导读：网上学习正悄然流行，它给你的选课和课程安排提供了更多的弹性，同时还使你有机会接触国内外高校的公开课程。本期的网络课程入门指南(dummy's guide)将教你如何充分利用免费的网络课程资源。
There is more to attending an online class than simply connecting to the Internet and gazing at the monitor. You also need to know how and where to find the lectures, as well as which ones are suitable for your needs and interests. Our dummies’ guide will help you make full use of free online lectures.
在线学习远远不止上网盯着屏幕这么简单。你需要弄清获得在线课程的网址和途径，并依据自身需求和兴趣选择合适的课程。网络学习“傻瓜入门指南”，可以帮助你充分利用免费的网络课程资源。
Where can I find them?
哪里可以找到这些网络课程呢？
Video sharing websites: Go to Tudou.com or Youku.com, and you can watch the videos online. Be patient in your search. Easy key words are “公开课” plus the university name in Chinese. Clip quality is also variable.
视频分享网站：土豆网和优酷网都提供了在线观看视频服务。只要搜索时足够耐心，键入简单的关键词如“公开课”，再加上大学的中文名称，这样便可以轻松搜到你想要的课程，当然视频的质量也良莠不齐。
P2P download: Peer to peer (P2P) download software, like BT or eMule, allows you to search directly for courses by title, subject or university name. You can also find the P2P download links on websites like Yyets.net or Verycd.com.
P2P下载：使用像BT或电驴这样的P2P（对等联网）下载软件，你可以直接搜索课程名字，其所属学科或提供该课程的大学。你也可以在人人影视网或者Verycd网站上找到相应课程的P2P下载链接。
iTunes: If you have access to Apple iTunes, the best place to get these courses is the iTunesU learning channel. But all materials are in English.
iTunes: ：如果你有苹果公司的iTunes软件, 那最好了，它提供的在线学习频道是获取这些课程的最佳途径。不过，所有课程都是英文的。
University websites:
高校网站：
These universities include Harvard, MIT, Yale and major UK universities. This is the most direct way but it requires proficient English skills.
诸如哈佛大学、麻省理工学院和耶鲁大学等美国名校，以及主要的英国大学都提供这项服务。上这些学校的官网搜索网络课程是最直接的办法，当然，前提是你必须具备较高的英语水平。
What if my English is not good enough?
如果英语水平不够怎么办呢？
Fortunately, voluntary online translating groups have made giant strides in improving the standard of academic translation available to Chinese students. Chinese subtitles provided by YYets group, one of the first translation groups dedicated to open courses translation, are recognized as some of the best in the industry. You can also go to Shooter.cn, to select the best subtitles, which are ranked according to users’ reviews.
所幸，网络字幕志愿小组在外国学术课程翻译方面取得了巨大的进步，这极大方便了中国学生。人人字幕组开启了大学公开课翻译的先河，其提供的字幕也被认为是业内最好的翻译版本。你也可以去射手网去下载网友选出的最佳字幕。
Beginners can watch Yale’s philosophy department’s course, Death, by Shelly Kagan. Kagan speaks clearly and in simple language, and students will not be hampered by the lack of subtitles.
初学者可以先听一听耶鲁大学哲学院的课程，比如谢利•凯根教授的课程《死亡》。凯根教授发音清晰且语言通俗易懂，学生们不会因为没有中文字幕而理解困难。
Are open courses copyrighted?
公开课程有版权吗？
As open courses aim to share and impart knowledge, most universities give up their copyright benefits when they upload the videos to the Internet, so you do not need to worry about copyright infringement, unless you plan to make money out of sharing the materials.
正因为网络公开课程旨在分享、传授知识，因此大部分高校将课程视频免费上传到网上的同时，也放弃了版权的收益。除非是出于商业目的，否则你分享这些材料时完全不必为是否侵权而担心。
Are there differences between the online courses and real class learning?
网络课程和实际课堂的区别在哪里？
Lack of interaction: One of the disadvantages of open courses is that you cannot communicate with the professor.
缺乏互动与交流：网络公开课的一大缺点便是无法与教授直接交流。
Xiong Bingqi, an education professor at Shanghai Jiaotong University, suggests that learners wear earphones and imagine they are sitting in the classroom. Then, when a professor asks a question, the student can give his or her answer. You can also go to websites like P2pu.org to discuss the courses.
上海交通大学教育专家熊丙奇教授建议到：学生们可以戴上耳机，想象自己就坐在真实的课堂中。当教授提问时，就给出自己的答案。同时你也可以登陆P2pu.org网站，与其他网友讨论课程，交流心得。
内容不完整性：大部分的课程都比较短，无法让你全面深入地理解该学科。鉴于这点，在选修网络课程时，可以参考教学大纲、PPT与教科书，这样就可以打下一个坚实的基础。