Step One: Gather Supplies
The only real supply you will need is a library card and access to said library. It's a good idea to pick a library that has an exchange program with other libraries either in the state or the nation so that if they don't have what you need they can order it from somewhere else.
You will also need Internet access. If you don't own a computer you can simply surf from the library you have chosen.
You should have your own notebook and pen though to take notes so you don't have to use the libraries printer.
Step Two: Pick A University
This is important but not essential. You can mix and match different schools but for our sake let's consider a school like Harvard for it's prestige and for the wealth of resources they provide on their excellent website.
Step Three: The Degree
Since this free education will largely be based on reading, not all degrees will apply to this guide. Mainly any degree that requires lab work, experimentation or actual training don't apply.
There here's a table of degrees that are eligible and those that aren't.
| Degrees You Can Get |
| English |
| History |
| Sociology |
| Psychology |
| Anthropology |
| Philosophy |
| Women's Studies |
| Mathematics |
| Economics |
| Business |
| Mythology |
| Theology |
| Political Science |
| Degrees You Can't |
| Nursing |
| Teaching |
| Journalism |
| Communications |
| Applied Sciences |
Basically a lot of degrees are based solely on reading material and critical thinking skills but those that require testing, field work or active teaching training will not work. You cannot teach yourself to be a doctor and you would have no way to practice communication skills without a teacher.
Step Four: Look Up The Curriculum
Let's say for example you have decided to try History, the first step is to look up how to receive a History degree from your school. You will want to find a catalog that lists the degree program and will give you a list of credits that need to be taken to fulfill the requirements for that degree. Once you find that the next step is start from the beginning: what is the first class in that degree program? Pick that class and be sure to read the course description to gain a sense of what the course entails. It will usually tell you what you are supposed to learn and often the materials to be read. The next step is to figure out what the course materials will be.
Some University websites will allow you to see the book lists for a chosen class, check that out and write down the required texts for the books. Even better, some schools will post their syllabi's on line for anyone to view. This will be a huge help to you. One of the best things about Harvard is they allow students to do this, thus you will have access to the reading assignments, handouts, and lectures.
Step Five: Read!
If you have not figured it out by now, that is the bulk of this experience: lots and lots of reading. With all the tools you have found from above it is now easy for you to collect all the course materials and start reading exactly what a student of the school would to pass the class. Now of course you will not be handing in papers and receiving grades, but I never said you would be. This is a a DIY education with a respectable guide(the school website) to show you where to go. A library is the greatest resource of knowledge you have and a vast majority of “intellect” based degrees are reading lists. While I cannot downgrade the importance of the college social experience or the amazing professors that inhabit the halls of the schools, some people either cannot afford or do not want this experience. Just because college isn't for everyone does not mean education isn't. Really the point here is that if you want to learn a subject there is a better way to do it than simply reading the “Idiots Guide” edition of it or by just browsing that section of your library.
The on line resources University websites provide will give you more structure and excellent recommendations so you don't waste your time reading bad books. Now I am not saying that college is a glorified suggestion list of books, that is a judgment others will have to make. All I can say is that some courses are definitely that and little else.
The other point is that where personal reading ends in the University is where professors supposedly fill in, that's where the real education happens. Now once again if you don't want to pay for that experience or classrooms simply don't apply to you, this guide offers very good alternatives even to the experience of learning from professors.
Step Six: Read and Watch
In addition to reading books and essay it is also extremely helpful to read lecture transcripts given by prominent professors. Look up the top intellectuals in the field you are interested in and I guarantee you will find videos of their talks and free access to papers they have written and actual lectures they gave to students. If you are interested in African Studies you can look up the brilliant Cornel West who has dozens of on line published lectures, papers and also a lot of video content including interviews and speeches. If you are into Biology, hardly anyone is more prolific on the Internet and more influential in the world of science than Richard Dawkins, whose writings and videos are free all over the web.
Final Words:
I will not quantify how much I think you can get out of this guide as compared to an actual degree experience. Clearly the point is self education and not a degree or gaining credits. I know a lot of people love their University experience and would feel offended that I suggest you can reproduce it with the Internet and a library card. That's fine that people feel that way. But I also would lie if I said that hardly any of my time attending classes has been little more than trips to the library and back, especially since I am an English major. If you have the desire to read Dante's Inferno, watch a lecture on it and read a book dedicated to criticism about the work, I fail to see how you have not done the job that a classroom could do. People place far too much value on experts and traditional modes of authority if they assume that the only way to learn is to follow the narrow path of institutional education.
Richard Dawkins
Stephen Jay Gould
Cornel West
Daniel Dennet
Thomas Friedman
Noam Chomsky
Lawrence M. Krauss
No comments:
Post a Comment