ACADEMIC EARTH

Academic Earth is a company founded with the goal of using the internet to extend high-quality educational opportunities to people around the globe. Called the Hulu for Education by TechCrunch, the site offers free access to online video courses from universities such as Harvard, Yale, Stanford, and MIT. Recently, the site added a directory of degree and certificate programs offered online by respected brick and mortar universities. These listings are targeted at people who want the convenie... nce of online learning, but do not want to sacrifice brand reputation by studying at a for-profit online institution. Academic Earth was spotlighted in the 2010 Annual Letter of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, and discussed by Gates in multiple media outlets; Gates described his personal use of the site and belief in the power of online lectures as an educational tool. In 2009, the site was selected along with Google, Amazon, and Facebook as one of TIME Magazine's Top 50 Websites.More