[AdamM12]

Anecdotal but I did linear algebra at a local CC in a "flipped" classroom. We were expected to watch lectures (youtube videos from a MIT or whatever) outside of class and then class was supposed to be a discussion of the homework, which we also had to do out of class and was provided no class time prior to it being due to discuss, in class. There was no real teaching on behalf of the professor. I can't just interject a video when I have a question about the subject matter. I'd either have to wait it out and see if it was answered later, rewind and watch again, or find another video explaining the same concept. All of a sudden an hour long video became an hour and a half to two hour endeavor. Just absolutely time consuming. It came off as lazy by the teacher. To be fair was like his first or second semester doing it but I didn't care to take the class again. Some of the smartest guys I knew we absolutely frustrated with it also. We all gave him bad reviews. Learning should be interactive. This was not. My friend group would basically meet up and teach ourselves the concepts. It was way harder than it should have been.

I'd rather MOOC's be used to supplement a traditional lecture. I know I used the hell out of Khan Academy during Calc 1-3 which were all traditional lectures.

[nine_k]

Hmm. With a video, you can pause it and go google for details.

Asking a professor is likely more efficient. It's still not as easy — you need to break his/her flow, and the professor must have enough spare time to answer.

Also, when you do more yourself you pay less; it can be important.

From my experience, going through harder parts of a textbook with a motivated friend or two works best.

[mannykannot]

The sort of questions I have when trying to do this sort of thing are often not well answered by search engines, as they often of the form "huh? I didn't follow how the last thing you said comes from (or is otherwise related to) the things that came before."