Your own University

[shadowmoss]

Back many years ago I was reading a blog of a young woman who had been home schooled. When it came time to go to University, she decided to create her own, gave it a name, and drew up a curriculum of study tailored to her interests. Ever since that time I have dabbled in trying the same thing, although less structured. With all of the on-line and other free classes around it is even easier now.

So, if you were going to tailor a University degree for yourself, what would you include to consider yourself 'well educated', and what resources would you use? This is also a thinly veiled fishing trip for new resources. :) A couple of areas where I have been lucky to find good free resources are learning Spanish (besides living in a Spanish-speaking country) and web design/programming.

I am also curious what you folks would consider necessary to a well-rounded post-secondary education. I also know I want to go back to Khan Academy and get better at math, for myself.

So, let's design a general self-guided education for ourselves. Extra points if any of us actually do the studying. :)

[shadowmoss]

As a techie, I think math and sciences should be represented (I'm deficient in science especially).
I think that basic computer/web skills are nice to have, and web design basics at least.
Not to leave out the arts, maybe some literature classes and art history? Taking suggestions here.
Physical trades, to include at least how to change oil, check all fluids, maintain any motorized items in the house.
Basic (very) construction. Architecture styles?
Philosophy?

Looking for ideas.

[razz]

When I had met all my requirments for an English major duirng my degree completion taken after work, I was free to take any other course of the appropriate level of my own interest for electives and it was a lot of fun. I took Organizational Behaviour, Cultural Studies, Womens' Studies, Environmental Law, two levels of Accounting plus some others. I have used and found each one enhanced my life in ways that I could never have imagined and led to greater understanding of world issues. That is why I would suggest something along those topics.

[ApatheticNoMore]

What I personally would be drawn too? Some science - biochemistry, nutrition of course - some other science would be good too. Psychology. Philosophy. Environmental economics.

What I am actually interested in any given time may be a lot of different things but often with a very particular and narrow focus (I don't want to study the entire of economics - though I've taken the 101 courses like everyone has I guess - I want environmental economics. And so on). I may have to include something practical cooking, or gardening or plant identification (all of which I am passable at), otherwise well haha.

[miradoblackwarrior]

Hi, all--
I actually got on an open-classroom program at MIT. Harvard was also supposed to be on it, but there wasn't very much. The MIT site had curriculums in writing, literature, history, as well as the sciences and math. I was pleasantly surprised! I downloaded curriculums on essay writing, and could easily obtain the books and materials via the public library. There may be other, similar types of courses out there. Try google, or, if interested, I'll see if I can find a lead.

Susan

[herbgeek]

I think I'd like to go back and fill in all the gaps in my "education". I was pretty vocationally focused from a young age, to the exclusion of almost everything else (engineering). I would like to be able to listen to a musical piece and say something intelligent about it, like the period it was composed or what type of meter/chords it has ( I don't even know the right words here). Maybe some more art appreciation, and learning architecture periods and various mythologies, particularly Greek. I've picked up bits and pieces, but don't have a cohesive body of knowledge in the arts. Maybe actually read some of the classics I was supposed to in high school- I picked up enough listening to the discussions to be able to write papers. This is stuff I consider really hard, which is why I haven't done it yet. :laff:.

The actual classes I've taken over the years have tended to be either practical skills or new agey types of things (meditation, various types of yoga and qi gong, crystals) if it wasn't more technology classes.

[shadowmoss]

One place that has classes online and free is HP. I found that surprising. The link to the list of classes:
http://h30440.www3.hp.com/learningcenter/Classes/ClassAll.aspx

Back in the day I signed up for a beginning web design class with them. I didn't follow through, but it looked to be well taught. So, that is my contribution for the area of basic technology, PC upkeep, and some basic web design.

[AmeliaJane]

Well, I'd read this essay for inspiration! http://www.williamcronon.net/writing/Cronon_Only_Connect.pdf

Let's see--
--philosophy and logic. For some reason, I never took any of these classes as an undergraduate. I struggled with abstract thinking then--I think I would do better with it now.
--languages--always wanted to learn Latin, and perhaps a non-Western language
--literature--still lots of classic literature I've never read, and probably some I read too young that I'd like to go back to. (I never need to read 1984 or The Stranger again, though). I'd like to do a poetry class with a really good teacher.
--mathematics--after Algebra 2, I had poor math teachers in high school, and I ended up giving up after a disaster with Precalculus. I'd like to try again with a good teacher (see abstract thinking above).
--science--I had good basic grounding in science in high school and college (the science teachers were much better than the math teachers, with one notable exception). I'd like to learn more about chemistry and computer science, and about the advances in biology and chemistry in the last couple of decades.
--arts--would love to learn to draw and paint, and to appreciate visual art more.
--practical skills: I'm a decent self-taught cook, but have never taken cooking classes. Would like to know more about car repair. Have always wanted to learn to ballroom dance.

For resources: I'm pretty sure I got this link from these boards originally, but I'll repost here: http://www.openculture.com/freeonlinecourses

Thanks, this is a really inspiring topic!