Well, not exactly. But the Harvard Extension School (2010, 2009, 2008) allows nonpaying online students to eavesdrop on the first few lectures of many of its courses. At the website you’ll see a long list of courses. Click on the “website” link of any course of interest, and in many cases you will be allowed to view the first few lectures.
Update (22 Aug. 2010): Harvard now offers eight free (not for credit) online courses at its new Open Learning Initiative website. See: Go to Harvard for free (part 2).
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Harvard Extension: “We still give free samples.”
Updated Aug. 8, 2010
I’m a student at Harvard Exension.
Usually they will permit anyone to view the first 2 weeks of lectures. After that, they restrict it via a password.
You should try GOVT E-1780 (International Political Economy). I took that this semester and it was very interesting indeed.
Is it worth the money? Do you get the same prestige or do people just gaff it off cynically because it was Harvard Extension?
Some of the courses have extensive slide sets and lecture outlines, even though the videos can’t be viewed beyond lecture 1.
The best time to see the videos is right at the beginning of the term. Sometimes I’ve seen 3 weeks worth of videos before they close the gates.
i love it, it’s great.