Platforms like Coursera, Udacity edX or open the doors to a number of free courses and quality of a wide range of topics and subjects. We review some of the most interesting courses that are open technology and our disposal.
In the network we can find all kinds of resources, both to enjoy our leisure time to cultivate those things we enjoy and deepen with more information on the topics that interest us. As ever mentioned, the Internet has opened the door to a wide range of options when it comes to study and form, expanding channel access training content and, of course, changing the pattern of relationship with educational institutions. Today is not required to enroll in a university to train and platform as Coursera or edX one can find quality training programs that expand their knowledge and learn new things related to computer science, economics and entrepreneurship.
While it is true that once we stopped to explore some of the training platforms available on the net, I think it can be interesting to look in more detail and review some of the quality training programs that can be found and, in the case of interest in these disciplines and subjects, and matricularse could go free.
Entrepreneurship
If you’ve always been concerned about developing a business idea and work on creating a technology-based startup might not have been easy to find specialized training in this area except perhaps in some acceleration program or in an incubator projects companies.
Regardless of these initiatives acceleration and guardianship, if such issues may attract you can be interesting to take a look at one of these training programs that are open and in which, therefore, we can enroll:
- Startup Engineering is one of those courses on technology that has just landed in Coursera and, in this case, gets mentored by two professors from the University of Stanford. And what is the purpose of this course? This training program attempts to bridge the gap between the teaching of programming in college and the real world that is, programming in the company. With this goal in mind, the course introduces students to methodologies and working patterns (versioning, deployment, documentation and project code, etc.) that can serve both to work in a company to develop a business idea about a service or a technological product.
- Since the Monterrey Technological Development comes fast innovative products for emerging markets, a course that is also available in Coursera and aims to show the working methodologies to develop business ideas to materialize innovative products that can be distributed or sold in emerging markets.
- How to Build a Startup is a program that will find in Udacity and is taught by Steve Blank, a professor at Berkeley and Stanford has also been an entrepreneur in Silicon Valley and has participated in 8 companies in his 21 year career. Business models, value propositions, distribution channels, partners or resource management are some of the key issues that we see in this course also introduce us to the world of startups.
- New Models of Business in Society is another Coursera training resource available through the University of Virginia. In this course, which of course starts in the month of September, we will know what the role of business in our society is and usher in new business models that are changing the ways of creating value in companies. Social Entrepreneurship, sustainability, value creation and corporate social responsibility are some of the topics covered in this training program.
Computers and Networks
- Computer Networks can be an interesting course to follow if, for example, you are entering into the world of communication networks or simply want to refresh your knowledge. Routing and traffic engineering, quality of service in networks, security or shell model (Model TCP / IP and the OSI model) are some of the aspects covered in this course that is available in Coursera and is being taught by the University of Washington.
- Software Defined Networking is, in my opinion, one of the most interesting courses on networks we can find in these platforms. SDN (Software Defined Networking) is a new paradigm in the definition and management of networks leads to a scenario in which network equipment lack of “intelligence” and it is centralized and moved to one central governing full network and manages all computers. A very interesting course to introduce us to this “new wave” of the world of networking that also comes from the hand of the Georgia Tech.
- Computer Architecture is a course that comes to hand Coursera of Princeton University with the idea of showing the student the basis on which current systems are supported. With this course we will learn the process that is followed when designing a microprocessor and also enter the world of hardware, can be an interesting course to introduce support in other areas such as, for example programming.
Robotics and Artificial Intelligence
In case you are interested in learning more on western robotics and artificial intelligence, or simply you want to enter in these disciplines is worth to take a look at:
- Artificial Intelligence is a course that we find in edX, the learning platform that developed at MIT and Harvard and now is open to a number of institutions (which can dump there courses). In this case, the course comes from the University of California – Berkeley and aims to introduce students to the world of artificial intelligence as well as show techniques and ideas to design intelligent systems.
- Artificial Intelligence for Robotics is a find in Udacity course is taught by a professor at Stanford University who has also worked on the development of autonomous vehicles (Sebastian Thrun). The objective of this training program is to show students artificial intelligence techniques and their application to robotics, put another way, and show basic methods such as statistics or inferential techniques for feedback control systems and automatic.
Development
- Both Coursera Khan Academy as we can find some courses and tutorials on algorithms and, of course, programming. However, there is a gap between what we can learn in a classroom with what we find in the real world companies, a jump that sometimes makes us see the importance of certain processes taking place in the software development itself found in companies but sometimes it is not given importance in the formation of future professionals.
- Software Testing is an unusual find in Udacity course through the University of Utah and where we can make a first contact with the testing of applications. Testing processes are key, for example, to validate the work we have done and, obviously, may be required before moving onto the evolutionary production application or to put it into production directly (in the case of having to prove a product new). With this course we will learn what it means to the testing of an application, how to generate use cases to validate software or how to report bugs to the developers of the system.
- Introduction to Programming Udacity is also available through the San Jose State University. In this course we will aim to learn a new programming language and acquire basic skills in Java development as well as good practices such as structured programming or code documentation reaprovecharlo to other projects we undertake.
Other Interesting Courses
- In addition to all the suggestions that we’ve gone a little higher, online platforms available in the following courses may also interest:
- Videogames and Learning is a course that particularly, I found very interesting in the wide range available in Coursera. The course is promoted by the University of Wisconsin and poses a different use of video games as tools for learning. Video games also make us have a good time, can be a great catalyst for transmitting knowledge along the lines of “learning through play” MMORPG or how we can be the basis for transmitting teachings related to collaboration and teamwork. By the way, the course begins in October.
- Gamification is perhaps one of the most famous courses Coursera. A pity that now is not active and is not scheduled to return because it is a training program that introduces us to the use of game dynamics to innovate and create new processes and, therefore, bring the games to marketing, as the guideline for software or, for example, develop new business models. A course to follow up to see if it is reactivated.
- Nanotechnology and Nano sensors are an interesting course that we also find in Coursera. This training program comes from the hand of the Israel Institute of Technology, will begin teaching in January 2014 and aims to introduce students to the world of sensors and nanotechnology.
- Internet History, Technology, and Security is another of my favorite courses and a good program to consider if you are concerned to know how the Internet works and how it has evolved over the years. This course, led from the University of Michigan, explains (in 11 weeks) what the Internet is, what has been their historical evolution and how it works, with particular emphasis on aspects related to security.
