Over the past few days I’d entertained some thoughts about taking some classes at our local community college. My thoughts were sparked by a craving I’d entertained a few days earlier as I read a Concordia College events schedule. I felt a strong urge to be in a place where there were opportunities engage with others in deep thought and intellectual exploration. I’ve been downloading and enjoying lectures from iTunesU; I dreamed that I could take a class each day, even flex my work hours a bit to accommodate.
This evening I spent some time on local college’s website and discovered that there was not much that I was really interested in. It occurred to me that though I’ve no degree neither am I an undergraduate student. Then later as I drove about a bit I realized more fully that my other-driven educational days are over. The thought of spending $138.10 per credit hour nauseated me; especially when Reformed Theological Seminary, Stanford University and Yale (for Pete’s sake) are distributing free lecture via iTunes.
I spend 45 minutes a day commuting back and forth to work; in the next year I should be able to listen to courses in Theological Foundations, Intro to Pastoral and Theological Studies, Pastoral and Social Ethics, and a History of Philosophy and Christian Thought…all from Reformed Theological Seminary. This would all be preferable to the offerings of my local CC. I know that it’s not the same as actually taking those courses, but I am an audio learner and will gain a lot from listening each day.
