Coursera.org, free online college level courses Part 1

Well, just like the title says, Coursera.org  is a website that offers free college level courses online. I'm starting my very first course this week, I've chosen Introduction to Genetics and Evolution. My professor works at Duke University. I haven't even had time to watch the first week's lectures. I'm not sure if it was the best idea to add one more thing to my already over-full plate, but I really wanted to do something for me. So much of my time is spent on others.

Now, don't get me wrong; I really do love focusing on my family. I love my husband and I love my kids. But, I don't want to be JUST a wife and mother. I've always enjoyed learning, especially random things that really have no useful basis in my life; coursera works out perfectly for that. However, I've just realized that I've signed myself up for a minimum of 90 minutes of lectures each week, who knows many many minutes/hours of research and reading, one quiz every week, a mid-term, AND a final. The plus side is, if I can earn 80% of better in the class I receive a certificate of completion.

What in the world will I do with a certificate in Introduction to Genetics and Evolution? Absolutely nothing. It's purely for my own enjoyment.

I plan to blog again after I watch the first week's lectures and take the first quiz. I'm signed up for several courses:

Fundamentals of Personal Financial Planning
Introductory Human Physiology
Introduction to Philosophy
Introduction to Sociology
Women and the Civil Rights Movement
The Ancient Greeks
Nutrition, Health, and Lifestyle: Issues and Insights
Why We Need Psychology
Fundamentals of Human Nutrition

Some may end up useful in some way or another; but mostly I just wanted something fun for me to do in what little spare time I have. I'm so focused on the kids, their educations, their appointments (therapy, specialists, checkups, etc) that there really isn't a lot of time left over for me. Well, this week I change that. We'll see how it all works out :)