Parrothead Posted May 30, 2013 Posted May 30, 2013 I'm seeing a lot of you are using TC lectures. Some using multiple lectures per year. Are you getting these free somewhere? My library does not have them. ILL is sketchy for arrival when needed so I didn't even look. Even with them on sale at $30 a pop I can't afford more than one or two a year. And that is if I have the money when they are on sale. I've never had anything arrive on my doorstep after purchasing it on eBay so I won't use that option either. Throwing money away twice was enough for me. Tell me your secret. Quote
elegantlion Posted May 30, 2013 Posted May 30, 2013 I watch for sales - our library doesn't have them either. I signed up for the catalog and e-mail alerts, plus I watch here. I've been able to get some lectures (I usually buy audio download) for less than 10.00 - the more popular ones anyway. There are a few I'd love to own, but can't quite fit them into the budget. You can sometimes find them used on Amazon. A few I simply work into the school budget. The course guide that comes with the lectures is nice and usually has suggested reading and a bibliography. You really could design your study around a GC lecture. Another option is to look into some of the Open Source classes. Those are free, many have video lectures, assigned readings, etc. Ds and I are currently doing a Coursera physics class. Quote
Jean in Newcastle Posted May 30, 2013 Posted May 30, 2013 I get them free from our library. I don't know what I'd do if I couldn't get them from there. Quote
Julie in MN Posted May 30, 2013 Posted May 30, 2013 I mostly buy them, but sometimes preview at the library. Our library can get me lots of them, but often they are in parts and I get the wrong part first, or there is no book, or they only have CD. The best sales at TTC seem to be around Christmas/New Year's. Some of them go down to $10 with free shipping. Some of them I borrow to family and it's nice to have those. Once in a while I buy a more expensive set used, such as on ebay. Beware that often they are previous versions (odd sized cases) or I've even seen a single DVD box sold from the middle of a set. Julie Quote
swimmermom3 Posted May 30, 2013 Posted May 30, 2013 I have bought them new and requested them as gifts, but my best purchases have been from here, Ebay, and Amazon. Usually one of us will start a thread on here when the sales get really good. You can be sure someone will let us know when the prices fall to the $15-20 range on Vandiver's Iliad and Odyssey lectures. I have bought more digital downloads than I would have liked, but sometimes TC's shipping charges make a good sale still too expensive. Quote
regentrude Posted May 30, 2013 Posted May 30, 2013 I buy them when they are deeply discounted, such as after Christmas. If you purchase them as download, you save the shipping. I bought several courses for under $10. I have also bought used ones on amazon. Quote
Hoot Posted May 30, 2013 Posted May 30, 2013 I buy around Christmas also. They do have some decent sales through the year. I'm able to get a good discount by combining sales + coupons + digital versions (free shipping). Sometimes they will have buy 2 get 1 free. If you get on their mailing list, they send a priority code that can get you more or alert you to sales. They bombard you with catalogs and emails though. How do you get on their mailing list? I don't see anywhere on their website to sign up for emails, newsletters, catalogs or anything. Quote
regentrude Posted May 30, 2013 Posted May 30, 2013 How do you get on their mailing list? I don't see anywhere on their website to sign up for emails, newsletters, catalogs or anything. You order from them. Once. That will keep you inundated with catalogs until the end of your days (or so it feels) Their catalog is available in digital form; there is a button at the bottom of the website. Quote
Jane in NC Posted May 30, 2013 Posted May 30, 2013 Our library has some; others we purchased. My strategy for keeping my mind well educated includes picking up TC lectures at library book sales and charity shops. I have found cassettes and videos this way--old technologies that still work for us. In fact, I am loaning two sets of TC lectures to a friend who has a long commute. She just happens to have a cassette player in her car... Quote
Jen the RD Posted May 31, 2013 Posted May 31, 2013 I went to our state homeschool convention (GA) two weeks ago and found a treasure trove of TC lectures. I couldn't believe it! I was like a kid in a candy store! I bought the DVD version of Iliad & Odyssey for $15 each, DVD version of Dante for $30, and CD version of How to Understand Poetry for $30. Seriously, I was doing back flips. OMGosh, I am such a GEEK! Anyway, if you have local homeschool sales in your area, that's where I've seen the most used TC lectures available. HTH, Jennifer Quote
Julie in MN Posted May 31, 2013 Posted May 31, 2013 Or you can order or just email or call them. I'm sure they will be happy to put you on their list. :D They will do almost anything for you if you call. They have the best customer service ever. One more reason I'm willing to pay them. Quote
swimmermom3 Posted May 31, 2013 Posted May 31, 2013 They will do almost anything for you if you call. They have the best customer service ever. One more reason I'm willing to pay them. Oh yeah! I dream of working for Great Courses when I "retire" from homeschooling. I would probably call their customer service just to revel in their professionalism especially after I have been redirected to India for my latest Comcast complaint. Quote
Twigs Posted May 31, 2013 Posted May 31, 2013 Mathematics, Philosophy, and the Real World is available here for free. It's the best TC course I've ever seen! Quote
Posted May 31, 2013 Posted May 31, 2013 Mathematics, Philosophy, and the Real World is available herefor free. It's the best TC course I've ever seen! Is this legal? Seems sketchy. Quote
swimmermom3 Posted May 31, 2013 Posted May 31, 2013 Is this legal? Seems sketchy. Great Courses is usually very quick to remove any outside links with their courses. There are legitimate samples on Youtube. Quote
readinmom Posted May 31, 2013 Posted May 31, 2013 My library doesn't seem to have any. I also have been looking for these at low cost for continuing education units. University of San Diego offers independent study credit for watching these and completing a few writing assignments on each. Would love the Odyssey, Dante ones... Quote
JumpedIntoTheDeepEndFirst Posted May 31, 2013 Posted May 31, 2013 Library book sales often have them. DVDs have proven a bit harder to find but CDs and older formats like VHS and Cassette are fairly available. Also, used book stores often have them in the DVD/Video/CD section. We've also asked for them as gifts from grandparents. Quote
Twigs Posted June 7, 2013 Posted June 7, 2013 Mathematics, Philosophy, and the Real World is available herefor free. It's the best TC course I've ever seen! Is this legal? Seems sketchy. Great Courses is usually very quick to remove any outside links with their courses. There are legitimate samples on Youtube. Quick update - I just checked the link I posted and the "page has been retired". Quote
Plink Posted June 7, 2013 Posted June 7, 2013 Library! If your local one doesn't carry them, check intra-library loan, and if they still can't locate them for you, personally speak to someone at the reference desk and ask them to borrow them for you through inter-library loan (Sounds similar, but very different). I have had lectures shipped to me from many different states. You aren't guaranteed to have them at a specific time, so you need to be a bit flexible with your schedule, but free is a great price. Quote
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