Whether you’re in school to become a comparative literature professor, fiction writer or just enjoy literature, you’ll find that it’s hard to fit into your schedule every kind of literature course you’d like to take. Luckily, in your spare time, you can take a look at these Ivy-League literature courses, lectures and reading lists to give you an edge in your studies or next book club meeting and allow you the opportunity to explore all the stories, poetry, authors and themes you want.

Classic, Medieval and Renaissance

Study the classics, medieval and Renaissance literature, including works by Homer, Virgil, Dante, and Christopher Marlowe in this list.

1. Foundations of Western Culture: Homer to Dante: In this course, discover what defines works, symbolism and ideas as being classical or Medieval. [MIT]
2. Literature and Ethical Values: This course was designed to help students analyze classical literature by applying an ethical philosophy. [MIT]
3. Classical Literature: The Golden Age of Augustan Rome: Readings in this course include works by Cicero, Horace, and Virgil. [MIT]
4. Medieval Literature: Dante, Boccaccio, Chaucer: Here you’ll study great writers by reading the Decameron and the Troubador. [MIT]
5. Renaissance Literature: By reading works by Christopher Marlowe, Francis Drake, John Donne and Vespucci, you’ll gain an understanding of the era’s major themes. [MIT]
6. The Homeric Odyssey and the Cultivation of Justice: Learn all about the culture, themes and significance of The Odyssey here. [Harvard]
7. Classics in Western Philosophy: Study the literature and philosophies of Plato, Aristotle and Descartes that ultimately shaped Western traditions. [MIT]
8. Classics Faculty: Get podcasts from the Classics department at Oxford covering classical literature, Roman comedy, and more. [University of Oxford]
9. The Bible: Study the Bible as a work of literature. [MIT]
10. Virgil’s Aeneid: Analyze each part of Virgil’s famous work here. [Stanford]
11. The Ancient World: Greece: In this course, you’ll gain an understanding of the political, social, religious and economic trends and values that shaped the works of Homer. [MIT]
12. Tales from Ovid: Interview: Listen to a discussion and analysis of the Ovid. [Stanford]
13. English Renaissance Drama: Theatre and Society in the Age of Shakespeare: Understand the social, economic and religious context of England at the time of Shakespeare. [MIT]

American Literature

This grouping of American literature courses covers the colonial era through modern times.

14. Staying Alive: This course covers the narratives of short stories, poems and novellas mostly from American writers like Stephen Crane, Nathaniel Hawthorne and Eudora Welty. [MIT]
15. American Literature: This American literature class is also an intensive writing class. [MIT]
16. Identity in American Literature: Keepin’ it Real Fake: Study the complicated themes surrounding identity, ethnicity and gender in American literature. [MIT]
17. The American Novel: Novels studied in this course range from The Scarlet Letter to Beloved. [MIT]
18. Studies in Fiction: Stowe, Twain and the Transformation of 19th-Century America: Learn how these revolutionary writers helped influence and document the transformation of America in the 19th century. [MIT]
19. Major Authors: Melville and Morrison: Compare and contrast the works, images, themes and styles of Herman Melville and Toni Morrison. [MIT]
20. Masterworks in American Short Fiction: Take a look at American short stories and novellas like "The Turn of the Screw" and "Old Mrs. Harris." [MIT]
21. Richard Wright, Native Son and the Beinecke Library: Being Brought to My Senses: This lecture explores Richard Wright’s controversial modern work. [Yale]
22. The Wasteland: Interview: Analyze "The Wasteland" when you listen to this lecture. [Stanford]
23. Major Authors: After the Masterpiece: Novels by Melville, Twain, Faulkner, and Morrison: Find out how these fiction writers’ craft changed after their most famous works. [MIT]
24. Plot Against America: Discussion: Listen to a discussion about Philip Roth’s novel here. [Stanford]
25. Studies in Fiction: Rethinking the American Masterpiece: Study major American texts in a new way when you follow this online course. [MIT]
26. Studies in Drama: Too Hot to Handle: Forbidden Plays in Modern America: Readings here include plays by Eve Ensler, Henrik Ibsen and George Bernard Shaw. [MIT]
27. Writing Early American Lives: Gender, Nation, Faith: Learn about the themes and values that populated early American literature. [MIT]
28. American Classics: Take a look at classic American texts like The Constitution and works by Betty Friedan, Allen Ginsberg, Ralph Waldo Emerson and Frederick Douglass. [MIT]

British and Irish Literature

Study Irish writers like James Joyce, as well as iconic English authors like Jane Austen and Virginia Woolf.

29. An Adventure with Words: James Joyce’s Ulysses: Uncover the techniques Joyce uses to create his own narrative in Ulysses. [Columbia]
30. Literary Studies: The Legacy of England: Find out why British literature is still so influential. [MIT]
31. Eighteenth-Century Literature: Versions of the Self in 18th-Century Britain: Read works that pay homage to the era’s idea that man cannot control his destiny. [MIT]
32. Major English Novels: Reading Romantic Fiction: The major English novels studied in this course include Sense and Sensibility, The Last Man and Great Expectations. [MIT]
33. Victorian Literature and Culture: Victorian literature includes important works by Dickens, Oscar Wilde, George Eliot, Robert Browning, and others. [MIT]
34. Milton’s Paradise Lost: Discover Milton’s infamous work here. [University of Cambridge]
35. Literary Interpretation: Virginia Woolf’s Shakespeare: Discover how Virginia Woolf used Shakespeare in her own writing. [MIT]
36. Major English Novels: Novels studied in this course include Moll Flanders, Tess of the d’Ubervilles, and Mrs. Dalloway. [MIT]
37. Special Topics in Milton’s "Paradise Lost": Take another look at "Paradise Lost" here. [MIT]
38. Major Authors: Oscar Wilde and the ’90s: This course profiles the works of Oscar Wilde. [MIT]
39. Tolkien at Oxford: This author profile of J.R.R. Tolkien involves his time at Oxford. [Oxford]
40. On Beauty: Discussion: Listen to a discussion about Zadie Smith’s On Beauty. [Stanford]
41. Arthurian Literature and Celtic Colonization: Study Medieval British history and societal themes by working with pieces from Geoffrey of Monmouth, Chretien de Troyes, and others. [MIT]

Women Writers

Discover how women writers have influenced fiction trends around the world.

42. Medieval Literature: Medieval Women Writers: Study works by Joan of Arc, Heloise of Paris, Margery Kempe and others. [MIT]
43. American Authors: American Women Authors: Read American women authors from the 17th century to the present, like Helen Keller, Edith Wharton and more. [MIT]
44. International Women’s Voices: Study contemporary works of literature by women authors from Asia, Africa, the Middle East, Latin America and North America. [MIT]

Regional and International Literature

Check out this list for literature from France, the Caribbean, South Asia, Japan and beyond.

45. World Literatures: Travel Writing: Study Columbus’s Diario as a way of understanding travel writing, journaling and exploration. [MIT]
46. Prizewinners: Take a look at prizewinning authors from the Caribbean and Ireland. [MIT]
47. After Columbus: Read writings from the New World, Caribbean, South America, and Europe after Columbus opened up the Americas. [MIT]
48. Foundations of Western Culture II: Renaissance to Modernity: Read works by Immanuel Kant, Jane Austen, Shakespeare, Balzac and other important writers from the Renaissance to modernity. [MIT]
49. Major European Novels: Study major works by European authors as a way of analyzing European history and to track the changing style of European writing. Readings include Don Quixote and Madame Bovary. [MIT]
50. Introduction to European and Latin American Fiction: Learn about avant-garde fiction in Europe and Latin America in the 20th century. [MIT]
51. Passage to India: Introduction to Modern Indian Culture and Society: Learn about the transformation Indian culture is undergoing, and the literature that has been influenced by it. [MIT]
52. Introduction to Contemporary Hispanic Literature: Examine short stories, novels, poems and movies by Zoe Valdes, Manuel Rivas, Frederico Garcia Lorca, and others. [MIT]
53. Topics in South Asian Literature and Culture: This course examines topics like identity, politics, gender, castes, globalization and social change in writing from India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, and more. [MIT]
54. Traditional Chinese Literature: Poetry, Fiction and Drama: This course was designed to introduce literature students to the themes, styles and symbolism in major Chinese works. [MIT]
55. Japanese Literature: Here you will examine the literature and film from the samurai, classical, wartime and post wartime eras in Japan. [MIT]

Literary Theory, Narrative and Practice

No literature program is complete without a class or two about literary theory.

56. Introduction to Fiction: Learn about different narrative styles and the meaning of texts in different cultures. [MIT]
57. Forms of Western Narrative: This course studies narratives from Homer to Poe to Marx. [MIT]
58. Popular Narrative: Masterminds: Here you’ll study the style and symbolism of deceiving readers and audiences through characters. [MIT]
59. Reading Fiction: Study how the language of short stories and novels vary. [MIT]
60. Introduction to Literary Theory: Study literary theory as it is applied to twentieth century works. [MIT]
61. Chance: Chance is a quantitative literacy course with videos and audio support. [Dartmouth]
62. Theory and Practice of Non-linear and Interactive Narrative: Compare traditional narratives found in novels and films against multimedia, non-linear narratives. [MIT]
63. Media in Cultural Contexts: Popular Readerships: Find out the issues and judgments that define low-brow and high-brow literature and media. [MIT]
64. Forms of Western Narrative: Consider how the Western narrative form has changed since Homer. [MIT]
65. Literary Interpretation: Literature and Photography: This course examines literary criticism. [MIT]
66. The Film Experience: Discover how stories are told in film and literature by taking this course. [MIT]

Modern and Contemporary Literature

Learn about modern and contemporary writers who have ushered in a new era of literature, like Kafka, Conrad, Nabokov, and others.

67. Learning form the Past: Drama, Science, Performance: Here you will gain an understanding of how the modern artistic and scientific world evolved through works by Shakespeare, Moliere, Rembrandt and Newton. [MIT]
68. 20th Century Fiction: Discover the changes in identity, theme, sexual experience and virtue in works by Woolf, Faulkner, Nabokov, Kafka and Kipling. [MIT]
69. Contemporary Literature: In this course, you’ll read contemporary Irish literature. [MIT]
70. Contemporary Literature: Literature, Development and Human Rights: Read novels, stories and news reports contributing to the discussion about human rights and economic development. [MIT]
71. Contemporary Literature: British Novels Now: Discover how British novels have been reinvented for the twentieth century. [MIT]
72. Foundations of Western Culture II: Modernism: This course follows the evolution of western literature and thought from the 17th century to the early 20th century. [MIT]

Poetry and Drama

For courses about poetry and drama, including Shakespeare, turn to this list.

73. Introduction to Drama: Study drama as a form of storytelling and as a challenge to social norms. [MIT]
74. Literary Interpretation: Beyond the Limits of the Lyric: Discover the moral, political and cultural implications of poetry when you study pieces by Whitman, Williams, Plath and more. [MIT]
75. Major Poets: Study English lyric poetry in this course. [MIT]
76. The Shakespearean Sonnet and the Modern Voice: This e-seminar studies Shakespeare’s sonnets. [Columbia]
77. Shakespeare: This Shakespeare class tries to uncover what makes Shakespeare so great. [MIT]
78. Tragedy: Discover how tragedy from drama influences the tragic style in literature as well. [MIT]
79. Romantic Poetry: Study the British Romantic poets Blake, Shelley, Byron, Coleridge, Wordsworth and Keats. [MIT]
80. Modern Drama: Study Beckett, Stoppard and Shaw in this modern drama class. [MIT]
81. Interpreting Poetry: Learn about different trends and techniques for interpreting poetry. [MIT]
82. Studies in Poetry: "What’s the use of Beauty?": Why do poets so often write about beauty? Explore why in this course. [MIT]
83. Studies in Poetry: Renaissance Men and Women Writing About Love: Study English love sonnets by Shakespeare, Sidney, Spencer, and Mary Wroth in conjunction with works by Thomas Wyatt and others. [MIT]
84. Modern Poetry: This course covers new imagery, ideas about identity and nationalism, and more from poems in the 20th century. [MIT]
85. Playwright Huzir Sulaiman Listen to playwright Huzir Sulaiman discuss the techniques of writing about social change. [Yale]
86. Remixing Shakespeare: Learn about the trends and techniques involved with modernizing Shakespeare. [MIT]
87. Studies in Drama: Stoppard and Churchill: Study topics like interpretation and literary history when you examine the works of Caryl Churchill and Tom Stoppard. [MIT]
88. Studies in Poetry: 20th Century Irish Poetry: The Shadow of W.B. Yeats: Consider the significance and influence of W.B. Yeats here. [MIT]

Miscellaneous

Here you’ll find even more free courses to round out your literature education, including classes about reading and writing fiction.

89. The Future of English: David Crystal’s e-seminar considers how globalization affects the English language in literature and communication. [Columbia]
90. Reading Fiction: Dysfunctional Families: Study dysfunctional family relationships in works like Jazz and To the Lighthouse. [MIT]
91. Writing About Literature: Learn tips for writing responses to and analyzing literature in this course. [MIT]
92. Bestsellers: Detective Fiction: Study the elements that made works by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, Edgar Allen Poe and Agatha Christie so successful. [MIT]
93. Comedy: Study comedy styles from Moliere, Chaplin, Wilde, Cervantes and others. [MIT]
94. The Literature of Crisis: This course examines how characters in Plato, Shakespeare, Virgil and Voltaire embrace crisis. [Stanford]
95. The Craft of Science Fiction: This short course tracks the process of writing a science fiction piece. [MIT]
96. The End of Nature: This literature and philosophy class examines the Western interpretation of nature and its relationship to mankind. [MIT]
97. The Nature of Creativity: This art theory, psychology and philosophy course considers the nature of creativity. [MIT]
98. Writing Workshop: This creative writing workshop will help you become a better writer and literature student [MIT]
99. The Creative Spark: Discover how creativity is influenced here. [MIT]
100. Writing and the Environment: Follow this course to learn about popular science and environmentalist writers. [MIT]

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Online MBA programs have quickly become the most popular program within the online college community, as MBAs have become applicable in nearly every aspect of the career world. The Masters of Business Administration is one advanced degree which allows students the flexibility to apply it to nearly every industry.  Since the economy took a downturn last year, students began considering the possibility of returning to school in order to secure their chances of keeping their current job.  MBAs are one degree that is very attractive to employers which online colleges have taken note of. 

The different types of online MBA programs that are offered additionally appeal to a wide variety of students.  Students obtaining an MBA degree com from all different backgrounds, including students who have never before been out in the business world, the regular two-year MBA, and those students who are executives in their current position but need an MBA to continue their work, an Executive MBA program.  Additionally, there are accelerated MBA programs and part-time programs, both of which cater to students who have different schedules and are in different phases of their career-life.  One type of MBA program which has additionally grown in prominence has been a dual degree program that allows students to gain both an MBA and a JD or MS.  Therefore, students can work on their MBA through online courses while attending classes for another graduate degree.

Online MBA programs have additionally become a major aspect of every other type of MBA program, and exist as more of an umbrella over the other programs.  Online MBA programs allow students the flexibility to decide when they want to attend class and the ability to remain at work or at home, rather than commuting to a school which may take time away from family life or work life.  Online MBA programs are additionally intended to allow students to get ahead in their degrees, which explains why they have grown so much in popularity.  The economy has also offered online schools a new type of student who had never before considered the possibility of returning to school.  This return to school has thereby increased competition within many business, further encouraging business professionals to gain this valuable degree in order to hold onto their job. 

Online MBAs are much the same as other MBA programs which major universities offer, still requiring GRE or GMAT scores for acceptance into the program. Therefore, acceptance of online MBAs within the business world has become much more widespread due to the increase in popularity.  This trend will only be expected to increase as business degrees become more valuable in this type of economy. 

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Whether you are in business school or are a self-learner trying to gather the most information you can about business, blogs are an excellent way to stay on top of the latest news, information, and trends. These blogs come from such influential voices as business school professors, successful entrepreneurs, and other authorities on a wide range of topics relevant to your business education. Whether you want to learn about marketing, business in a global community, finance, economics, management, leadership, or sustainable business practices, you will find information among these blogs.

Marketing

Advertising, Internet marketing, personal branding, and responsible marketing are some of the topics covered in these blogs.

1. Brand New Day. This blog from BusinessWeek takes a look at advertising, marketing, and media.
2. John Quelch Marketing KnowHow. This professor from Harvard Business School and leader in the business world discusses marketing.
3. Marketing Practice. This marketing professor blogs about marketing in Indian.
4. The Responsible Marketing Blog. The posts here take a hard look at marketing and whether corporations are being responsible in their manner of marketing.
5. Dr. Neil Hair. This professor writes about marketing and the Internet on his blog, including topics such as personal branding, social media, and marketing to the consumers.
6. eStrategy Internet Marketing Blog. David Erickson examines several aspects of Internet marketing on his blog.
7. Cyberstrat. Written in French, this blog by Professor Jean-Claude Morand features marketing with a focus on Internet and technology.
8. Ping!. Yuping Liu discusses how marketing, technology, and consumer psychology work together in her fascinating blog.
9. Social Media Marketing. Tom Chapman writes about best practices in the world of social media in his blog.
10. Marketing Profs Daily Fix. This collaborative blog of marketing professionals discusses topics that range from social media to consumerism.

Global Business

These blogs offer a sampling of business from Japan, India, and Latin America.

11. Yoko Ishikura’s Blog. This b-school professor in Japan writes about business in the global community. Her blog is available in both English and Japanese.
12. Made in India. Navi Radjou writes about global business and innovation on his blog.
13. B V Krishnamurthy Bangalore Calling. This distinguished professor from India discusses international business with an emphasis on India and the U.S.
14. Santiago Iniguez. The dean at the international IE Business School blogs about the school and business education in his blog. Posts are in both English and Spanish.

Human Resources

Understanding human resources is an important part of any business, so keep in the know with these blogs.

15. Perfect Labor Storm 2.0. Learn about the trends that affect employers and their business practices with this blog that focuses on a variety of topics.
16. Performance and Talent Management Blog. This blog focuses on how companies can make the most of their employees, with special attention paid to strategic HR techniques.
17. Work-Related Blogs and News. This lecturer at Heriot-Watt’s School of Management and Languages writes about issues surrounding business and the workplace. He also includes an impressive list of workplace blogs organized by profession.
18. Beyond HR. Striving to go further, this blog highlights typical HR issues and offers innovative solutions.
19. Slow Leadership. The idea behind this organization is that management should slow down and think through decisions rather than reacting to situations and their blog includes topics to help accomplish this mission.
20. HR Lawyers Blog. Writing about the legal issues surrounding HR, this blog offers news and advice for those interested in the legal side of business.
21. Strategic HR Lawyer. This blog from an HR lawyer provides news, information, and links to additional information that pertains to HR and the law.
22. Past Five. Get advice about workplace and career development with this blog that takes you beyond just the 9 to 5.
23. Gruntled Employees. Prevent your employees from becoming disgruntled with the posts on this blog that are focused on keeping a happy workforce.
24. Work Smarter. Find tips for productivity, personal management, and managing others on this blog written by Gina Trapani.

Economics

Economics are the focus of these blogs written by professors and other leading authorities.

25. Carpe Diem. Mark J. Perry, professor of economics and finance, writes on a variety of topics at his popular blog.
26. The Wages of Wins Journal. These three professors of economics look at the economics of sports in their blog.
27. Grasping Reality with Both Hands: The Semi-Daily Journal Economist Brad DeLong. This popular blog, written by economy professor J Bradford DeLong from U.C. Berkeley, features posts on economics, and often, its relationship to politics.
28. Division of Labour. This collaborative blog is focuses on US and global economics.
29. Organizations and Markets. Four professors from America and Europe collaborate on this blog which touches on various aspects of global economics.
30. CoreEconomics. Written by Joshua Gans and Mark Crosby, this blog looks at economics and strategy.
31. Economist’s View. Mark Thoma writes such topics as economic growth, financial markets, and more on his blog.
32. The Borjas Blog. Professor George Borjas specializes in labor economics and blogs about global issues surrounding immigration and labor.
33. The Transportationist. David Levinson and the Nexus Research Group on Networks, Economics, and Urban Systems write about urban traffic economics.

Finance

From the importance of understanding finance to investing trends, these blogs will help keep you informed about the world of finance.

34. Financial Literacy and Ignorance. Striving to educate, Annamaria Lusardi writes about personal finance and how much, and how little, people know about it.
35. ProfessorVC. This professor of entrepreneurial finance blogs about business and other interests.
36. Financial Intelligence. Karen Berman and Joe Knight strive to teach how financial success is measured and its impact on business. This blog is an extension of that goal.
37. Investing Insights. Investing trends and information for large and small investors alike appear on this blog.

Technology

Technology and business are the focus of these blogs.

38. Harga-Blog. Andrew Hargadon writes about technology innovation and management with an emphasis on sustainable technology.
39. Having IT Your Way. This blog from Susan Cramm offers technology business leadership and innovation information.
40. The Impact of Information Technology (IT) on Businesses and their Leaders. Written by Andrew McAfee, a professor at Harvard Business School, this blog takes a look at the business impacts of technology.
41. billso.com. Read about the intersection of technology and business in this blog by Bill Sodeman.
42. Technology and Organizations. Terri Griffith, from Santa Clara University, takes a look at technology and its impact on organizations in her blog.
43. Eric Goldman. This law professor writes about technology and marketing, including plenty of law suits shaping the future of this field.
44. Open IT Strategies. Joel West writes about IT and business with topics touching on marketing, strategy, economics, and more.
45. The Big Shift. This collaborative blog provides insight and experience from three leaders in the field of business and technology.
46. The Tech Beat. Follow established tech businesses and learn about new, promising ones–plus much more–in this blog.

Management

Learn how to be a powerful and successful manager with the information found within the blogs listed here.

47. Random Rantings. Freek Vermeulen, from London Business School, writes on corporate strategy and management.
48. Robert Salomon. This professor from Stern School of Business features posts specifically on strategy and economics, as well as other business topics.
49. Managerial Economics: a problem solving approach. This blog is co-written by two professors and posts include information to support their book, Managerial Economics, 2nd Edition.
50. Tom Davenport The Next Big Thing. A professor at Babson College, Tom Davenport blogs about management innovations and productivity.
51. John Sviokla The Near Futurist. Management, innovation, and technology feature highly in this blog by a professor from the Kellogg School of Management.
52. The Change Master. Named one of the 50 most powerful women in the world by The Times of London, Rosabeth Moss Kanter shares her ideas on business and management.
53. Management IQ. Raise your management intelligence by keeping up with the posts on this blog from BusinessWeek.
54. Getting Ahead. Get tons of tips and advice for managing others, managing yourself, and communicating effectively in the business world with Daisy Wademan Dowling’s blog.
55. Upstarts and Titans. Anthony Tjan provides a wealth of advice on topics ranging from managing during a recession to running shorter and more effective meetings.
56. Across the Ages. Read topics touching on almost any imaginable perspective when it comes to managing in a business with Tammy Erickson’s blog.
57. Make Your Case. Sharpen your critical thinking skills as a manager with the case studies here that ask you to problem solve tough situations.
58. Management Essentials. The advice found in this blog offers opportunities for growth no matter if you are a veteran manager or a newbie.

Leadership

Make sure you have the tools and knowledge you need to become a strong leader by following these blogs.

59. Bob Sutton: Work Matters. This writer and professor blogs about management and leadership here.
60. Letter from London. Gill Corkindale offers her insight and experience on leadership and management on her blog.
61. Stew Friedman Better Leader, Richer Life. Leadership and management are the main topics on this University of Pennsylvania’s Wharton School professor’s blog.
62. Ed Batista. This leadership coach at Stanford’s Graduate School of Business writes about leadership and interpersonal skills.
63. Michael Watkins The Leading Edge. From IMD in Switzerland, this professor looks at leadership, especially at the beginning stages, here.
64. Professor Michael Roberto’s Blog. This professor from Bryant University focuses on leadership and strategic management in his blog.
65. Leadership at Work. Leadership consultant John Baldoni writes about ways leaders can build their presence and effectiveness in the workplace.
66. Inverted Wisdom. Management and leadership with a bit of technology are the topics among these blog posts by Vineet Nayar.
67. How We Work. Peter Bregman blogs about leadership, failure for success, changing corporate culture for the better, and more.
68. Redesigning Leadership. With a focus on creative leadership in business, John Maeda and Becky Bermont offer their experience and insight.
69. Frontline Leadership. Discover what business leaders can learn from the military with this blog that explores leadership in both camps.
70. Ask the Coach. An authority on leadership coaching, Marshall Goldsmith shares his advice on this blog.

Entrepreneurship, Innovation, and Strategy

These blogs examine issues important to entrepreneurs as well as business people interested in innovation and strategy for growing successfully.

71. Rita McGrath Dynamic Strategies. This professor from Columbia Business School looks at innovation and entrepreneurship with a focus on taking the risk out of both on her blog.
72. Innovation Insights. Scott Anthony blogs about innovation, strategy, and technology in his blog.
73. Experience Matters. Peter Merholz communicates his thoughts and experience with experience strategy on his blog.
74. Edge Economy. Umair Haque shares his thoughts on innovation and strategy for the new world of business here.
75. On Innovation. Headed by an entrepreneur and business professor with contributions from two business leaders, this blog focuses on problem-solving through innovation.
76. Free the Nonprofits. Dan Pallotta blogs about his specialty–innovation in the non-profit industry.
77. Top Shelf Reading Picks: Book and blog reviews for savvy entrepreneurs. Diane K. Danielson reviews books and blogs that may be of interest to entrepreneurs in her blog.
78. I Quit–Now What?. Leadership, HR, entrepreneurship, and innovation all make an appearance in this blog by Steven DeMaio.
79. Practically Radical. Bill Taylor examines the radical shifts occurring in business with the current economic downturn and what practical solutions may succeed.

Women in Business

Business has traditionally been seen as a man’s world. Not only is this no longer true, there are many phenomenal women making their mark on the business world. These blogs offers a sampling of issues surrounding women in business.

80. Winning the Talent War. Sylvia Ann Hewlett and her contributors write about women in business and the issues surrounding them.
81. News You Can Use: Observations from the editor’s desk. These news tidbits offer interesting trends and practices, frequently focusing on women in business.
82. Women’s Leadership. This blog from Babson takes a look at many topics relevant to women in leadership roles.
83. Lip-Sticking. The posts on this blog are written by women and examine women in business, marketing to women, and more.
84. Women on Business. The women writers here discuss a wide range of business topics–all with a woman’s perspective, but not all pertaining just to women.
85. After 55: At the top of our game. The posts here not only focus on women in business, but more specifically, older women in business.
86. Seriously Social: The busy businesswoman’s answer to social media. The fast-paced and ever-evolving world of social media is captured in this blog so you can stay on top of what’s happening without sacrificing too much of your time.
87. Woman at Work. Aliza Sherman blogs about issues important to women entrepreneurs such as hiring an assistant, balancing personal and professional life, and utilizing social media.

Green Business

Sustainability and going green aren’t just buzz words. These blogs illustrate how many are making a positive impact on the environment while maintaining and growing their businesses.

88. sustainable business design. Written by N.E. Landrum, this blog demonstrates how sustainable business makes good sense economically and socially.
89. Leading Green. This blog takes a look at ways to lead your business into a greener, sustainable, and successful business.
90. Green Advantage. Andrew Winston discusses ideas, trends, and practices supporting green business in his blog.
91. GreenBiz.com Blogs. Green marketing, solar incentives, and sustainable innovation are just a few of the topics covered on the blogs found here.
92. Green Inc.. This blog at the New York Times examines sustainable business practices around the world.

Miscellaneous

From tips for CEOs to ideas behind recent events in the business world to research from business schools, these blogs cover quite a range of topics.

93. Memo to the CEO. This blog from Harvard Business Review is temporarily focusing on strategies and techniques to help CEOs better manage during an economic downturn.
94. HBR Editors’ Blog. The editors from HBR offer their opinions, insight, and news from the world of business.
95. Words at Work. Communication in the business world is the focus of David Silverman’s blog.
96. The Monitor Talent Group Blog. An excellent place to keep up with the latest trends and possibilities for the future of business, this blog offers cutting edge insight.
97. Conversation Starter. Take a look at some of the ideas (good and bad) behind recent events and trends in the business world.
98. Public Offering: The Columbia Business School Blog. This blog covers a wide range of news and information that will be of interest to those in business school as well as those keeping up with the latest news in the business world.
99. Kellogg Insight. This blog features the results of the latest research from the professors at Kellogg School of Management.
100. BizDeans Talk. Posts here come from several deans of business schools and focus topics surrounding business school education.

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Tis the flu season of 2009.  The infamous debut of the H1N1 virus months ago added another worry to the list in traditional classrooms.  The close proximity of classmates has always produced confined quarters and a perfect environment for germs to worm their way into every students’ immune system.  However, online education has moved past this worry and developed a way to stay healthy throughout the process of getting a bachelors degree.

More than ever, this year has proved to us the importance of a clean bill of health.  The flu virus has stricken all of us, but never in the way that H1N1 appeared to strike: seemingly out of nowhere and targeting a younger population than ever before.  However, while many college students around the country came down with Swine Flu, online education prevailed in a way that was never foreseen: it produced the best way for protecting its students against the flu virus.  While critics maintain that a lack of classroom interaction is detrimental in learning course material, online classes have protected students this year by keeping them away from students who may be coughing all over them in a traditional setting.  This is a unique advantage for those students who have weak immune systems or are prone to catching the flu in a regular season.   

While online education offers many advantages across the board, this is one that is extremely vital during flu and cold season as more and more students are forced to miss classes and even withdraw due to a nasty bout of the flu.  Online students do not have to worry about this disturbance and will only have to worry about catching a virus from coworkers or family members.  Schools have always been known for their ability to produce viruses because of students’ close proximity to each other, but online schools have changed this perception entirely and offer many students a healthy alternative this flu season.  Getting a bachelors degree online comes with a wide variety of advantages and possibilities, and discovering that there are hidden benefits is a clear indication that the online education industry has come at the right time in society. 

 

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By Jill Gordon

There’s a lot of thought and technique that goes into a work of art. Whether it’s a novel, film, sculpture or painting, the skills necessary to produce a quality piece of art are worthy of admiration. Check out these free online courses your artistic appreciation.

Introductory Courses

At first glance, understanding a great piece of art can seem overwhelming. After all, few kids actually enjoy English class. But maturity has a strange effect on attitudes and tastes. For those wishing they had paid closer attention in school, these courses are great primers to the wonderful world of art and literature.

1. Introduction to Photography: A course with a practical approach to the study of digital and analog photography. This MIT course also covers professional techniques such as lighting and digital imaging. [MIT]
2. Introduction to the Visual Arts: Explore basic techniques and practices of visual artistic expression and learn about space as a medium. [MIT]
3. Introduction to Western Music: A broad overview of Western music from the Middle Ages to the present day with emphasis on specific periods. Develop listening skills, learn about cultural and the major composers. [MIT]
4. Introduction to World Music: This course studies the interaction between music and culture through listening analysis and textbook readings. [MIT]
5. Introduction to Stagecraft: A fun and creative course offering hands on experience designed to advance students’ understanding of theatrical production. [MIT]
6. Introduction to Musical Composition: Focusing on questions of unity, this course investigates the sonic organization of music with composition projects and listening exercises. [MIT]
7. Introduction to Drama: From Shakespeare to Arthur Miller, this course examines the art of storytelling with visual performance. [MIT]
8. Introduction to Literary Theory: Focusing on the ways people understand literature, this course teaches students different ways of interpreting material. [MIT]
9. Introduction to Contemporary Hispanic Literature: Hispanic culture is rapidly becoming mainstream. This class is about the influential texts in Hispanic society with emphasis on influential events. [MIT]
10. Introduction to Fiction: A classic class at colleges worldwide, this course introduces students to general trends, themes and styles of fiction throughout history. [MIT]
11. Making Sense of the Arts: Develop knowledge and understanding about topics related to art with this brief intro course. [The Open University]
12. The Arts: Past and Present: Without any prior knowledge or experience, this course introduces students university-level study across a range of disciplines such as philosophy and art history. [The Open University]
13. Introduction to Shakespeare: An introduction to Shakespeare’s plays and sonnets, through reading and analysis. [The University of Utah]
14. Introduction to Art History: A study of the artistic endeavors of people from around the world with focus on painting, sculpture and architecture. [The University of Utah]
15. Introduction to Creative Writing: This class introduces students to general literary and writing techniques for artistic expression. [The University of Utah]

Paintings and Sculptures

Learn more about the techniques of masters such as Da Vinci, Rembrandt or Van Gogh with these courses on art history and technique.

16. 20th Century Art: Examines major developments in European and American art in the last century. [MIT]
17. Modern Art and Mass Culture: Explore the line artists walk between fine art and mass culture. The class looks at paintings and sculptures as well as graffiti and comics. [MIT]
18. British Painting: A brief history of painting in Britain tracing the development toward a unique style. [National Gallery of Art]
19. The French Painting Collection: This class teaches students about the great master French painter from the impressionists to Dada. [National Gallery of Art]
20. Byzantine Art and Painting in Italy: A class touring the Italian paintings from the Byzantine era. Includes overviews, histories and an image archive. [National Gallery of Art]
21. Painted Cylindrical Sculptures: This course experiments with beginning paper sculpture techniques. [LEARN NC Lesson Plans]
22. Tilman Riemenschneider: Master Sculptor of the Late Middle Ages: Some great artists go unnoticed for generations. One such artist was German sculptor Tilman Riemenschneider who created over 50 large scale works. [National Gallery of Art]
23. Monumental Sculpture from Renaissance Florence: A study of large Renaissance sculptures from Florentine artists. [National Gallery of Art]
24. Self-Portrait in Wire: This class uses wire to teach about the basic of using lines as elements in art. [LEARN NC Lesson Plans]
25. Murals: Heritage on the Walls: Students explore the process of designing and painting a mural. Course also discusses visual techniques and mural’s use in public spaces. [KQED Education Network]
26. African Americans in the Paintings of Norman Rockwell: A study of the depictions of African Americans in the work of master American painter Norman Rockwell. [WGBH Open Vault]
27. Research, Production, and Presentation of Abstract and Pop Art: An introduction to abstract and pop art using print materials and lectures. [Learning in Hand]
28. Native American Folklore: Students learn about Native American art as well as later depiction of their folklore by Western artists. [Smithsonian Institute]
29. What Makes You Scream?: In this detailed study of Edvard Munch’s famous painting, "The Scream" students create their own versions of the masterpiece with directional lines like the artists did. [LEARN NC Lesson Plans]
30. Learning to Look at Art: This class helps students develop strategies for visual literacy by looking at paintings other forms of art. [LEARN NC Lesson Plans]

Architecture

Designing a building is a combination of both art and science. Learn more about this complicated field with these awesome architecture classes.

31. The Production of Space: Look at space from various perspective and points of departure. Examine the possibilities of art and architecture in urban spaces. [MIT]
32. Selected Topics in Architecture: Architecture from 1750 to the Present: This class studies general trends of modern architecture. Details the evolution of the field in response to cultural, social and artistic developments. [MIT]
33. Think About Architecture in History and At Present: A class that teaches students techniques about architectural theory, practice and history. [MIT ]
34. Theory and Method in the Study of Architecture and Art: Studies of historical and theoretical examples of architecture though this class is only open to advance students. [MIT ]
35. Triumph of the Baroque: Architecture in Europe: The Baroque period gave Europe many of its best known buildings. This class examines the architectural history of this period and evaluate its impact on moder Europe. [National Gallery of Art]
36. The Architecture of Cairo: A major beacon of cultural and artistic influence for the Arab world, architecture in Cairo effects buildings worldwide. This class studies the changes in architecture and design Cairo over the centuries. [MIT ]
37. Dialogue in Art, Architecture and Urbanism: This course studies the effects of artists, architects and other disciplines on the planning, design and layout of modern cities. [MIT]
38. Introduction to Naval Architecture: Naval architecture is a highly valuable specialty all its own. In this class, students learn the basics of ship building and design. [MIT ]
39. Architectural Construction and Computation: Designing and planning a building is only half the battle, actual construction is the other half. Learn the principles of construction with this helpful class. [MIT ]
40. Contemporary Architecture and Critical Debate: From going green to urban sprawl, furious debates are raging in contemporary architecture. This class brings students into the discussion. [MIT ]
41. Religious Architecture and Islamic Cultures: A course that presents Islamic architecture both as a historical tradition and as influenced by other cultures. [MIT]
42. Triangles and Arches in Architecture: This class explores the most important geometric forms in architecture: triangles and arches. [WGBH Educational Foundation]
43. Software Architecture: This class explores computer programs and how they can be used in modern architecture. [Connexions]
44. Architecture Studio: Building in Landscapes: This class discusses the finer nuances of designing a buildings that balance with the natural world. [MIT]
45. BSAD Foundations in Visual Arts: A course teaching visual arts appreciation to aspiring architects. [MIT]

Music History, Composition and Theory

It has been said that music is the one true universal language. Every culture has their own version of music, take these classes to appreciate the beat of another’s drum.

46. Fundamentals of Music: This course introduces basics of Western music through written and instrumental practice. Learn about chords, rhythm and scales. [MIT]
47. Modern Music: 1900 to 1960: This course examines concert music and musicians from the first sixty years of the 20th century. [MIT]
48. Early Music: Covering Western music starting in 1680, this course details the development techniques and notation as musicians refined their skills. [MIT]
49. Pops Out in the Cause of Happiness: The Story of Louis Armstrong: The music of Louis Armstrong has inspired musicians for generation, this course discovers the link between the legendary jazzman’s life and art. [Columbia]
50. Music Composition: A class for musicians already familiar with basic music theory, students write long form compositions for a variety of instruments. [MIT]
51. Symphony and Concerto: This survey of significant orchestral masterworks covers three centuries of music from the 1700s to the 1990s. [MIT]
52. Music from the Renaissance and Baroque: A class examining the differences and similarities between two largely misunderstood periods of Western music. [Columbia]
53. Music of Africa: This introduction to the musical traditions of Africa offers in depth discussions of drumming and dance. [MIT]
54. Composing for Jazz Orchestra: Extensive discographies from jazz greats supplement this course while students are expected to write two complete scores as part of their assignments. [MIT]
55. Popular Music of the World: A study of popular music from different cultures. Specifically focuses on music used in or created for popular music. [MIT]
56. Classical Music and the Music of the Classical Era: An interesting class on the history of classical Western music from its earliest beginning to the second half of the 18th century. [Connexions]
57. Janissary Music and Turkish Influences on Western Music: The West and Middle East have rarely seen eye to eye. This class studies the interesting influence the Ottoman Empire had on European music. [Connexions]
58. Composing with Computers: With progressive music composition assignments, students learn about modern music making with different computer programs. [MIT]
59. Music Perception and Cognition: A class on the psychology of music, students study the neurological implications of sound. [MIT]
60. Introduction to Musical Instruments: With an extensive library of musical recordings, this course is a basic introduction to musical instruments. [Qedoc Learning Resources]

English and World Literature

For some, reading is a passion, for others it’s a burden. Regardless of how you truly feel, these sites can teach students all they need to know about classic literature.

61. The Shakespearean Sonnet and the Modern Voice: This course examines the link between Shakespeare’s sonnets and how they affect modern literary styles. [Columbia]
62. Writing About Literature: Reading and discussion questions help better students’ understanding of literature. [MIT]
63. Foundations of Western Culture: Homer to Dante: This course looks at classic texts that have shaped heroes, villains and plots for generations. [MIT]
64. Major Poets: A quick overview of poetry as a genre concentrated on major poets such as Yeats and Elliot. [MIT]
65. The Art of the Probable: A look at the history of science in literature with emphasis on mathematical probability in stories. [MIT]
66. An Adventure with Words: James Joyce’s Ulysses: Famous for his use of inner monologue or “stream of consciousness” writing style, James Joyce is also famous for being impossible to understand. This course aims to better students’ understanding a master author. [Columbia]
67. World Literature: Travel Writing: From Columbus to Kerouac, this class studies the time honored travel writing genre. Analyze maps and learn cultural context. [MIT]
68. Best Sellers: Detective Fiction: This course offers an extensive list of detective stories. Treats popular detective fiction such as Sherlock Holes and Elmore Leonard like literature. [MIT]
69. The Future of English: English is a rapidly changing language. New words are frequently created or added from other languages. This class explores key issues affecting the future of the English language. [Columbia]
70. Medivel Literature: Dante, Boccaccio and Chaucer: Detailed examinations of Middle Age masters. [MIT]
71. Japanese Popular Culture: Topics such as manga (comics) and best sellers and their effect on Japanese culture are discussed. [MIT]
72. A Passage to India: Introduction to Modern Indian Culture and Society: An introduction to Indian culture with short stories, novel excerpts and essays. [MIT]
73. Medieval Literature: Medieval Women Writers: An exploration of the role of women in literature during the Dark Ages. [MIT]
74. Literature and Ethical Values: This class examines competing ethical concepts and the implications of certain actions by close reading of literary works. [MIT]
75. Topics in South Asian Literature and Culture: Issues and topics relating to South Asian culture are explored in this class which explores writers from Sri Lanka to Pakistan. [MIT]

Film, Radio and Television

The 20th century saw the introduction of powerful new media mediums. Discover and discuss relatively new media inventions such as film and television with these interesting, and free, online courses.

76. Master Filmmaker’s Class with Milos Forman: With an emphasis on screenwriting and casting, this interactive seminar with Oscar-winner Milos Forman is an invaluable experience for any aspiring filmmaker. [Columbia]
77. The Film Experience: This class explores the unique properties of film as a story telling medium and historical evolution of the art form. [MIT]
78. Shakespeare, Film and Media: The first Shakespeare play was made in 1899 and since, the Great Bard has found his way onto the silver screen thousands of times. This course details the relationship between Shakespeare’s writings and films made to honor them. [MIT]
79. Film as Visual and Literary Mythmaking: A detailed examination of classic Western myths and the philosophical problems associated with filmmaking. [MIT]
80. Philosophy in Film and Other Media: Video lectures and student work detail thematic issues and philosophical issues in film and other visual art forms such as opera. [MIT]
81. Understanding Television: While it may sound simple, this class surveys the cultural history of television and story-telling. [MIT]
82. American Soap Operas: Changes in the American television landscape have been drastic in recent years. Nowhere is this more evident than with soap operas. From "Guiding Light" to "Melrose Place" this class looks at the evolution of American soap opera from radio to modern day. [MIT]
83. Survey of 3D Animation: Learn how to make your own 3D animation films with industry standard programs. [DePaul]
84. Algorithms of Computer Animation: A combination of computer science and art, this class teaches students new methods of animation combined with research projects. [MIT]
85. Existentialism in Literature and Film: Much of this class, like existentialism, aims to redefine and question pre-existing notions of God as well as man’s place in the universe. [UC Berkeley]
86. Studies in Film: This class intensively studies films from particular fields and genres. [MIT]
87. From Godzilla to the Ring: An Overview of Japanese Film: Japanese culture has been extremely influential in recent years. This class studies Japanese films from multiple perspectives. [Center for Advanced Research on Language Acquisition]
88. Producing Films for Social Change: An intensive, hands-on production course in which students pitch ideas, research, shoot, write, and edit their own documentary films on social issues. [Tufts University]
89. Fundamental of Narrative Film Editing: Covers the basics of narrating conversations in film. [Wikiversity]
90. Using Documentary Film to Explore Family History and Memory: Students are taught techniques to explore family histories with documentary films. [KQED Education Network]

Video Games

Video game design has become one of the hottest fields for creative types. Gaming companies hire hundreds of writers, artists and programmers to produce the next hot new release. Check out these great sites for learning about the art of video game design.

91. Game Based Learning: Fun can be a powerful tool for learning, this course teaches techniques for teaching with games. [SERC]
92. Game Programming: This courses teaches its students basic techniques and approaches for game design and programs. [Eastern Michigan Univeristy]
93. Creating a Science of Games: This class discusses techniques for developing state of the art games for entertainment and educational purposes. [Rice University]
94. Games and Information: Get an understanding behind the mechanics of strategy games. [University of California, San Diego]
95. Paint Tools and Geometric Figures: This class teaches students to use painting software programs that create fantastic works of art. [LEARN NC Lesson Plans]
96. Videogame Theory and Analysis: Work on your own or in a group in this class discussing game theory and even analyze a modern video game. [MIT]
97. Instructional Games: This class explores a variety of instructional games with readings and analysis of existing products. [Utah State University]
98. Introduction to Action Scripts for Games in Macromedia Flash: A series of video lectures that can help anyone create clever flash games. [Teacher Training Videos]
99. Principles of Game Design: Rather than first person shooters or role playing games, this course teaches students to design strategy and board games. [Alan Emrich]
100. Game Development for Beginners: A complete course for aspiring game designers, learn the basics and move on to advance work such as online multiplayer games. [GameDev]

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Along with online business degrees, online accounting degrees have slowly begun to grow in prominence and popularity within the business world.  Similar to many other online degree programs, schools across the country offer both Bachelors and Associates Degrees in accounting, allowing students the flexibility to decide which degree will apply best to their career.  Accounting is one such degree which has a degree program that is easy to complete at home.  Therefore, many online accounting degree programs have grown alongside MBA degrees, resulting in an increase of online colleges that offer programs.  This is beneficial for many online students since they now have a myriad of schools to choose from when only a few years ago there were not. 

The boom in popularity has occurred nearly overnight, with schools like the University of Phoenix and Kaplan University dominating the online degree sector, although many public schools such as Liberty University and state schools have begun to offer degree programs online for students across the country.  This has illustrated a new technological advance in society in which students do not have to move o a college town in order to gain a degree or resort to community college.  Rather, students can hold onto their current job and take classes by night from the comfort of their own home.  Online accounting degrees have played into this sector of students, thus allowing students to attain the knowledge accountants need in order to secure a job and prepare them for the pressures of accounting.  Accounting is one degree in which students are constantly taking tests in order to get ahead within the industry, and taking online classes allows students to work at their own pace before they become bogged down with this type of studying. 

Additionally, many degrees are expensive to receive, and while costs may be lower for online universities, many students still have the comfort in knowing they can keep their present job while attending school.  Online accounting degrees are steadily growing as the economy has shown that accountants are nearly guaranteed to secure a job after graduating.  This thus allows students who live in towns without major colleges to receive a degree without entirely uprooting their lives.  Accounting degrees have grown in prominence over the years and have demonstrated that there is no immediate danger of over-qualification or extensive outsourcing, one fear that gripped the accounting world in recent years.  Therefore, it is only a matter of finding an online accounting degree program which best caters to your needs as a student.  Because of the many options that are now available, it has become increasingly simple to enroll in an online university at your discretion.  Earning this type of degree is one of the best decisions to make within the business community as accountants are always able to find a job, regardless of the field. 

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By Jill Gordon

A non-profit dedicated to bringing "Ideas Worth Sharing" to the world, TED offers some of the best and brightest sharing their perspectives on technology, entertainment, and design. Many of those who speak at TED discuss topics relevant to education. The following talks include thoughts on creativity, play, technology, the future of entire countries through their children, projects to nurture learning in at-risk students, and much more. Educators from all backgrounds will find something of value from these incredible TED talks.

1. Ken Robinson says schools kill creativity. This creativity expert speaks about nurturing creativity in the educational setting rather than continuing with a system that kills creativity in students. This humorous talk is loaded with serious information about children being born with creativity and the educational system teaching the children to lose this creativity.
2. Michelle Obama’s plea for education. The first lady speaks to a girl’s school in the UK on her first official foreign business. She speaks about the importance of strength, dignity, and compassion and the importance of applying these qualities to education. She speaks to these girls about making a difference to the whole world through their education and about empowerment they can gain through education.
3. Patrick Awuah on educating leaders. After leaving Microsoft, Awuah returned to his home in Ghana and has helped to open a liberal arts college there. This polished speaker shares his experience in Africa and uses this experience to plead his case for the importance of incorporating a liberal arts education in order to create true leaders.
4. Richard Baraniuk on open-source learning. A professor at Rice University and the founder of Connexions, an open-source education system, talks about the benefits of open source for educators. Specifically, Baraniuk speaks about the drawbacks of texts books and how using online open-source information provides more current and relevant material.
5. David Hoffman shares his Sputnik mania. This filmmaker shares a part of his documentary, Sputnik Mania. Through this movie, Hoffman explains how it contributed to the space and arms race that, in turn, lead to an inspirational movement of math and science education.
6. Mae Jemison on teaching arts and sciences together. A Renaissance woman herself, Jemison discusses the importance of teaching arts and sciences together–providing an education that balances intuition and logic. Jemison asserts that by educating students in this comprehensive manner, we create strong thinkers. Without this type of education, she says, we are not responsibly looking out for the future of our society.
7. Sugata Mitra shows how kids teach themselves. Mitra has run several experiments in a project called "Hole in the Wall" that show children, when curious, will learn on their own without any guidance or formal teaching. Mitra speaks about his experiments, the implications of this power of learning on education, and what educators can learn from this.
8. Neil Turok makes his TED Prize wish. While accepting his TED prize, this physicist shares his wish to provide opportunity for the future of Africa through opening and nurturing the creativity available in the young people there. Turok uses his math and science background to understand why and how Africa has been left behind–and how we can change it.
9. Bill Joy muses on what’s next. Looking to the future, this co-founder of Sun Microsystems discusses how society and individuals have reacted to situations in the past. He then explores the path we can take to ensure positive growth in the areas of health, education, and technology.
10. Joseph Lekuton tells a parable for Kenya. This member of parliament in Kenya discusses education, both his own and the importance of education to children in Africa. He has a vision for making this education possible and shares it passionately.
11. Woody Norris invents amazing things. This inventor shares two of his inventions that can change the way we think about sound and also discusses his perspective on invention and education. He claims that "virtually nothing…has been invented yet" and supports education though hands-on learning.
12. Bill Strickland makes change with a slide show. This man grew out of a tough neighborhood where few were expected to rise above their surrounding and went on to live a successful life. Strickland found his future through ceramics, and he has watched the power of fine arts and beauty inspire at-risk children. He now advocates the arts as an important part of inspiration and education.
13. David Merrill demos Siftables. This MIT grad student demonstrates his invention, Siftables, which are tiny computers. These tiny computers interact in amazing ways. The educational possibilities with these "toys" is endless, including art projects, English, math, music, and more.
14. Ben Dunlap talks about a passionate life. This college professor shares the story of a Hungarian Holocaust survivor and his life both in Europe and America. His speech focuses on passionate living and passionate learning as learned through this Hungarian man and two other men he has known through life. Dunlap is eloquent and shares his passion well.
15. Jose Abreu on kids transformed by music. The founder of a Venezuelan youth orchestra, El Sistema, Abreu speaks about his wish to spread music throughout Venezuela and the world as a tool of social change and empowerment. Abreu speaks in Spanish (with English subtitles) with such passion about his vision for the future of the world.
16. Gustavo Dudamel leads El Sistema’s top youth orchestra. Watch this video of Dudamel and his students as they perform Shostakovich’s Symphony No. 10, 2nd movement and Arturo Marquez’s Danzon No. 2. The power of this performance is a testament to why El Sistema works.
17. Dave Eggers’ wish: Once Upon a School. Surrounded in a culture of educators, Eggers grew up realizing the importance of education. He talks about his tutoring center, 826 Valencia, and how it has helped and inspired others to become involved in education. The power of this tutoring center is inspirational to those concerned with education.
18. Tim Brown on creativity and play. Brown explores the relationship between creative thinking and play, and how this relationship can be nurtured. Using activities presented in the talk, he illustrates his points that are useful for all who work with children as well as those who want to nurture creativity in adults.
19. Paul Sereno digs up dinosaurs. This paleontologist describes his work and what he’s learned about prehistory and science. He also presents a teaching project designed to recruit students that might typically fail in science and technology. Project Exploration in Chicago has a great track record of helping students failing or near failing go on to college.
20. Jonathan Drori on what we think we know. This expert on culture and educational media offers four questions to the listeners as a starting point to explore how we get ideas in our heads and how difficult it is to shake ideas once they are there. Drori also reviews some "bad practices" that serve to reinforce wrong ideas and some better ways of helping students learn correctly.
21. Alan Kay shares a powerful idea about ideas. Kay talks about techniques for educating children by using computers to illustrate experiences. By looking at simplicity and complexity, traditional teaching modes that rely on complex adult ideas, and approachable methods of teaching students in ways that are more simple and intuitive.
22. Ann Cooper talks school lunches. Known as the "renegade lunch lady," Cooper discusses how she serves local, sustainable, and organic food to the students at Berkeley schools as the head of nutrition. She speaks about the reasons why we should care how we are feeding our children. Discussing big business, childhood obesity, sustainability. She also outlines how to change children’s relationship to food in a positive way.
23. Stuart Brown says play is more than fun. Brown describes why play is important and how it contributes to happy and healthy adults–not just children. Using examples from the natural world, Brown shows how play is an integral part of life and how it can change behaviors.
24. Nicholas Negroponte on One Laptop per Child. The founder of the MIT Media Lab, discusses his program called "One Laptop Per Child." This project hopes to build $100 pedal-powered laptops and distribute them to children in developing countries around the world in an effort to promote education. Coming from the perspective of children being the most important natural resource of any country, Negroponte’s project hopes to provide students with opportunities for their future and the future of their countries.
25. Bill Gates’ talk on mosquitoes, malaria and education — transcribed. In a written transcript of a speech Bill Gates gave, he talks about his project to eliminate malaria, then moves on to his second topic–how to make a teacher great. The answer is to learn from the best teachers in the country, model their teaching techniques, and provide all teachers with the tools necessary for success. He discusses the work of the KIPP charter schools and a book Work Hard, Be Nice based on the work done in these schools.

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What is the purpose of online education?  Is it simply taking over the role of technical colleges that allowed students to work from home (remember those commercials from a few years ago)?  Or is it something more, and are students actually earning a quality education via the internet?  It seems that online education is moving more in the latter realm of education, allowing students to learn subjects due to advances in technology that make distance education a feasible option.

Earning a bachelor’s degree online is not an easy task and requires more than just determination, but also the understanding that you will be hundreds of miles away from your professors, classmates, and maybe even the actual college campus.  While most online schools are now for-profit institutions that have recruiting centers and lack one main campus, there are still many schools that offer various courses and degree programs online  that stem from their traditional classroom courses.  However, this matters very little when you are taking classes in the same way: through an internet connection.  Learning how to independently do coursework and learn the lessons by yourself is a skill which is not easily picked up, and it takes some discipline.

Most statistics have indicated that older students are those enrolling in online courses, although students of every age are currently distance learning students.  However, waiting a few years to enroll in courses has become a common occurrence for recent high school grads, and gives them more of an incentive to do well after they are aware of what jobs are out there.  Additionally, allowing a few years buffer in between schooling gives many students the chance to mature and understand the benefits of a degree.  For many students, earning a bachelor’s degree online is something they have crammed into their already busy schedule, meaning that they have little time for anything else, combined with work and family.  These students should be applauded for their efforts in earning an education and making the time to study and complete assignments.

While online education is still in the beginning phases, it will undoubtedly grow at a rapid pace within the next few years, indicating that the industry has made great leaps with its success rates.  Students now have the opportunity to continue with their current job while also attending classes from home, a feat which was not an option only a decade ago.  As new technologies come into existence that apply to the internet and computers, we will probably see a greater influx of online students who are earning a bachelor’s degree online because it is a highly ranked option for so many students.  Regardless of your current situation, online education is slowly encroaching on becoming a main method of education for many students around the country. 
 

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