushing yet lives.~


AspieWolf
Veteran
Veteran

User avatar

Joined: 25 Apr 2010
Age: 81
Gender: Male
Posts: 657
Location: Out of my mind. Back in 10 minutes.

02 Jul 2013, 3:42 pm

I totally understand your issues with the stress of university. I had the opportunity of taking only 2-3 class at a time instead of the usual 5-6. That took a bit longer, but it really helped to lower the stress levels, since there was more time to devote to each class. It also helped with my time management, as I was working full time as well. BTW WRT homework - find out what time of day works best for you. I learned that I was the most alert and mentally active between 11PM and 3AM! If I tried to do homework at any other time of the day it would take me twice as long to finish.


_________________
"A man needs a little madness...or else...he never dares cut the rope and be free."
Nikos Kazantzakis, ZORBA THE GREEK

Some of us just have a little more madness than others!


ourlostprophet
Hummingbird
Hummingbird

User avatar

Joined: 1 Jul 2013
Age: 56
Gender: Female
Posts: 19
Location: New Jersey

02 Jul 2013, 5:43 pm

I'm doing pretty well with the online classes - as long as I remember to write down when assignments are due and make time to do them.

I wish I would have had my diagnosis or at least an understanding of my stress limits when I did college. I think if I did like you did, I might have made it. :D

What did you major in? I was going to be an English major.


_________________
~Laura Cushing yet lives.~


AspieWolf
Veteran
Veteran

User avatar

Joined: 25 Apr 2010
Age: 81
Gender: Male
Posts: 657
Location: Out of my mind. Back in 10 minutes.

02 Jul 2013, 9:27 pm

I was an engineer for a hi-tech company and worked with a lot of folks who were most likely AS too.


_________________
"A man needs a little madness...or else...he never dares cut the rope and be free."
Nikos Kazantzakis, ZORBA THE GREEK

Some of us just have a little more madness than others!


NewDawn
Deinonychus
Deinonychus

User avatar

Joined: 31 Aug 2012
Age: 69
Gender: Female
Posts: 306
Location: Netherlands

15 Jul 2013, 2:41 pm

Hi! Another MOOC addict here. I studied biology in the 1980´s and also had a lot of problems with stress. Nowadays I´m on a disability pension (also stress-burnout) and MOOCs are ideal for me. Most of the courses I take are molecular biology, evolution and bioinformatics. All the new things in biology that I can now catch up with. My absolute favourite course so far is one from Edx / MIT: Introduction to Biology / The Secret of Life, but most courses I've taken have been Coursera. I started a new one today: Programmed Cell Death. Very interesting.



MjrMajorMajor
Veteran
Veteran

User avatar

Joined: 15 Jan 2012
Gender: Female
Posts: 8,814

15 Jul 2013, 3:12 pm

I've just started looking into them, but the variety offered really surprised me. I signed up for around six of them. :mrgreen: