3 . Harvard University Online Courses

★CS50’s Introduction to Game Development

Learn about the development of 2D and 3D interactive games in this hands-on course, as you explore the design of games such as Super Mario Bros., Angry Birds and more. By class’s end, you’ll have programmed several of your own games and gained a thorough understanding of the basics of game design and development.

· Duration:12 weeks long

· Time commitment: 6 — 9 hours per week

· Subject: Programming

· Instructor: David J. Malan

★Ancient Egyptian Art and Archaeology

Explore the history and art surrounding the famous Egyptian Pyramids at Giza. Join us on this online journey to ancient Egypt’s most famous site as we uncover the history and significance of Giza, and use new digital techniques to unlock secrets of its ancient temples.

· Duration: 8 weeks long

· Time commitment: 2 — 4 hours per week

· Subject: Art & Design

· Instructor: Peter Der Manuelian

★Backyard Meteorology: The Science of Weather

This course will explore the science behind weather systems by teaching the observational skills needed to make a forecast without using instruments or computer models. We’ll discuss the physical processes driving weather and the global forces that shape global climate systems.

· Duration: 6 weeks long

· Time commitment: 5 hours per week

· Subject: Science

· Instructor: John Huth

★The Health Effects of Climate Change

Learn how global warming impacts human health, and the ways we can lessen those impacts. This course is not an elegy (挽歌) for the planet, but a call to action. Register now to learn what you can do to reduce the harm caused by global warming.

· Duration: 7 weeks long

· Time commitment: 3 — 5 hours per week

· Subject: Health

· Instructor: Aaron Bernstein

10 . Online learning is a term used to describe distance courses that are offered over the Internet. The courses cover a wide range of subjects and audiences. This educational method is growing in popularity as an economical method of providing access to education for a large population.

There are two types of online course access: open and restricted. Open access allows actually anyone with an Internet user to view the course material. This type of online learning does not require interaction with an instructor. The material covered can range from very specific instructions to university level courses. This initiative removes the barriers to advanced knowledge and allows anyone with the interest to learn. The other type of online courses are restricted access courses. Restricted access is used to limit the class to registered students. These courses offer instructor interaction and are typically the method used by courses that require grades upon graduation.

It is more efficient for both the educator and the student to access course materials online. From the educator aspect, the course lectures can be recorded once and reused. This greatly reduced the staff time and costs. Meanwhile, online courses allow students to complete coursework from a wide range of locations and remove the time restriction to access course lectures. Students are no longer required to travel to the class and many course materials are included in the fee. The material for online courses has been carefully reviewed and approved before the course is offered. Many introduction and courses do not change, as the material is fixed. As a result, the courses are stable and can be reused as needed.

Technology continues to expand to meet the needs of online students. These tools include mobile audio and video viewers, improved online interactive tests, and tool and course management software. The continued development in this area will further enhance the quality of online courses and encourage more people to further their education.