Online courses directory (10358)

How can we study the Universe we live in using the only available information it provides us with: light ?

This course provides an overview of the physical phenomena at play in the astronomical objects surrounding us, from planets and stars to the cosmic filaments, from galaxies such as our own Milky Way to large galaxy clusters. The course emphasizes the links between theoretical predictions and observations.

In this course, you will learn the basics of astrophysics using simplified mathematical developments. In particular, you will learn the role played by gravity in astrophysics, including gravitational lensing, and how matter and radiation interact. The material in this course is essential to follow more advanced astrophysics courses.

The balance sheet is a basic accounting concept used to calculate how much cash, assets and liabilities are in our accounts at the end of the day. Knowing how to work through a basic balance sheet is an essential skill that everybody should know how to do and balance sheets are an excellent way to put your personal finances into perspective on paper. In this free online course the basics of balance sheets are discussed with particular regards to the case study of buying a house versus renting a house, and topics such as assets, liabilities, equity and marking to market are reviewed. This free online course will be of interest to the average lay person wishing to learn about balance sheets and how they can use balance sheets to organise their finances when deciding to invest in property or take out a loan for whatever reason.<br />

<p>ALISON’S free course - Introduction to Banking - will prove useful to business and finance professionals, as well as anyone who would like to learn more about banking and how the global financial system operates. </p><br /> <p>Most large banks are now global in nature, with offices in all key financial centres, from New York to London to Hong Kong, and have the power to influence the economies of countries around the world no matter how large, as seen during the recent financial crisis. This course reviews the banking system, basic banking practices, and explains - at an introductory level - how international banking works as well as examining topics such as fractional reserve banking, reserve ratios, treasuries, leveraging, the Fed funds rates, and the London Interbank Offer Rate (LIBOR). </p>

Banking and financial markets encompass the ‘ecosystem’ that (a) channelizes money from those who have it (i.e., savers/investors) to those who need it (i.e., borrowers) and (b) facilitate cross-border flow of funds through exchange of currencies. That ecosystem of banks and financial markets (including Central Banks) has deepened in size, sophistication and complexity over the years. However, in recent times they have also been the subject of abuse, failures and economic distress in several countries resulting in a ‘contagion’ that has concurrently impacted several countries around the World! 

More recently, and perhaps more importantly, thanks to the liberalization of most economies, the world has witnessed an exponential increase in the free flow of capital across countries. Banking institutions and financial markets, being the predominant conduit for such free flow of capital across countries, have therefore become even more ‘globally interconnected’. Such a globally interconnected financial system, combined with regulatory systems that are country-specific and hence varying considerably in rigor and implementation, has further compounded the risks and the consequent contagion, as witnessed in the global financial meltdown that was triggered in 2008.

This course titled “Introduction to Banking and Financial Markets” will be delivered in two parts. The first part will help you demystify the role of banking and financial markets in any country, the products and services they offer and the underlying market mechanisms.

The second part of the course will examine the risks embedded in banking and financial markets, how these risks have been heightened because of a globally interconnected world and the regulatory and governance mechanisms to minimize adverse outcomes in such a complex system.

Installing a safe electrical system begins with a well-planned electrical drawing. Construction projects require work drawings and specifications to guide electricians in installing electrical equipment. Besides being a customer requirement, these plans and drawings provide specific instruction to electricians. Standard symbols and lines are used to represent the different types of material, raceways, conduits, and circuit connections. Reading and interpreting these drawings accurately is therefore an important skill for electricians. This free online course will introduce the learner to some basic electrical drawings. Going a step further, the course also describes the equipment and tools that enable an electrician to test and maintain the installations. Such test equipment includes an ammeter, a galvanometer and a multimeter. Related topics on how a moving-coil meter operates and how to select a meter are also covered. This free course will be of interest to professionals in the areas of construction, electronics and engineering who would like a greater knowledge and understanding of electrical drawings and test equipment.<br />

This course is designed to help you get started as a behavioral science student, become familiar with the academic programs within the field, and prepare you for your first meeting with your academic advisor or academic counselor once you make your decision about which program to pursue.

Behavioural finance is a new and exciting area in economics that combines the psychology of human behaviour with the traditional theories of finance and economics. The result is a new explanation of how modern economics work, such as how markets are affected by the behaviour of investors. In this free online course you will learn how neoclassical economics defines rational and irrational human behaviour and how behavioural finance questions these definitions. You will also learn how behavioural finance is questioning long-held beliefs in economics, such as how individual demand curves can be applied to the market in general. This course will be of great interest to professionals in the areas of economics, finance and psychology who would like to learn more about behavioural finance and how it is developing a new understanding of modern economics and finance.

Organizations use their data for decision support and to build data-intensive products and services, such as recommendation, prediction, and diagnostic systems. The collection of skills required by organizations to support these functions has been grouped under the term Data Science. This course will attempt to articulate the expected output of Data Scientists and then teach students how to use PySpark (part of Apache Spark) to deliver against these expectations. The course assignments include Log Mining, Textual Entity Recognition, Collaborative Filtering exercises that teach students how to manipulate data sets using parallel processing with PySpark.

This course covers advanced undergraduate-level material. It requires a programming background and experience with Python (or the ability to learn it quickly). All exercises will use PySpark (part of Apache Spark), but previous experience with Spark or distributed computing is NOT required. Students should take this Python mini-quiz before the course and take this Python mini-course if they need to learn Python or refresh their Python knowledge.
 

This free online course Introduction to Bing Ads will help you to understand the concept of Bing Ads and how it can benefit your business. The course will also look at the different factors which influence how successful a Bing ad is, and the financial aspects associated with it.<br /><br />First, you will be introduced to the basics of Bing and Bing Ads. You will learn about the different terms and factors relevant to Bing Ads, and the structure of Bing Ads. You will be introduced to the importance of keywords, and how to organise campaigns. You will also examine how to optimise your business’s Bing ads to create the most effective campaign. <br /><br />Finally, you will look at how to effectively compile a keyword list, and about the different software tools which can help you to identify new keywords. You will study how to target the audience you want to attract to your business, and how to ensure that quality customers are clicking on your ads. You will also examine the financial aspect of Bing ads, such as managing a budget and adjusting bid prices. <br /><br />This course will be of interest to anyone who wishes to learn more about Bing Ads in order to improve their website’s performance, and increase their profit. It will also be of interest to anyone looking to increase their knowledge of how search engine advertisements work. <br />

This free online course Introduction to Bing SEO will help you to gain an insight into how search engines break down and rank webpages. The course will look at the different factors which influence how search engines view your site, and its contents. <br /><br />First, you will be introduced to the basics of search engine optimisation. You will learn about the different terms and factors relevant to the area of SEO. You will be introduced to the importance of keywords, and how they can influence your websites ranking. You will also examine how to establish a list of effective keywords to optimise your websites ranking. <br /><br />Finally, you will look at the influence which content can have upon how your website performs in search engine searches. In particular, you will study how to incorporate keywords into your content. You will also examine SEO techniques which can improve your page’s performance, and techniques which can damage your page’s performance. You will also be introduced to Bing’s Ad Partners. <br /><br />This course will be of interest to anyone who wishes to learn more about search engine optimisation in order to improve their website’s results. It will also be of interest to anyone looking to increase their knowledge of how search results are generated. <br /><br />

We begin with an introduction to the biology, explaining what we measure and why. Then we focus on the two main measurement technologies: next generation sequencing and microarrays. We then move on to describing how raw data and experimental information are imported into R and how we use Bioconductor classes to organize these data, whether generated locally, or harvested from public repositories or institutional archives. Genomic features are generally identified using intervals in genomic coordinates, and highly efficient algorithms for computing with genomic intervals will be examined in detail. Statistical methods for testing gene-centric or pathway-centric hypotheses with genome-scale data are found in packages such as limma, some of these techniques will be illustrated in lectures and labs.

Given the diversity in educational background of our students we have divided the series into seven parts. You can take the entire series or individual courses that interest you. If you are a statistician you should consider skipping the first two or three courses, similarly, if you are biologists you should consider skipping some of the introductory biology lectures. Note that the statistics and programming aspects of the class ramp up in difficulty relatively quickly across the first three courses. By the third course will be teaching advanced statistical concepts such as hierarchical models and by the fourth advanced software engineering skills, such as parallel computing and reproducible research concepts.

These courses make up 2 XSeries and are self-paced:

PH525.1x: Statistics and R for the Life Sciences

PH525.2x: Introduction to Linear Models and Matrix Algebra

PH525.3x: Statistical Inference and Modeling for High-throughput Experiments

PH525.4x: High-Dimensional Data Analysis

PH525.5x: Introduction to Bioconductor: annotation and analysis of genomes and genomic assays 

PH525.6x: High-performance computing for reproducible genomics

PH525.7x: Case studies in functional genomics

In this course you will use fundamental engineering and mathematical tools to understand and analyze basic bioelectricity and circuit theory in the context of the mammalian nervous system.

This course is for students who are interested in learning about relating the systems of the human body that involve or communicate with bioelectrical systems, including the heart, brain, muscles, and the neuromuscular system that connects them all together. 

Students will learn how bioelectricity can be used to record and control the way the body electric behaves. Suggested text: “Neuroscience” by Purves, et al. 

This course is offered by the nanoHUB-U project, which is jointly funded by Purdue and NSF with the goal of transcending disciplines through short courses accessible to students in any branch of science or engineering. These courses focus on cutting-edge topics distilled into short lectures with quizzes, homework, and practice exams.

Bioengineering at MIT is represented by the diverse curricula offered by most Departments in the School of Engineering. This course samples the wide variety of bioengineering options for students who plan to major in one of the undergraduate Engineering degree programs. The beginning lectures describe the science basis for bioengineering with particular emphasis on molecular cell biology and systems biology. Bioengineering faculty will then describe the bioengineering options in a particular engineering course as well as the type of research conducted by faculty in the department.

Should we clone humans? What should we think of the coming genetic revolution? How much control should we have over how and when we die? When does medical treatment turn into medical enhancement — and should we care? Is rationing health care good, bad, necessary — or all of the above?

This course will explore fundamental moral issues that arise in medicine, health, and biotechnology. Some are as old as life itself: the vulnerability of illness, the fact of death. Some are new, brought on by a dizzying pace of technology that can unsettle our core ideas about human nature and our place in the world. And nearly all intersect with issues of racial and gender equality, as well as policies affecting the world’s most vulnerable populations.

Designed to introduce students to the range of issues that define bioethics, together with core concepts and skills, this course should be of interest to undergraduates, health care professionals, policy makers, and anyone interested in philosophy or ethics.

Before your course starts, try the new edX Demo where you can explore the fun, interactive learning environment and virtual labs. Learn more.

This class is a project-based introduction to the engineering of synthetic biological systems. Throughout the term, students develop projects that are responsive to real-world problems of their choosing, and whose solutions depend on biological technologies. Lectures, discussions, and studio exercises will introduce (1) components and control of prokaryotic and eukaryotic behavior, (2) DNA synthesis, standards, and abstraction in biological engineering, and (3) issues of human practice, including biological safety; security; ownership, sharing, and innovation; and ethics. Enrollment preference is given to freshmen.

This subject was originally developed and first taught in Spring 2008 by Drew Endy and Natalie Kuldell. Many of Drew's materials are used in this Spring 2009 version, and are included with his permission.

This OCW Web site is based on the OpenWetWare class Wiki, found at OpenWetWare: 20.020 (S09)

The MIT Biology Department core courses, 7.012, 7.013, and 7.014, all cover the same core material, which includes the fundamental principles of biochemistry, genetics, molecular biology, and cell biology. Biological function at the molecular level is particularly emphasized and covers the structure and regulation of genes, as well as, the structure and synthesis of proteins, how these molecules are integrated into cells, and how these cells are integrated into multicellular systems and organisms. In addition, each version of the subject has its own distinctive material.

7.012 focuses on the exploration of current research in cell biology, immunology, neurobiology, genomics, and molecular medicine.

Acknowledgments

The study materials, problem sets, and quiz materials used during Fall 2004 for 7.012 include contributions from past instructors, teaching assistants, and other members of the MIT Biology Department affiliated with course #7.012. Since the following works have evolved over a period of many years, no single source can be attributed.

This introductory course defines biology and its relationship to other sciences. We examine the overarching theories of life from biological research and also explore the fundamental concepts and principles of the study of living organisms and their interaction with the environment. We will examine how life is organized into hierarchical levels; how living organisms use and produce energy; how life grows, develops, and reproduces; how life responds to the environment to maintain internal stability; and how life evolves and adapts to the environment. This course is a part of our Community College (CC-OLI) series. Courses in this series are particularly well-suited to the needs of introductory community college courses, but are open for use by any instructor or student.

Read fully to understand the verified-certificate option. Join Professor Eric Lander and the MITx Biology team in this unique introductory biology learning experience. All 7.00x course materials are available here for exploration and completion, including video and interactive problem sets and exams for skill building. We strongly encourage you to work through the activities, towards a goal of learning biology. We have optimized the course settings for learning: instant feedback after trying problems and all content available at all times. We offer a rigorous means of certifying edX learners in their mastery of the MITx introductory biology content, through the MITx 7.00x Introduction to Biology Competency Exam. This exciting option is available ONLY to those who register for the verified-certificate track, and successful completion of this exam is the only assessment that counts toward a certificate. We highly recommend preparing for the Competency Exam certification by using the current course materials and MIT OpenCourseWare problems. The next Competency Exam will be open October 24, 2017 to October 31, 2017.

7.00x is an introductory level biology course hosted by professor Eric Lander, who was one of the leaders of the Human Genome Project. The course content reflects the topics taught in the MIT introductory biology courses and many biology courses across the world. As a learner, you will first focus on the structure and function of macromolecules such as DNA, RNA and proteins. You will discover how changes in the structure of some of these macromolecules alter their functions and what the implications of such changes have on human health. As you continue in the course, you will apply an understanding of heredity and information flow within cells to human health and disease and will learn about molecular biological techniques and their potential to impact our changing world. After you complete this course, you will have a foundation in biology that will allow you to understand the remarkable medical revolution going on today.

MITx 7.00x: Introduction to Biology – The Secret of Life will let you explore the mysteries of biochemistry, genetics, molecular biology, recombinant DNA technology and genomics, and rational medicine. We are excited to take this journey with you!

Imaging technologies form a significant component of the health budgets of all developed economies, and most people need advanced imaging such as MRIs, X-Rays and CT Scans (or CAT Scans) during their life. Many of us are aware of the misinformation sometimes offered in TV dramas, which either exaggerates the benefits or overemphasizes the risks.

This medical imaging course provides an introduction to biomedical imaging and modern imaging modalities. The course also covers the basic scientific principals behind each modality, and introduces some of the key applications, from neurological diseases to cancers. This course includes modules specially designed for the general public, whilst also providing some advanced modules which could contribute to professional development in health, engineering and IT industries.

Interested in a career in business? Knowledge of accounting will be key to your success. By studying at your own pace, this Introduction to Bookkeeping course is an ideal starting point if you want to:

• Start a career in business, finance or accountancy
• Study business or finance at school or college
• Launch your own start-up
• Prepare for ACCA’s exam in Recording Financial Transactions (FA1)

And the best thing is you do not need any previous knowledge of accounting - simply sign up and start learning straight away.

Course discussions will be moderated.

This course does not offer an edX certificate.

However, you can earn the ACCA Certificate in Financial and Management Accounting by registering with ACCA as a student, passing the ACCA’s exams in Recording Financial Transactions (FA1) and Management Information (MA1) and completing a free online module called "Foundations in Professionalism." A free exam preparation course for MA1, called Introduction to Management Accounting, is also available through ACCA-X.