Harvard rocks

Before I get started with this week's post, I want to say two things:

1. Shane's presentation was the most engaging and informative 45 minutes I've had at CSC in a long time. He's able to communicate the convergence of theory and practice in a realistic and unforced way. He is doing exactly what I want to do, and is a great role model to have in the community.


2. I am so proud of Nick's increased excitement in the MLIS program after Shane's visit. Finally he is starting to believe all the things (Joyce and) I tell him about the desirability of all his skills he thinks are no big deal. :)

Now on to why Harvard rocks:

Open courseware is blowing my mind. A few months ago, at the beginning of the semester, I downloaded several courses from the iTunes U store from Harvard and MIT. This week I started watching Harvard's CS50: Intro to Computing, and it is amazing. The professor, David Malan, is wonderful and has a great way of using analogies and creative demonstrations to illuminate a concept. The Fall 2007 version of the course (that I am watching) is available at cs50.tv, and this semester's version of the course (happening right now) is at cs50.net. The best part of the course podcasts is that all the supporting material is also available online -- the syllabus, assignments, notes, slides, quizzes and solutions.

This open courseware discovery has really improved my feeling about large research institutions, particularly Harvard, Yale, or MIT -- not only in terms of reaching outside the Ivory Tower, but also in terms of teaching and learning support for undergraduates. Harvard has quickly gone from a school that I would never consider attending to one that has earned my attention.

I would really like to bring the Harvard CS50 course into my education at St. Kate's. Maybe an independent study where I follow the CS50 curriculum? (Whatd'ya think, Joyce? You up for it? We could learn together -- the class starts with C and ends with PHP.) There is also the possibility of taking a Harvard summer or continuing ed class online for credit and transferring it back to St. Kate's (although CS50 isn't offered that way).

I've made myself stop watching the podcast because I have other homework to do, and because I'm hoping that the next time I start watching it I'll be getting credit for it.