"Google Free College" | Entry | Project 10 to the 100th

** CLICK "MORE INFO" FOR ELABORATION


"Project 10 to the 100th" Contest Entry



Goal: To provide the world community with a Free College Education that would be equivalent to the average college education.

The idea?

Pull together the world's academic resources (a.k.a. - google) and create a new educational system that combines online college text book information, social interactivity between professors and students from around the world, video tutorials, student-to-student / member-to-member note sharing, q. & a. forums, & live multi-user chat and provides a richer, free education.

The world community's knowledge and experience... freely shared between the entire community.

Professors and knowledge contributors would benefit by sharing ad revenue fostered by Google Adsense throughout their online text, video, and multimedia lessons.

In addition to the evolutionary tightening of the world community, national economic hurdles would be alleviated over time by the reduction of collective student financial debt.

Let's put that into perspective:

- Average tuition, room and board (for in-state students) at the nations four-year public colleges and universities for an entire academic year (2006-07):

$14,203

$14,203 x 4 years = $56,812

That is more than double the corresponding figure in 1990.

There are 18.4 million students enrolled in the nations colleges and universities this fall.

(This is up from 13.5 million 20 years ago.)

18.4 million students x $56,812 (average college cost for 4 years)=

$176,117,200,000.00

That's $176 billion dollars being spent collectively for a 4 year 'public' college education.

*Source: U.S. Census - Upcoming Statistical Abstract of the United States: 2009 http://www.census.gov/compendia/statab/

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DO YOU WANT A FREE COLLEGE EDUCATION?

WHAT DO YOU THINK?

Should we continue to contain our prized academic information in the hands and halls of non-sympathetic / over-priced universities?

Maybe we should look to our economic state to answer that question.

The "Project 10 to the 100th" contest is providing the funds to make impactful ideas into impactful reality.

If you would like to see Google Free College as a future link on their home page, please leave a positive comment or rating!

GOOGLE FREE COLLEGE
PROJECT 10 to the 100th entry

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A user had posted a comment regarding this video and because of the fact that YouTube puts a limit on how many text characters can be included with a comment (for spam purposes), the reply will be posted here:

YOUTUBE USER: 'thezaugg'

USER'S COMMENT: "I had this idea too not very unique and there is wikipedia you can use"

REPLY:

It appears there is confusion with what this idea truly is.

Wikipedia, although a great information source, does not:


- Award legitimate diplomas

- Issue a guided "college education" which allows students to receive direct knowledge from professors presented in an accredited academic structure (i.e. - video lectures, real-time q. and a., offering of expansive lessons specifically formulated for degree type (a.k.a. curriculum), single & multi-student collaboration / labs, assignments, testing, "access anywhere" note-sharing, course credits that are acknowledged by other universities, etc.).


Wikipedia is simply an encyclopedia & information verification resource, not a full-fledged university.

This entry presents a goal to produce an online platform that achieves what universities currently do... only at no cost to the student. Students need to earn genuine diplomas / degrees that can be honored as acceptable credentials in a real world workforce environment, less the $25K - $150K price tag.


Thanks for your comment! I hope this clears up the misunderstanding.

Thanks!

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WOULD YOU LIKE A FREE COLLEGE EDUCATION THANKS TO GOOGLE?

Please leave a comment or rating in support of this entry!

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Category:

Education

Tags:

• google
• free
• college
• university
• education
• project
• 10
• to
• the
• 100th
• economics
• contest
• idea

[HastyUsernameChoice]

I think it's a brilliant idea, which probably makes me a bit self-congratulatory as my submission was very similar to it... but ultimately i suppose the great thing about this competition is that seeing such an idea implemented is the prize :-) I really do think that making education free to the world will be solve the problems rather than just the symptoms. Kudos, good luck!

[justmakessense]

Good luck to you as well! I feel the same way.

[scorge5]

While I am all for the free exchange of information to promote education, I am curious as to if the positive effects will outweigh the negative effects.

College in addition to education provides a training and selection process for future professionals and career persons. I feel like this vehicle may become tainted as it would be hard to monitor who exactly is doing the work with the free education. Would degrees and credentials be given out? How do you simulate live in person presentations?

[justmakessense]

Thanks for your comments and questions. The answers can be found in the "more information" section on the video page of this entry. If you have any further ideas or questions, please post them as you did with these comments.

Thanks!

[thezaugg]

I had this idea too not very uniqe and there is wikipedia you can use

[justmakessense]

** PLEASE SEE THE REPLY TO THIS COMMENT BY CLICKING ON "more info" AT THE TOP RIGHT-HAND SIDE OF THIS PAGE (reply was too long to post here in the comments area) ** Thanks!

[sepowens]

It is not only a great idea but one who's time has come. A the rate of change in so many fields the days of traditional education are numbered. In the future this idea will be the standard as we refresh or retrain very few years to stay current.

[geoffrider]

This is a really good idea, especially for developing nations (would need different languages of course). This could empower a lot of people around the world. Education and knowledge is the key to our future. The internet started this movement, Wikipedia refined it, and this could fit nicely as the next step.

[tep505]

Definitely an interesting idea.

[sonitp]

tooo good idea and that good presentation..goodluck..i m there with you.

[jonathanrbarry]

Good idea! An education is always a noble commodity.

Be sure to check out my idea which deals with incentivizing health. Imagine it: wouldn't you like to get paid for being healthy or be able to trade your "health" to less healthy family and friends? Then take a look at my idea. Good luck to all.

[switchex]

good idea . .i should have thoight about it :-)