I'm taking a college course online.

.

As you might guess, the University of Michigan has email updates, keeping anyone who might be interested in touch with some of the myriad things that go on at the U.  Several months ago, one of the updates mentioned that the U is part of Coursera -- a place where many high-powered universities offer courses online.

For free.  To anyone who cares to sign up. 

(Non-credit, but depending on the institution, you may get a certificate suitable for sticking to the refrigerator with magnets!)

The course I read about, back then, was Model Thinking.  It was underway, with a new session to start in September.

I thought it sounded interesting; I couldn't see a downside.  Last week I signed up for the current session.

Goodness!  I haven't taken a college course since some time in the 1970s!  It's strenuous!

In addition to the jump-into-deep-water feeling of being exposed to some concentrated academic work, I am getting used to the online-course thing.

It's a free class -- it's all automated.  The first time Model Thinking was offered, 40,000-50,000 people signed up.  !!!!!!!!!!!!!  As you would assume, with that many students, there can't be personal interaction with the instructor. 

You listen to the videos, you answer the odd question along the way, you do the readings, and there will be quizzes and exams (I haven't had one of those yet -- I'm assuming they must be multiple choice and open-book, but who knows.).

I'm finding that I really like being able to stop the video, take notes, copy down the graphs, and go on.  I like being able to run certain parts over and over, to make sure that I at least know what words he was using, if I'm not quite sure, yet, what he meant by them.

On the down side, it's frustrating to not be able to ask questions.

It's a different experience from being in a classroom full of people, that's for sure.

In the time since I last took a college course, I have read that the act of writing and drawing is very helpful for increasing retention.  I figure -- if I'm going to do this, I'm going to DO it.  I'm taking copious notes, and am copying down the illustrative graphs.

The topic is interesting, and different from anything I've learned about in the past.

There are discussion forums.  One of topics invites people to say where they're from -- I think it's excellent to be in a class with people from Romania and Latvia and Malaysia and Turkey.  (And I hope the typos in some of the written material we are to absorb aren't too puzzling to non-native consumers of English!)

I wonder how many people have signed up this time, and I wish they'd show a graph telling where everyone is from! 

I think it's beyond excellent that so many people, from so many places, can be exposed to classes about thinking clearly and making data-based decisions!

It's a different experience from being in a classroom, benefiting from being able to ask questions, and to hear the questions other are asking.

But for free?  No complaints here.

Check out the classes Coursera offers.  You may well see something that piques your curiosity.....

.