Coursera

19-10-2012 3:53pm #1

I've just discovered Coursera, a company that was founded in April of this year. I'm sure you've all seen websites that offer "online courses" from universities, such as OpenCulture or iTunesU. Coursera is similar in many respects, but different — and vastly more impressive — in others.

How Coursera describes itself:

We are a social entrepreneurship company that partners with the top universities in the world to offer courses online for anyone to take, for free. We envision a future where the top universities are educating not only thousands of students, but millions. Our technology enables the best professors to teach tens or hundreds of thousands of students.

Through this, we hope to give everyone access to the world-class education that has so far been available only to a select few. We want to empower people with education that will improve their lives, the lives of their families, and the communities they live in.

Their model goes beyond all that I've seen before; no other website offers such comprehensive university courses (that I'm aware of, at least).

How Coursera describes its courses:

Classes offered on Coursera are designed to help you master the material. When you take one of our classes, you will watch lectures taught by world-class professors, learn at your own pace, test your knowledge, and reinforce concepts through interactive exercises. When you join one of our classes, you'll also join a global community of thousands of students learning alongside you. We know that your life is busy, and that you have many commitments on your time. Thus, our courses are designed based on sound pedagogical foundations, to help you master new concepts quickly and effectively. Key ideas include mastery learning, to make sure that you have multiple attempts to demonstrate your new knowledge; using interactivity, to ensure student engagement and to assist long-term retention; and providing frequent feedback, so that you can monitor your own progress, and know when you've really mastered the material.

We offer courses in a wide range of topics, spanning the Humanities, Medicine, Biology, Social Sciences, Mathematics, Business, Computer Science, and many others. Whether you're looking to improve your resume, advance your career, or just learn more and expand your knowledge, we hope there will be multiple courses that you find interesting.

To test it out, I've signed up and enrolled a course entitled Think Again: How to Reason and Argue, which is a 12 week long courses, consisting of 5-6 hours per week, and it commences on November 26th.

If you're at all interested in online university courses, or interesting in spending a few hours a week learning something different, or something that you've always wanted to know, then go and explore their website and view their upcoming courses. It seems like an absolutely fantastic resource. I hope it becomes known to more.

Link.

19-10-2012 3:56pm

Here is a list of a lot of the freely available online courses.

19-10-2012 4:08pm

Deleted User wrote: »

Here is a list of a lot of the freely available online courses.

Thanks, Aristotle. Such websites are great resources. I've seen many websites that offer online courses, but none I've seen come close to Coursera. With Coursera, courses begin at set dates, and there are only so many lectures released per week, which you're required to "study" to progress. There are online tests in which your comprehension is tested and gained knowledge subjected to scrutiny, meaning you won't be able to progress until you possess a sufficient understanding of the previous lectures. ("Forcing" you to attempt to understand, which is a major problem with most other free online courses I've seen: you can progress without understanding with, say, iTunesU and others.) In short, the courses resemble real university courses to a far greater degree than anything I've seen online before. I'd really recommend exploring the website.

pwurple · 19-10-2012 4:12pm

I completly love Coursera, huge fan, I've done 5 to date. Signed up for 2 more over the next few months. Nice to be able to dip into something different.

And FREE!

The Gnome · 19-10-2012 4:33pm

Looks pretty good, I've tried some free online stuff before but as you've said the structure of Coursera seems to be better than anything I've seen.

Just signed up to a few classes in my areas of interest so I'll see how it goes.

19-10-2012 4:37pm

gvn wrote: »

Thanks, Aristotle. Such websites are great resources. I've seen many websites that offer online courses, but none I've seen come close to Coursera. With Coursera, courses begin at set dates, and there are only so many lectures released per week, which you're required to "study" to progress. There are online tests in which your comprehension is tested and gained knowledge subjected to scrutiny, meaning you won't be able to progress until you possess a sufficient understanding of the previous lectures. ("Forcing" you to attempt to understand, which is a major problem with most other free online courses I've seen: you can progress without understanding with, say, iTunesU and others.) In short, the courses resemble real university courses to a far greater degree than anything I've seen online before. I'd really recommend exploring the website.

Yep, I agree. I've done numerous Coursera courses myself. I'd recommend checking out the edX courses too, they're similar in style to Coursera (set dates, weekly lectures etc.) but I find the edX courses to be more polished. Only a few available at the moment but that will greatly increase soon.

19-10-2012 4:45pm

Deleted User wrote: »

Yep, I agree. I've done numerous Coursera courses myself. I'd recommend checking out the edX courses too, they're similar in style to Coursera (set dates, weekly lectures etc.) but I find the edX courses to be more polished. Only a few available at the moment but that will greatly increase soon as you can see form my original link.

Oh, really? I'd no idea free online courses had reached the level of sophistication that Cousera is at, so I assumed it was the first (and only) of its kind — the last online lecture platform I used several years ago was iTunesU, which is (or, at least, was) pretty basic. edX does seem to be more polished from flicking through its courses. I'll have to sign up there, too. I've committed myself to about a half dozen courses on Coursera (out of excitement) over the next few months, which might be infeasible, but I'll give edX a go, too. Thanks.

reganovich · 22-11-2012 10:43am

Was online wondering if people in ireland who were studying coursera courses would be up for meet ups to discuss material, take lectures as a group etc?

Any interest in doing one in dublin?

22-11-2012 5:23pm

Good idea, reganovich.

If you're unable to find people to join your in-person discussion group, and if you'd still like to discuss certain courses, you're more than welcome to attempt to create one here, in this forum. The creation of discussion groups was something discussed at this forum's foundation several years ago. If the idea interests you, and enough support could be gathered — i.e. a few people willing to enrol in a particular course — I'd be willing to help you organise a topic in this forum in which those following a lecture series could discuss their ideas freely, ask questions regarding the course subject, generally "socialise" using the course as a basis, and so on. I understand that Coursera offers its own discussion groups, so this idea might be slightly irrelevant and redundant, but it could be interesting nonetheless.

skyfall2012 · 22-11-2012 8:27pm

gvn wrote: »

To test it out, I've signed up and enrolled a course entitled Think Again: How to Reason and Argue, which is a 12 week long courses, consisting of 5-6 hours per week, and it commences on November 26th.
Link.

I have been studying social psychology with Matt Liebermann in UCLA on you tube. I really enjoyed listening to them but without exams had no way of knowing if I grasped the concepts. A friend of mine told me about coursar and how you get a certificate at the end, to say you completed it, but you don't get any credits that go towards further education in University. I also have signed up for the 'How to Think and Argue' course starting on Monday.
I am really looking forward to that and I hope you all here on boards notice a vast improvement in my abilities to analyse an argument and give my opinion.;)

22-11-2012 9:00pm

skyfall2012 wrote: »

I have been studying social psychology with Matt Liebermann in UCLA on you tube. I really enjoyed listening to them but without exams had no way of knowing if I grasped the concepts. A friend of mine told me about coursar and how you get a certificate at the end, to say you completed it, but you don't get any credits that go towards further education in University. I also have signed up for the 'How to Think and Argue' course starting on Monday.
I am really looking forward to that and I hope you all here on boards notice a vast improvement in my abilities to analyse an argument and give my opinion.;)

Great to hear it!

I, too, am looking forward to starting it on Monday. It'll be my first Coursera course, though I've enrolled myself in about half a dozen others, most of which don't start until next spring or even as late as summer.

If there are others planning on taking part in the "How to Think and Argue" course, perhaps we could organise a small discussion group, hosted in this forum, like I described above.

SeaFields · 22-11-2012 9:05pm

I finished an introduction to mathematical thinking recently. Superb course if difficult for someone who hadn't seen a maths problem in over a decade. Managed to see it through to the end and got my certificate

Starting an introduction to astronomy next week.

It really is a great website. There are a few over in the distance learning forum who use it too. I didn't know this forum existed until I saw it pop up on the boards homepage

skyfall2012 · 22-11-2012 9:05pm

gvn wrote: »

Great to hear it! I, too, am looking forward to starting it on Monday. It'll be my first Coursera course, though I've enrolled myself in about half a dozen others, most of which don't start until next spring or even as late as summer.

If there are others planning on taking part in the "How to Think and Argue" course, perhaps we could organise a small discussion group, hosted in this forum, like I described above.

I would definitely be interested in taking part.:)

Barnaboy · 22-11-2012 11:43pm

SeaFields wrote: »

Starting an introduction to astronomy next week.

Me too. Really looking forward to it. If you want to discuss the course as it progresses drop me a pm.

SeaFields · 23-11-2012 2:15pm

Barnaboy wrote: »

Me too. Really looking forward to it. If you want to discuss the course as it progresses drop me a pm.

Will do and the same applies to yourself.

1stimpressions · 26-11-2012 9:14pm

Thanks OP. Signed up and half way through week one. He is trying to flog his book but the standard of material and video seems very good. Looking forward to this.

18AD · 27-11-2012 1:56am

Introduction to astronomy started today. Haven't checked the material yet.

If anyone can refresh my algebra skills I would be grateful.

Hopefully I can keep my head above water.

SeaFields · 27-11-2012 12:23pm

18AD wrote: »

Introduction to astronomy started today. Haven't checked the material yet.

If anyone can refresh my algebra skills I would be grateful. Hopefully I can keep my head above water.

There are a couple of refreshers that were sent out with the first email from the course admin. Looked to be the business, basic but would get the brain ticking again

edit: here you go in case you didnt get/deleted that email.

http://www.maths.lse.ac.uk/Refreshers/algebra_refresher.pdf

http://go.hrw.com/resources/go_mt/alg1/alg1refresher.pdf

http://spacemath.gsfc.nasa.gov/algebra2.html

http://physics.bgsu.edu/~tiede/class/bmastronomy1.2.pdf

Barnaboy · 27-11-2012 12:38pm

SeaFields wrote: »

There are a couple of refreshers that were sent out with the first email from the course admin. Looked to be the business, basic but would get the brain ticking again

edit: here you go in case you didnt get/deleted that email.

http://www.maths.lse.ac.uk/Refreshers/algebra_refresher.pdf

http://go.hrw.com/resources/go_mt/alg1/alg1refresher.pdf

http://spacemath.gsfc.nasa.gov/algebra2.html

http://physics.bgsu.edu/~tiede/class/bmastronomy1.2.pdf

Did I miss something? I don't remember seeing that mail. And 18AD talks about the course having started already? I got a mail saying first class starts today at 12:00EST (5pm our time). The mail doesn't offer any help with what to do if you can't make that time. I can't as I'll be on the way home from work at that hour. I just presumed I could watch the presentation in my own time and then take on the assignments.

Anyone better informed on this?

SeaFields · 27-11-2012 12:55pm

Yes you can watch them in your own time. Going by the course I just finished the standard was that there were two lectures a week which would go live on the Monday and Wednesday. The assignments for those lectures would go live after the second lecture and would have a deadline of tuesday (and a hard deadline, meaning a penalty applied, of wednesday). This may differ with our course slightly but I would doubt by much.

If you want to get your certificate you will need to have watched all the lectures and done all the assignments on time and get a certain aggregate grade.

The course isn't live yet (there are dozens ongoing so the other poster may be referring to another one). I clicked on in last half hour and still can get to course portal. I imagine at five you should be able to click in to it.

Turtwig · 27-11-2012 6:11pm

Just signed up for Introduction to Astronomy and Think Again: How to Reason and Argue. Let the Fun begin!:)
Signed up for Astrobiology and the Search For Extra Terrestrial Life ages ago.

They'll be my first COursera courses. Not sure if I'll be able to manage the two courses at once, but sure you only learn by doing and I'll know better for next time.

Elmidena · 27-11-2012 6:45pm

Also doing Think Again: How to Reason and Argue

Annoyed the speed button didn't work, was hard staying focused for 20min lecture (1-9) with how slowly he talks!

18AD · 27-11-2012 6:57pm

Barnaboy wrote: »

Did I miss something? I don't remember seeing that mail. And 18AD talks about the course having started already? I got a mail saying first class starts today at 12:00EST (5pm our time). The mail doesn't offer any help with what to do if you can't make that time. I can't as I'll be on the way home from work at that hour. I just presumed I could watch the presentation in my own time and then take on the assignments.

Anyone better informed on this?

Yah, it hadn't started yet. It just said the start date was yesterday, but none of the stuff was up and running by then.
Edit: The "Go to class" button is up now!

There's a facebook page set up for the course too.
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Introduction-to-Astronomy-Coursera-2012-13/139187849562371?ref=stream

Thanks for the links SeaFields.

Astrobiology should be amazing! I'll see how this goes first though. :P

SeaFields · 27-11-2012 8:39pm

18AD wrote: »

The "Go to class" button is up now!

It is and six lectures to watch this week before assignment :eek:

First thing tomorrow morning with several cups of strong coffee

Barnaboy · 28-11-2012 9:28am

SeaFields wrote: »

It is and six lectures to watch this week before assignment :eek:

First thing tomorrow morning with several cups of strong coffee

Managed to watch three of them myself last night. The course has started promisingly enough. He seems to be an interesting guy. Too scared to look at the homework yet

18AD · 28-11-2012 12:06pm

Barnaboy wrote: »

Managed to watch three of them myself last night. The course has started promisingly enough. He seems to be an interesting guy. Too scared to look at the homework yet

I've looked at the homework and must rewatch the lectures.

28-11-2012 1:41pm

It's great to see so many taking part. Remember, if anybody wishes to do so, feel free to create a discussion group in its own thread with any particular course as its topic (or feel free to continue the discussion here). I started the Think Again: How to Reason and Argue course on Monday and completed all of the lectures and quizzes by yesterday. I'm contemplating starting the Astronomy course, though I think I might give it a miss. Next course up: Drugs and the Brain, starting on December 1st, which sounds very interesting, if a little short.

Turtwig · 28-11-2012 5:06pm

I've just signed up for the Drugs and the Brains, thanks.:D Have yet to start anything from the current courses I'm enrolled in though.

Turtwig · 28-11-2012 7:26pm

Anddd right now at this very moment I just realised from the Ds&B course email that Dec 1st isn't a year away it's this Saturday! :eek:

D'oh:o
Think I might be leaving the Drugs and Brain one.

SeaFields · 28-11-2012 8:36pm

Jernal wrote: »

Anddd right now at this very moment I just realised from the Ds&B course email that Dec 1st isn't a year away it's this Saturday! :eek:

D'oh:o

Have to tell ya...i lol'd at that one

Have watched the 1st four lectures of astronomy. Very very enjoyable. I would say that if it was in a proper class room setting we would be working on examples of his calculations very frequently throughout each lecture.

Homework time could be interesting without such practical work

I'm heading out in a minute with a telescope to try and spot the stuff from lecture 1

SeaFields · 29-11-2012 6:42pm

18AD wrote: »

I've looked at the homework and must rewatch the lectures.

Just attempting part 1 of the homework. Definitely fairly taxing but enjoyable trying to solve them.

It seems that from now on looking at the homework before watching lectures would be an idea? And attempting questions as the concepts are covered individually?

18AD · 29-11-2012 7:32pm

SeaFields wrote: »

Just attempting part 1 of the homework. Definitely fairly taxing but enjoyable trying to solve them.

It seems that from now on looking at the homework before watching lectures would be an idea? And attempting questions as the concepts are covered individually?

I think I'm gonna proceed like that. I've got half of the first homework done. I get the feeling that the difficulty will escalate quickly.

I dropped Drugs and the Brain, cause it overlaps with astronomy and the openings lectures didn't look to my liking after all.

martyoo · 29-11-2012 7:33pm

Love Coursera. Lots of really cool courses on it.

SeaFields · 29-11-2012 9:04pm

18AD wrote: »

I think I'm gonna proceed like that. I've got half of the first homework done.

Yeah it seems the best way forward. As i said in an earlier post, in a classroom setting we would be doing calculations once a concept was introduced as it would be a proxy way of doing it that way at least

I get the feeling that the difficulty will escalate quickly.

Dont say that. I'm crap at maths!

30-11-2012 6:43pm

For those who are interested, as well as Coursera and edX, which Aristotle mentions above, there's also Udacity, which is quite similar to both Coursera and edX. It doesn't offer the broad range of courses that Coursera offers, and most of its courses are technical in nature (e.g. mathematical or related to computer science), but courses can be studied at any time and at any pace — courses don't begin on specific dates, as with Coursera and edX, but can be studied at any time. I haven't used it, nor have I signed up, because none of the listed courses particularly interest me, but I'm sure someone reading this thread might enjoy some of their offered courses.

Turtwig · 30-11-2012 7:08pm

Thanks gvn,

Tempting me with even more coursework to sign up to.

Is anyone else finding the astronomy videos to be glitchy? It's a little annoying he's talking about something on the diagram and drawing on it but you only see black pixels at times.

18AD · 30-11-2012 8:21pm

Jernal wrote: »

Thanks gvn,

Tempting me with even more coursework to sign up to.

Is anyone else finding the astronomy videos to be glitchy? It's a little annoying he's talking about something on the diagram and drawing on it but you only see black pixels at times.

No, they're working grand for me.

SeaFields · 30-11-2012 10:52pm

No videos grand with me too.

Barnaboy · 02-12-2012 11:13pm

Finally finished my assignments after several hours working through the videos and questions. Doing the homework was far harder and much more mathematical than I really imagined. Did physics and maths at college but that was nearly 15 years ago. Also have had strong interest in astronomy for many years. I have read dozens of books and watched countless documentaries on tv. With my background I'm really surprised how hard it was. That said I'm delighted it's tough because it's really making me think!

My only worry is that I won't be able to spend as much time on it every week, especially with Christmas coming up.

Can't wait for week 2...

Turtwig · 03-12-2012 12:24am

Connection on the fritz all weekend. Only able to start watching the last two videos now and then I gotta start into the homework. Here's the moment where I'm feel like banging my head because THTRAA doesn't have hard deadlines and yet somehow I find myself in the beautiful situation where I've spent more hours at it than I have at astronomy which I've got a looming deadline that's going to be a very tight call to meet with little time and almost no free time and the length of this unbroken sentence should serve as an indication as to how frantic I feel about all that.

Over all though, loving the coursera experience so far. The material has been of very good quality and enjoyable.

Right, gotta rush.

04-12-2012 1:35pm

Is anyone else taking Drugs and the Brain?

I'm finding it ... slrightly difficult. The course assumes that the student has familiarity with protein chemistry, which wasn't listed as a specific requirement in the course description. I find that Lester, the instructor, glosses over seemingly important concepts without giving them due consideration, and often throws in terms and other jargon without giving proper definition. I've finished the first week, but I plan on spending a day or two going back over the lectures with a scientific dictionary in one hand, a chemistry text book in the other, and Wikipedia open all the while in the background. It's an incredibly interesting course, but it's quite challenging for someone who has not studied chemistry beyond the Leaving Cert. quite a few years ago.

Think Again was quite interesting this week, I found. The first week was rather boring, excepting the three optional lectures, which were fascinating, and which prompted me to search for a linguistics course, but this week has definitely provided topics with more substance.

skyfall2012 · 04-12-2012 3:25pm

gvn wrote: »

Is anyone else taking Drugs and the Brain?

I'm finding it ... slrightly difficult. The course assumes that the student has familiarity with protein chemistry, which wasn't listed as a specific requirement in the course description. I find that Lester, the instructor, glosses over seemingly important concepts without giving them due consideration, and often throws in terms and other jargon without giving proper definition. I've finished the first week, but I plan on spending a day or two going back over the lectures with a scientific dictionary in one hand, a chemistry text book in the other, and Wikipedia open all the while in the background. It's an incredibly interesting course, but it's quite challenging for someone who has not studied chemistry beyond the Leaving Cert. quite a few years ago.

Think Again was quite interesting this week, I found. The first week was rather boring, excepting the three optional lectures, which were fascinating, and which prompted me to search for a linguistics course, but this week has definitely provided topics with more substance.

I am doing Think Again. I went to the studyroom a few times for an argument but nobody is discussing anything only standing around saying hello. I am not yet in a position to start a discussion as I don't know enough, but I thought they might have someone who could prompt the discussions. Anyhow I haven't listened to all this weeks lecture so best go do that first. I am a stay at home Mom, so have small windows of opportunity to get online. I am hoping this will start coming together for me soon.

SeaFields · 09-12-2012 11:05pm

Please tell me that others are finding week two of astronomy impossible?

18AD · 09-12-2012 11:22pm

SeaFields wrote: »

Please tell me that others are finding week two of astronomy impossible?

I have fallen drastically behind. I only have half the part A homework done.

SeaFields · 09-12-2012 11:54pm

I'm finding the maths just a step too far this week. Have been jumping around the questions working on solutions. Feck all success tbh. The course forums of a similar opinion. Disappointing so it is.

Barnaboy · 10-12-2012 9:39am

SeaFields wrote: »

I'm finding the maths just a step too far this week. Have been jumping around the questions working on solutions. Feck all success tbh. The course forums of a similar opinion. Disappointing so it is.

Tbh I reckon it is just the quantity of material that is the problem in Week 2. He even admitted it himself in his weekly message.

I have found it really interesting, more than last week, but the amount of material is way over the top. I have got most of it now but really struggling with Part A Q8 and Q12 simply because I'm not 100% sure I have the right equations to work with. Part B was much easier to get through.

If you need any last minute help, let me know.

SeaFields · 10-12-2012 6:33pm

I have just read the two emails sent out today. They really took on board what was being said in the course forums and have completely restructured grading and deadlines. Thank God, might actually get through the maths now

Thanks for the offer barnaboy. Submitted the answers I had and will move on from here. Let us never speak of week 2 again :pac:

Barnaboy · 11-12-2012 10:26am

SeaFields wrote: »

I have just read the two emails sent out today. They really took on board what was being said in the course forums and have completely restructured grading and deadlines. Thank God, might actually get through the maths now

Thanks for the offer barnaboy. Submitted the answers I had and will move on from here. Let us never speak of week 2 again :pac:

I was really surprised to see that e-mail. I'm not sure I agree with the three week extension for the homework- it seems overly generous and will significantly delay proper feedback. I'm afraid that I will have already forgotten some of the material by then.

However I'm delighted at the instant feedback 'error' in week 1 and it's return to the marking of homework. I would have got a nasty shock with my week 1 grades without it. Only when I submitted it did I realise how poorly I thought out the questions- I only answered 4/10 correctly. It really made me stop and return to the material and really think about the problem posed.

By the way I just reposted my homework for week 2 part A to get the instant feedback but it's not there :mad:

On the upside week 3 has started very gently, perhaps too gently! I have only watched the first two videos....

amacca · 15-12-2012 9:50pm

just checked out coursera due to this thread and impressed with what is on offer - thinking of doing a couple

slightly off topic.....but is there anything similar out there for more practical learning (not that any of the courses listed aren't relevant or applicable - I think most will know what I mean though)

eg: say engine maintenance (general principles/theory) or spray painting etc etc given by professionals/"experts"

of course I can find lots of poorly shot "how to" youtube videos etc but just wondering

Brussels Sprout · 29-12-2012 6:48pm

Nice one OP. Signed up for a course in R which is something I've been planning on learning for a while now.

scottie2hotty · 17-01-2013 3:53am

Is there any point to putting the Coursera courses you've completed on your CV? Has anyone gotten any feedback from an employer after having done so?

I've done a couple and would like to have them on my CV just to show that I've been keeping busy while travelling. But I'm afraid that an employer might just laugh it away as a free internet course that's not recognised and therefore not noteworthy.

Coursera

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