I agree with what you have said in the post. In such courses where the courses dont count towards a degree requirement, the onus is on the individuals participating to learn from the courses. Assignments are just to help us apply what we have learnt and the deadlines are to keep us on track all the time.

I have taken up one such course in a university in Bangalore- its about Data Mining offered as part of Continuing education, its been a good exposure to the new area, and with tests, assignments- its like a complete learning process. I know a student there who hasn’t attended the test, assignment but still has attended all the classes. It all comes down to individuals interest.

When one is coding at work there is a sense of responsibility and one can be held accountable, but coding for self- we are all free to make our own schedules and in the end it never goes on to completion.