I think this is the best answer to your question, please read before proceeding to the other links: http://calnewport.com/blog/2012/10/26/mastering-linear-algebra-in-10-days-astounding-experiments-in-ultra-learning/

I would like to include some of the useful links as well ( these are only a few of them):

http://www.youtube.com/education You can watch and follow the courses from most prestigious universities taught by serious professors free of charge.

http://ocw.mit.edu/courses/ MIT open course ware website, you can find video lectures, pdfs, sometimes related software developed by the researchers.

http://oli.cmu.edu/learn-with-oli/see-our-free-open-courses/ Open learning initiative of Carnegie Mellon University

http://www.wibit.net/ you can learn almost all the computer languages here, taught by a group of enthusiasts.

I think this is the best answer to your question, please read before proceeding to the other links: http://calnewport.com/blog/2012/10/26/mastering-linear-algebra-in-10-days-astounding-experiments-in-ultra-learning/

I would like to include some of the useful links as well ( these are only a few of them):

http://www.youtube.com/education You can watch and follow the courses from most prestigious universities taught by serious professors free of charge.

http://ocw.mit.edu/courses/ MIT open course ware website, you can find video lectures, pdfs, sometimes related software developed by the researchers.

http://oli.cmu.edu/learn-with-oli/see-our-free-open-courses/ Open learning initiative of Carnegie Mellon University

http://www.wibit.net/ you can learn almost all the computer languages here, taught by a group of enthusiasts.

Http://www.learnerstv.com/

i recommend this... I have all its videos..very informative and covers wide range of subjects..

@ Dilek, thank you so much for these links.. :)

From http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Autodidacticism

Autodidacticism (also autodidactism) is self-directed learning that is related to but different from informal learning. In a sense, autodidacticism is "learning on your own" or "by yourself", and an autodidact is a self-teacher. Autodidacticism is a contemplative, absorptive procession. Some autodidacts spend a great deal of time reviewing the resources of libraries and educational websites. One may become an autodidact at nearly any point in one's life. While some may have been informed in a conventional manner in a particular field, they may choose to inform themselves in other, often unrelated areas. Many notable contributions have been made by autodidacts.

I would say it is very possible to use local resource and internet resources to learn high levels of anything. To get socially recognized... you need a degree from an accredited university OR make a groundbreaking discovery.

It is possible if you know what you want to learn and have an immediate application for what you are learning. You can for example learn a new analytical method from books. In such cases, learning gives you an immediate positive reinforcement by the fact that you learn to accomplish something that you want to do.

But to learn a complete field from ground up, like physics or chemistry, you need some kind of course to guide you. Following an online course without interacting closely with teachers and other students is incredibly hard, because there is no immediate social positive reinforcement during the learning process. People also have a tendency to skip parts that they don't quite understand and only learn what is fun to learn. Nobody stops you from quitting or slacking.

Learning any science takes at least five years full-time just to cover the basics. That time cannot be cut short, unless you are some kind of genius. It would take a huge effort to spend so much time on learning all by yourself. As a student at a university, you have a recognized social status: It is accepted that you don't work or only have a part-time job, that you don't have much money resp. need money from your parents or other supporters, and that you spend most of your time learning. Following an online course, however, is not recognized that way and you wouldn't get the needed support so easily. And learning that much in parallel to a "day job" is nearly impossible. It exhausts your mental power and in the end your job, your studies, your health, or all of the above will suffer.

Studying something at a university also means to be initiated into a social group: You share knowledge, beliefs and experiences; you meet important people. An online course cannot give you that experience.

Another important point: Learning by yourself does not give you any certificates. In some situations it doesn't count what you know or can do, but which certificates you have.

A well-structured traditional course with lectures and exercises gives you a complete, well-balanced curriculum, provides constant feedback and motivation, and ensures that you don't skip or overlook anything important. Your teacher and peers support you in difficult times, and in the end you get a recognized certificate. In my opinion, that is still the most effective learning method.

Up to you and how much you can study by your own.

From a philosophical point of view, the nature all around you is the best teacher in physics...So, you can learn phyisca on your own but not "alone".

Depends upon the interest of ones learning along with analyzing the texts, experiments and most important the crystal clear understanding.

Thanks for your input guys. Some really interesting answers.

"Learn from yesterday, live for today, hope for tomorrow. The important thing is not to stop questioning." - Albert Einstein