“My last article, Learning and Linux, was instructive. It is
heartening to know that I am not the only one frustrated with
traditional academics. This week, I would like to explore some
alternative methods that are beginning to become possible through
open source and the Internet.“
“The goal of most facets of education is seemingly to teach the
greatest number of people in the shortest time possible.
Traditionally, it has not been much more than an assembly line with
rows of students staring at the front of the classroom with blank,
confused looks on their faces. This has been a reasonably
effective, cheap way to teach. It doesn’t cost much to hire a
teacher, build a small classroom, and to throw a chalkboard up
front.”
“However, there comes a time when it is necessary to throw out
some old assumptions about how things are supposed to be. Linux has
shown that it isn’t necessary for programmers to physically be in
the same location or even in the same time zone. This has the
unique effect of allowing development to continue unabated 24 hours
a day. There is no reason why certain classes couldn’t do the same
thing.”