The Forensic Files

Open courseware has really changed the perception of higher education in this 21st century. Judging from the excitement and positive enthusiasm it has elicited, it is surely an academic revolution that will have a positive impact on the world in terms of innovation since resources on scientific related topics are now available for free to all. Scientists are expected to receive more projects concerning revolutionary ways to improve the present more than ever before. This is because the monopoly of knowledge that some of the academic institutions had amassed for themselves has been diffused as more universities avail their courses online.

Some of these universities have invested so much into science and the fact that they are laying bare, their research will truly be a boost to scientists all across the globe. A good example of such a university is Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). This giant academic institution which was a pioneer in the revolutionary age of open courseware currently provides 1,800 courses online for free. MIT has been an institution long reputed for scientific innovation and discovery in major fields of study. Their courses even include aeronautics and astronautics, two courses that would not have been open to the academic world some years back. The fact that they also have the largest collection of science related courses worldwide means that they are the best science open courseware centre. Other scientific courses offered include biochemistry, Information Technology, architecture, physics and environmental sciences.

In addition, we have University of California, Irvine. This university has had a long history of engagement on social issues. They area leading public research university in America and over the years they have showcased and disseminated research to the public. Their science related courses are outstanding as they are varied. These include all kinds of physics and spa operations. North Carolina State University is a pioneer of open courseware. In fact by 1998, the university already had set up a lab where they would invent ways to harmonise the internet and higher education. They have thus helped scientists with their incisive and in depth research on various science topics ranging from Information Technology and various branches of physics and biology.

One of the global institutions that have really assisted scientists and especially science students is the National Programme on Technology Enhanced Learning (NPTEL). Based in India, this academic giant has invested so much in matters technology. The advantage that their open courseware presents is that you get to learn about scientific breakthroughs and vital information from round the world thus they present a wider scope of study. Their focus is mainly on engineering but their research presented in the open courseware is precise, accurate and very informative. The most captivating part of their collection is the “how things work” feature that will interest any upcoming scientist.

Finally, we have the IBM University Initiative. This open courseware presents you with material on the latest there is on matters related to information technology. The university has had a huge reputation when it comes to revolutionary material on computer science.

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