pixcavator

>"economists asserting the difference between modeling human behavior vs. the behavior of physical objects"

Is it really that different? Try to attach an object to several springs and see if it behaves "rationally".

And Amazon.

>>Half a mil to learn about Poetry Writing. Sorry, but that's just silly.

Except it's payed for by your taxes. Who is silly here?

>>This is largely a topological problem: If you're surrounded by mountains...

Topological or topographical? It's kinda both in your example.

They can't give course credit or award degrees.

There was a relevant quote posted recently by "tokenadult": “the diligence of public teachers is more or less corrupted by the circumstances which render them more or less independent of their success and reputation in their particular professions.. . . . The privileges of graduation, besides, are in many countries . . . obtained only by attending the lectures of the public teachers. . . . The endowment of schools and colleges have, in this manner, not only corrupted the diligence of public teachers, but have rendered it almost impossible to have any good private ones." -- Adam Smith, The Wealth of Nations, Book V, Part 3, Article II (1776)

But it's OK for doctors, lawyers and their clients to do that?

I find this kind of reports very encouraging. I think the future of education is professors becoming free agents in a free market. Really, why can a lawyer set up his own firm or a doctor start his own practice and deal with life and death situations but a professor can’t just teach a few calculus courses without being affiliated with a university?

>>My cofounder, Ryan, has spent the past couple of years helping developers at Columbia learn how to apply their theoretical computer science skills to actually programming. He’s taught hundreds of Columbia students the basics (and beyond).

Take notes, Mr Khan.

>>if it was funded by someone else (e.g. the public) then my view is that everyone who contributed to funding that research should have the ability to access and use the results.

If you show those results to "the public", they'll likely want their money back. I know I do.

Non profit != no charge

Why would it be more impressive? Because paying customers vote with their money. Money is a better validation than "you're great!".

I'd be much more impressed it these (or at least a part of them) were paying customers.