Free University Courses & Lectures (via Podcast and MP3)
This post is about free online study resources; some even at university level. The post also covers some of my background and insights which I hope people, including parents, will find helpful.
I love learning, as long as it is relevant and important. It is nice to be able to get some education for free. When I was young I messed up much of my life and missed out on what was then a free university education. Instead, I ended up continuing my uni studies much later when it cost me dearly.
Part of my problem was that my father tried to push me into doing studies which HE thought were a good idea, but which I had no interest in. He was very controlling. I suspect this also happened to one of my younger brothers – he got a Commerce degree, became an Accountant (like my father) and then went back to uni to do a Science degree – his real interest – eventually gaining a Ph.D and pursuing a career in a scientific field.
In fact, I had such a bad experience with my father over university studies that when I eventually went on to complete them, I kept them largely secret, vowing never to reveal them until after my father died. Partly because I did not want him saying “I told you so” and so on while he crowed about it in his unpleasant manner, or to derive some satisfaction from thinking he was right. (I doubt he would ever see that he had been a big part of the problem – for a variety of reasons). As it happens, in the end I studied what I was interested in (not what he forced me to do) and my wife told me (kick up the bum) not to keep things secret or to be concerned with my father and what he thought anymore. That was a while ago now and frankly I no longer care what he thinks.
University studies were just one thing that my father tried to impose his ideas upon. I was forced to attend Sunday School, though my father never attended church and uttered regular obscenities. Cubs and Boy Scouts were another forced activity. Ironically I would probably have enjoyed these two latter had I not been forced into them. At school I was made to do sailing for example, despite finding it very boring – in fact, the only boating I ever deeply enjoyed when I was young was beach assault training with the Royal Marines Commandos (I was not a Royal Marine).
What is a key point of all the above?
It is imperative to study something you truly enjoy and have a genuine passion for. And for the right reasons. I recall an ex girlfriend who told me that the vast majority of her contemporaries at medical school were there because of the money they could make, not because they really cared about people.
And if you are a parent, then find out who your child really is on the inside and encourage that. Don’t try to force your chiuldren into a mould, or live your life vicariously through them.
Back to the free online study resources I mentioned…
Open Culture: Open Culture explores cultural and educational media (podcasts, videos, online courses, etc.) that’s freely available on the web, and that makes learning dynamic, productive, and fun. They sift through all the media, highlight the good and jettison the bad, and centralize it in one place. Trust them, you’ll find engaging content there that will keep you learning and sharp. And you will find it much more efficiently than if you spend your time searching with Google, Yahoo or iTunes.
Here is a quick link to their Free University Courses & Lectures (via Podcast and MP3)
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Category: Study
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