Online Open Source Education.

     Online education is increasingly in the public consciousness with many higher education at the present moment of economic crisis. Supporting the growth of benefits online universities that serve these students, education movement of open source. This movement, led by MIT OpenCourseWare Khan Academy, and aims to revolutionize education by providing free content to anyone with an Internet connection. Bill Gates said in an interview that he believes that within five years, the best education comes from the Internet. Coming from a man who made billions by investing in innovation, such expectations are enormous weight.

     There is a huge demand for educational materials online, except those enrolled in online courses, but if you want to learn. The next generation of college freshman have to think hard to remember the first time that Google and YouTube. It is therefore not surprising that the first reaction of many young students, faced with a difficult problem is "Google." It is interesting to note that a lot of teaching materials online, it is probably the best strategy. A quick Google search to determine return to much more than what you might find a traditional library. Textbooks day, videoconferencing, practical solutions to problems, Internet connectivity for thousands of chat rooms expert assistance, computer programs and other content is becoming more of a mobile library in a single day sounds like a stupid, if you plan to use library computers to access the Internet.

     So where is the open-source training will take us? Despite the enthusiasm of many, I can not predict the destruction of the higher education system is too expensive (bubbles?) At any time. Although it would be interesting to re-present a case study and a list of some videos on YouTube of people continue to diplomas. Open-source movement seems to education, but the industry that produces more learning material. There are many "quick calculation of teaching" style of training books that may be lost when the shelves of your local library (if your local bookstore, it is not already lost). How can they compete in an online interactive material, video conferences and discussions on these topics? Honestly, I do not see how they can.

     More interesting than the business impact of the movement of open source is the psychology behind it. What is driving people to produce their own videos on YouTube to solve calculus problems? Or spend the night at a forum dedicated to organic chemistry, helping students who have difficulty understanding the concepts? Economists and psychologists have come together to find what motivates people to contribute to open source projects and found three main reasons. Challenge, control and provide input are the driving force behind all open source projects. These three elements are clearly predominant in the case of the open source movement and can be added to the "joy of teaching" as an additional source of motivation. For these reasons, I agree with Mr. Gates, that not only the best education available soon on the site, but is also free.