MYNORTHWEST NEWS

Bill Gates offers up his favorite class to the public for free

Nov 5, 2013, 8:51 AM | Updated: Nov 9, 2013, 8:47 am

Bill Gates is making a course he loves available to the public for free. (AP Photo/Michael Sohn)...

Bill Gates is making a course he loves available to the public for free. (AP Photo/Michael Sohn)

(AP Photo/Michael Sohn)

One of the most successful men in the world wants to share a class that had a big impact on him with the masses.

“I love to learn new things. I think it’s a wonderful adventure but you don’t always see how the different things you learn fit together. It’s only when you see that overall picture that it is most exciting. Well, Big History is the course that does bring it together, and that is why I think it’s the best course ever and I encourage you to try it out,” says Bill Gates.

The course began in David Christian’s classroom at Macquarie University in Sydney, Australia. The all encompassing course brought together science, geography and history, and was Gates’ favorite. Christian argues if you know big history you have a better chance of avoiding the pitfalls that stand in our way.

Gates was so enthralled with the course he didn’t want kids to have to wait until college to get a taste of it, so he worked with a University of Michigan professor to tailor the curriculum to high school students. It’s already used in over 100 classrooms around the country.

Big History covers everything from the big bang theory and the history of the atom to ancient and modern human history. And now it’s offered online for free to anyone who wants to take it. Start learning now at bighistoryproject.com.

MyNorthwest News

Georgetown cabaret shooting...

James Lynch

Reward now $15,000 in deadly Georgetown cabaret shooting

The reward for information leading to an arrest and charge in a deadly shooting at Kitten’s Cabaret in Georgetown has increased to $15,000.

10 hours ago

I-405 (3)...

Nate Connors

WSDOT projects over the weekend include another closure on I-405

The good news is this weekend's list of WSDOT projects is substantially shorter. The bad news is we have another full closure on I-405.

10 hours ago

Jayapal...

MyNorthwest Staff

US Rep. Pramila Jayapal’s office receives suspicious package

U.S. Rep. Pramila Jayapal’s office in Seattle received a suspicious package Friday afternoon.

11 hours ago

northbound I-5 crash...

MyNorthwest Staff

Northbound I-5 reopened after crash at Michigan Curve

Four lanes are blocked on northbound I-5 due to a crash on Friday.

11 hours ago

power outage tacoma...

MyNorthwest Staff

Power mostly restored in Pierce County

Nearly 4,000 people are currently without power in Tacoma on Friday.

12 hours ago

oregon shooting...

HAVEN DALEY and SAFIYAH RIDDLE, The Associated Press

Teen shooter who killed 4 at Oregon elementary school was a former student, police say

A teacher threw her phone at the teenage gunman who killed four people at an Oregon elementary school, then tackled and fought with him.

12 hours ago

Bill Gates offers up his favorite class to the public for free