Meet My Classmates

HOT READS FOR THE PRACTITIONER

Title: Who Attends a Universal University?

Competency: self-development

Who benefits: learners of all ages

Consultant Usage: performance management coaches and career counselors

What’s it about? Today I continue to rave about Coursera, the Online University for everyone.  I am taking a course entitled “The History of the World Since 1300.”  Several days ago there were more than 70,000 students worldwide enrolled in this course.  The course is being taught by a professor from Princeton and it parallels a class he teaches on campus (with presumably a smaller class size).

To replace contact with the professor, there are forums and student initiated study groups.  Essays are reviewed by peer groups.  It is an amazing process to see how the students work this all out.

For those of you who like statistics, here are some random numbers about Meet Up groups (study groups) from Coursera.  As of this writing there are 7,337 Courserians in 970 cities around the world who are self-selecting to meet with others in their own community.  Their commonality – they are all enrolled in a course and want to meet others with a similar interest.  Here are some places they are seeking each other out:  New York (230), San Francisco (202), Bangalore (167), London (167), Moscow (142), Athens (106), Kyyvi (Kyiv/Kiev) (104), Mumbai (101), São Paulo (63), Beijing (59), Sydney (40), Lagos (18), Nairobi (12), and Santa Monica (6).

Who are these people who take a course like this?  I asked all 70,000+ and received about 20 replies.  Even with such a small sample I will venture two observations.

First, those who take a course like this care very deeply about their communities, their countries and this world we live in.  Collectively they bring hope and optimism to a world dominated by negative headlines.

Second, there are vast numbers of people who are thirsty for more education.  They are not motivated by degrees or money; rather they search for knowledge and meaning.

I begin with four stories from the USA.  Each of these four have a uniqueness.  First is about Laura.  I hope her story will touch you.  I know it has affected me.  Laura, if you will excuse this butchering of Hemmingway: “Ask not for whom Coursera tolls, it tolls for thee!”  The second is the conundrum that is Max’s.  He is trapped in a world of boundaries, politics and law that makes education difficult for him.  The third and fourth stories are about David and Richard.  Please note their age difference.  And yet similar goals.

USA: Laura Cushing, 42, West Berlin, NJ, high school, freelance writer, married, 3 grown children, “As an autistic woman with complex ptsd, my crippling anxiety prevented me from completing a traditional college education. I’ve always wanted to experience higher learning, so when Coursera came along I jumped at the opportunity. I’ve been taking a variety of courses I’m interested in. My reasons for taking this history course are that I have always loved history, and I am very interested in world history – how events happened interconnectedly and globally. I love learning about cultures outside my own as well.”  (Laura Cushing has also published a more complete story on Yahoo Voices.)

Mexico/USA: Max, 26, Massachusetts, high school, 2 grease collar part-time jobs, single, no children. “I was born in Mexico but raised in Connecticut since very young and I am not documented to be in the country. Although it’s not impossible for an immigrant to buy education, it is difficult to do, legally. Much like you I am also jazzed up that Coursera could offer another way to learn. Not fueled by money or the shiny brand of higher education. Personally, I love history, philosophy and just learning that I don’t know.”

USA: David Asperhiem, 80, Nolomis, FL, (no education indicated), retired from a business life involved in math, engineering, business & sales. “I retired at age 65, and am realizing I am falling behind in the technical fields. I read the text, “Worlds Together – Worlds Apart” and found it very interesting. I always favored the tech subjects and took as little history as possible. American & World history in HS, Naval History in the NROTC & that was it! The rise and fall of dynasties around the world over time us intriguing; the cruelty is staggering. I hope to read Volume I when we are finished with the course.”

USA: Richard Speaker, 19, Rockford, Illinois, first year college student (Performing Arts), third party inspector in Chrysler assembly plant, single, no children. “The reason why I’m taking this course is to learn. I have always loved learning everything I can and History holds a special place in my quest for knowledge.”

Venezuela: Celina Romero R., 53, Caracas, a university diploma in translation and conference interpreting, and training in Political Science and international trade relations, teaches conference interpreting at the Universidad Central de Venezuela, graduate level and coordinate and teaches on-line courses on Translation and Information Technologies for Venezuelan translators and other interested professionals, divorced, one child, “A year ago I began a research project on history, translation and its relation to forces of change. In my search for sources, I came across a blog with information about Coursera, checked out the courses, and fell for the whole experience.”

USA: Catherine Webber, 39, Roanoke VA, BA in Psychology/AAS in Administration of Justice, Police Dispatcher, single,1 child, “I am taking this course because it is a Princeton class and professor, I love history and learning, I cannot go for my masters right now and really enjoy learning so this is the next best thing….”

India: B. S. Subramanyam, 54, Chennai, a degree in Civil Engineering and a certificate in Management, retired from construction, banking, and IT, married with 2 grown children, “I love history and the opportunity of taking a course on World History from Princeton was irresistible!”

USA: Will Foster, 72, rural Texas, AB liberal arts Vanderbilt; MBA Univ. of Chicago; MD Univ. of Louisville, retired physician and current health care writer, married, one living child,  “I am a life-long learner and Coursera is a godsend as there are few educational resources where I live. It is critical to keep the brain active.”

Germany: Florian Schulz, 31, Heilbronn, law school in Germany and British LLM, in-house counsel in an international trading group, not-married, no children, “During my youth I longed to study history (and to become a historian). Well, after high-school I reconsidered my options (I frankly admit that pecuniary considerations did play a role) and decided to follow the “legal track” leading to the bar – this course is a way to do what I have always wanted to.”

USA: Robyn Snyder, 52, Michigan, some college no degree, Admin Assistant, single, daughter 30, “I love history and I love to learn, and it was free. How can you not take these opportunities as they present themselves? It is also a challenge to see if I can complete a college level course given that I was never able to obtain a degree…. Although I will not receive a degree from the course, the sense of self-satisfaction will help appease my ego … living in an academic world with no college degree.”

England (UK): Cecily Jones, 50+, London, PhD in Sociology and a PGCE (Higher Education),  Associate Professor, married, 2 children and 2 grandchildren.  “I’m taking this course because I am passionate about history. …. I have been thinking about doing a Masters in History but can’t afford it currently so I thought this course would be a great introductory alternative, for now!”

India: Mukund Birje, 26, Pune, MBA, currently working in Mumbai as a Brand Communications Manager, single, no children, “I am huge fan of history and read up on it and Coursera is an ideal platform to learn more!”  (Note his photo: He may be taking an Online course, but he has the On Campus spirit!  Way to go Mukund!!)

USA: Amy Koehler, 53, Maplewood, NJ, college, former CNN producer now working in non-profit, married with 2 children ages 13 & 18. “(I am) taking this course (and plan on taking more) because I love learning ….  For this course in particular, I am fascinated by and excited about the global reach of this class while studying global history! How cool to learn with all these people from so many backgrounds who bring their own educations and perspectives! It’s an extraordinary opportunity.”

Canada: Andrea Gradidge, 58, near Vancouver BC Canada, B.Ed from UK and Rehabilitation Diploma, working in Health Care, 2 children, 2 grandsons. “Love my job, love learning, love that this is online and accessible, telling everyone! Signed up for all possibilities in my new field, there was a gap in available courses and also in my knowledge so I’m here to fill that. History always seemed a huge jumble of facts – hoping this course will clear a path to see patterns in the chaos.”

India: Mukesh Adenwala, 61, Ahmedabad, Masters’ degree in economics from Gujarat University, retired from Reserve Bank of India, married, 2 daughters, 31 and 28, both married. “I joined the course because learning is exciting for me.”

And these people, dear reader, are why I am jazzed by this course and this website.   Check it out!

Catch you later.

Bill Bradley

Bill Bradley (mostly) retired after 35 years in organizational consulting, training and management development. During those years he worked internally with seven organizations and trained and consulted externally with more than 90 large and small businesses, government agencies, hospitals and schools.