MIT Intro to CS Course: 20 Videos and Free Textbook (and Intro to Lisp)
swiss.csail.mit.edu
swiss.csail.mit.edu
OCW website: http://ocw.mit.edu/OcwWeb/Electrical-Engineering-and-Computer-Science/6-001Spring-2005/CourseHome/index.htm
Tutorial: http://icampus.mit.edu/xTutor/content/?more6001
The tutorial provides sample problems and will grade them on-line to give you instant feedback. They also give an estimate for when the assignments should be due, which is helpful if you're attempting to go through the material as if you were taking the class.
This is something I would have found very interesting when I was 17 years old, but I decided I am not going to let a 20 hour long video Introduction to CS course, no matter how free, keep me from programming my startups, not even if it's from MIT. Plus it'll still be around for me to watch it in another 22 years.
I've tried leaving it running in the background so I could listen to the audio, but it's just so distracting and the presentation is so interesting, that I had to leave the room before I could decide to come back, close it, and write this. :)
It was kind of like the video course "Physics for Presidents" from Berkley. Although it's very interesting, and the professors are so very smart, I had to shut it down because it's a time sink.
I think if the value you gain from doing something outweighs the opportunity cost paid for not working on your startup, you ought to go ahead and do that thing. Whether these videos are worth your time is your opinion. But they are excellent resources, and others might find them worthwhile.
Quite true. Ive been going through the videos, an SICP (albeit slowly). Yes, I sometimes feel that I could be writing production code instead of getting an education. I believe, though, that having some additional insights on software development will pay off quite well in the future.
Plus it's fun. :)
But you made me reconsider. I guess I can probably put it on my phone and watch it at the gym when I'm doing some stretches or warming up!
I'm glad you enjoyed my link, and I hope I have some time to watch more of it myself. Thanks for your reply!
Check out the reviews at amazon.com: both PG and some Peter Norvig give you permission to read it:
Or yes, you can choose to postpone the important for the urgent. But for your deity of choice's sake, don't multitask at this. Whenever you think you're ready, get a paper copy and set aside some time for it every day. Kiss the cover. Open the book. Read at least one subsection and do the exercises. Close the book and kiss the cover again. Candles optional.