Tomw's right. There are intellectual discussion
groups around. The following Meetup Group -
is in Melbourne for anyone interested:

http://intellectual-discussion.meetup.com/cities/au/Melbourne/

Dear Tomw,

I hear you yet I think that Robert Manne's perspective is pertinent and troubling.

Quote;

Online delivery of lecture notes is threatening the traditional model. Many students see no point in cramming into packed lecture theatres when they can access notes and videos on the internet.

But Manne compares online lectures to watching a video recording of a theatre production. And he says there is still plenty of merit in turning up to good lectures.

''Even a lecture should have a certain kind of electricity of spontaneity, and a good lecture does. A good lecture is never just information conveyed and often actually being in the room makes a difference. The students know it if they come across lectures that are alive.''
http://www.theage.com.au/victoria/a-teacher-from-the-old-school-to-call-it-a-day-20130118-2czdi.html#ixzz2Prf6M0NI

End quote.

I think that discourse with mentors/lecturers equips people with the skills and rigour to engage in the cafe style exchanges. I'm not saying it is the be-all and end-all but to lose that ingredient will be a great pity.

csteele wrote 8 April 2013 8:27:47 PM:

>Dear Tomw, I hear you yet I think that Robert Manne's perspective is pertinent and troubling ...

I don't advocate videos on the Internet as a replacement for university lectures. Instead I provide the students with material to read and then invite them to discuss it, in the Oxbridge tradition. It does not much matter if that discussion is on-line, or at the university cafe: http://www.tomw.net.au/technology/it/green_computing_professional/

I gave up giving conventional lectures, were the lecturer simply goes through what is in their notes (so called Lecture 1.0), in 2008: http://en.wikiversity.org/wiki/Lecture_2.0#Example_4:_My_last_lecture

On-line structured learning is useful for students to learn the basics, so they are then equipped for more free flowing discussion. I set marked work for my students every week. Some do not get past week 3, because they are unwilling, or unable, to do the work required. University study is occasionally enjoyable, but students need to understand that most of the time it is very hard work and very frustrating.