Take the best* teachers and their best courses, throw them online and offer access to anyone.

In theory, this is a game changer.

It allows anyone, anywhere, an opportunity to learn anything and from the best in their fields. It destroys barriers and adds a point to how technology can democratize economic stratification.

Why doesn’t it work?

It still depends on two human factors:

1. Wanting to learn the material.
2. Having the self-discipline to follow-through.

In a classroom, or even the home school, there is someone there to hold a student accountable. A good teacher will even get a student to push past their barriers.

Online — there are only a minority of people who are driven enough and disciplined to succeed. The platform works really well for them and they benefit from it.

In the end, it’s not the medium that’s the problem, but the user accessing it.