Ten Popular Free Video Courses Online

This is the first guest-post on this blog. It was contributed by Katheryn Rivas, who writes on the topics of online universities. She welcomes your comments at her email: katherynrivas87@gmail.com

She writes: Open education is making huge strides forward in the past few years. The following is a list of popular video courses and lectures on various topics available for free from established American universities.

If you also wish to write guest posts for my blog, let me know. I'll be happy to accept it! My email can be found on my Blogger profile.


1. Not Even Past: Conversations on American History

• American History Video Lecture

University of Pennsylvania, Open Learning Commons

Course description:
This course was inspired by the many published faculty members of the University of Pennsylvania’s History Department. Each week, history professors discussed their books with students, faculty, and online participants. Some samples of lecture topics include the making of the U.S. Constitution, the political and cultural integration of free slaves after the American Civil War, and the history of cleanliness in America.


2. Introduction to Copyright Law

• Copyright Law Video Lecture
  

Massachusetts Institute of Technology, MIT OpenCourseWare

Course Description:
Offered through the Electrical Engineering and Computer Science Department, this course covers the basics of copyright law, with an emphasis on American law. The focus of this course is on copyright law in terms of the internet and other nascent technological issues, like Napster, Grokster, and Peer-to-Peer file-sharing; Library Access to Music Project; The 1998 Digital Millennium Copyright Act; DVDs and encryption; software licensing; the GNU General Public License and free software.


3. Global Population Growth

• Population Growth Video Lecture
  

Yale University, Open Yale Courses

Course Description:
This course focuses on the different reasons behind global population growth, covering topics like human fertility, demographic transition, and population policy. The course highlights the cultural and economic variables in environmental population capacity.


4. Math and Probability for Life Sciences

• Math and Probability Video Lecture
  

UCLA, Office of Instructional Development

Course Description:
This course is designed for life sciences students who would like to learn more about elementary probability, random variables, limit theorems, and probability distributions.


5. Technology Entrepreneurship

• Technology Entrepreneurship Video Lecture
  

Stanford University, Stanford Technology Ventures Program

Course Description:
This course is designed for budding entrepreneurs who wish to explore how technology can impact businesses. Topics for this course cover Silicon Valley, startup teams, and venture finance.


6. Media, Education, and the Marketplace

• Media, Education, Marketplace Video Lecture
  

Massachusetts Institute of Technology, MIT OpenCourseWare

Course Description:
This course explores the changing nature of the media in the marketplace. Through a series of guest lecturers held by prominent members of the media, the course examines the technical, social, and business aspects of new media and learning.


7. Frontiers and Controversies in Astrophysics

• Astrophysics Video Lecture
  

Yale University, Open Yale Courses

Course Description:
This course looks into issues that are on the leading edge of astrophysics and that will see dramatic changes and controversies over the next few years. Topics will explore Extra-Solar Planets, Black Holes, and Dark Energy.


8. Conceptual Foundations of International Politics

• International Politics Video Lecture
  

Columbia University, Columbia University Coursework

Course Description:
This course explores the various theories, concepts, and analytical tools employed in order to understand international politics. Topics include international political economy; states, regimes, and rights; war and peace; and culture and identities. Course materials are drawn from different disciplines like comparative politics, international relations, political sociology, and economics.


9. Justice: What’s the Right Thing to Do?

• Justice Video Lecture
  

Harvard University, Justice with Michael Sandel

Course Description:
One of Harvard University’s most popular in-class courses, Dr. Michael Sandel’s “Justice” course is now available online on his personal website in recorded video lectures. The course covers a wide breadth of topic in ethics, like murder, cannibalism, gun ownership, and reproductive rights. Immanuel Kant, Jeremy Bentham, and John Locke are some of the philosophers covered in this controversial course.


10. Blue Planet: Introduction to Oceanography

• Oceanography Video Lecture
  

UCLA, Office of Instructional Development

Course Description:
This course is a general overview of topics covered in oceanography. In the lectures, Dr. Edwin Schauble explores the different chemical, biological, physical, and geological processes at work in the Earth’s oceans.


See the right sidebar for a lot more lectures in various sciences. See you in the next blog post!

PS. If you wish to guest post on this blog, let me know!