The oldest known use of the phrase “Industrial Revolution” appears in Jérôme-Adolphe Blanqui’s 1837 book “Histoire de l'économie politique en Europe depuis les anciens jusqu'à nos jours.”
Interesting thing is, what Blanqui called the “la
révolution industrielle,” had begun around a hundred years earlier. No one had gotten around to naming, and
really talking about the change until
it was WELL underway.
No one stood chatting, saying “Hey, how about that
Revolution we’re going through!?” We
only realized what a huge moment that was for our species after it had already happened.
It was only after the dust had settled, after the great
leap forward had been made, did human realize how far a jump they were making.
In a lot of respects, I think our world is going through
the same phenomenon, this time with the Digital Revolution.
It’s true that technology is constantly changing. But on
smaller increments of time, month-to-month, week-to-week, the changes are
pretty innocuous, and hard to detect.
The difference between this iPhone and the next one are
slight. Sometimes the additional speed is
hard to notice on a anew internet connection.
But when you look back overtime, and realize it was only 6
years ago that you got your first cellphone, less than 15 when you first had an
internet connection in your home, that’s when you can see really see the
Revolution.
There’s no doubt in my mind that a few hundred years from
now, school children will learn about the Digital Revolution (and all its
Earth-shaking advances) with the same gravitas and emphasis I was taught the
Industrial Revolution. We’re living
through a period of history equally as great.
But how will those future children learn about it, now
there’s the million dollar question! And
it looks like the answer is developing, and that the Digital Revolution may be the driving force behind it.
Coursera
A month or so ago, I read an article online about a
website called Courera, that purported to have “free online classes from top
universities.” That sounded way too good
to be true, so I have to investigate.
Turns out, this site offers A TON of free
online classes. From some top
universities.
Through Coursera, you can enroll in classes on history,
computer science, math, logic, music, medicine – they have it all! And it’s free.
Every week, a couple of video lectures (each around 20 or
so minutes long) appear on the page for the particular class in which you are
enrolled. You take quizzes and tests
online – all multiple choice, all graded automatically by the computer. And did I mention it’s free?
New classes are starting every week, and each one runs for
2 – 3 months.
Now, of course, you don’t receive actual college credit
for completing the course. You take the
class as an observer.
But you still receive a “certificate of completion,” so,
you know, that’s bragging rights at least.
How I use it
A friend of mine and I enrolled in a class together, and we're having a blast! We watch the videos on our own time, then
meet up every Thursday night to review notes, do the exercises and quizzes –
and make dinner.
In the meantime, we pass ideas back and forth to each other about what we're learning and how we can use it.
Learning is a social activity – so learn with a friend!
Benefit for non-US students
Coursera gives anyone in the world the opportunity to put some
US-based educational experience on your CV.
This will look great if you ever apply for jobs or school stateside!
Upcoming Econ classes
Yes folks, there is some econ classes coming up. I will be taking them! So wherever you are, join the Revolution and
take a free online class with me!
Microeconomics for Managers (University of California,Irvine) - Starts 1/20/2013
Grow to Greatness: Smart Growth for Private Businesses,Part I (University of Virginia) - Starts 1/28/2013
Introduction to Finance (University of Michigan) - Starts 1/28/2013
Microeconomics Principles (University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign) - Starts 1/28/2013
Financial Engineering and Risk Management (Columbia University) - Starts 2/11/2013
Principles of Macroeconomics (University of Melbourne) - Starts March 2013
PBS report on Coursera
Check out this PBS report to learn more about Coursera.
I love coursera and it makes me so happy to see other people promoting it!
ReplyDeleteHave you seen anything on coursera about journalism? I heard Poynter has journalism training but its pay to play.