Google just announced that they will be an offering a series of online courses on what they call “Power Searching.” As first seen on The Verge (and pointed to me by Suzi Tonini on Twitter), the series aims to unlock the secrets to better searching.
I have no doubt that the course will be useful, at least to some users. Will they cover enough advanced material to quench the thirst of sourcers looking to get the next great crack at a new trick they can use to find who they need?
That’s the bigger question.
According to what was announced on their site today, the course will have six 50 minute courses. There will be three courses a week starting July 10th and running through July 19th. At the successful completion of the course, you get a certificate e-mailed to you. If you’re lacking wall decoration, you can print it out, frame it and hang it in your office.
Sarcasm aside, maybe the most exciting part about it is that they’ll have interactions with some of the top minds in search through Google+ hangouts and Google groups set up for this class. As the announcement on their official blog said, “Power Searching with Google blends the MOOC (Massive Open Online Course) learning format pioneered by Stanford and MIT with our social and communication tools to create what we hope is a true community learning experience.”
Assuming your questions don’t get answered in the class format, it might be worthwhile attending if only to see if you can ask some of the experts there.
You can register until July 16th (though they recommend you register before the first class starts on the 10th). As far as I can tell, they aren’t limiting the number of registration.
It is an interesting concept and the price can’t be beat. Will you be checking this out or do you think it will be too rudimentary or off topic to learn anything from?