Hi Everyone!
Stanford has done something completely utterly droolworthy. They've packaged up several of their computer science courses so that they can be taught online and are offering them for free in a program called SEE (Stanford Engineering Everywhere). A lot of thought has gone into their development for online students. There are quizzes and other course materials. You can take these courses right alongside the Stanford students. The difference is that you don't get credit or facetime with the professor. (Since it's such a popular class, it isn't likely that the students get facetime with the professor either.)
If you're like me and didn't study much computer science before coming to Drupal, these courses might be valuable to you. I was thinking of doing the introductory sequence that all the engineering majors take, starting at the beginning with Programming Methodology. These three courses look like they'd provide a solid foundation to being not only better programmers, but understanding the deeper structures within Drupal.
If you already have studied computer science, there are classes in Artificial Intelligence, Robotics, Linear Systems and Optimization, Developing for iPhone, Security and others.
Here's the course list:
http://see.stanford.edu/see/courses.aspx
Here's the introductory page:
http://see.stanford.edu/
Is there any interest from the community? Please comment. If there is, I'll create an event and signup and see if I can persuade the good folks over at Droplabs to let us have some space for the class.
Another thing to think about: these courses are available under Creative Commons, and other organizations and individuals are encouraged to use this material in creative ways. If these classes are valuable, would there be any interest in having a certification of successful completion?
What other ways could we use this course material?
Here's an inspiring TED talk that goes into the methodology I was picturing:
http://www.ted.com/talks/salman_khan_let_s_use_video_to_reinvent_educati...
Comments
Their classes are fantastic. +1 from me.
I took a look through the developing for iphone course back when I had started out in doing dev work on the iphone 2.5 years ago (back when they only posted up slides ^_^). They went into a lot of detail not just about code but how you structure an app. I learnt a lot from that experience and highly suggest anyone else interested to do the same. Personally, I don't know about my time commitment to be able to come out but I am definitely interested in this and us helping each other out in understanding some of the concepts in comp sci.
iPhone sounds good
Based on Ashoks review I might do the iPhone class, several of the others I can probably teach. I can definitely tutor people that don't get the comp sci stuff.
Paul Chernick
CEO
Chernick Consulting
(310) 569-2517
I'd like to join in too! No
I'd like to join in too! No Stanford Comp Sci classes since 1978!
There is a stanford intro to database course too
I didn't see it listed. Here is the url: http://www.db-class.org/
Yeppers
I'm down
I'm definitely interested,
I'm definitely interested, but also unsure of the time commitment. Once a week would probably be all I could swing.
Great idea, Lee!
What a coincidence!
I've gone through their CS101 course http://www.stanford.edu/class/cs101/ after I heard about it on /. and am currently going through their intro to comp sci. http://see.stanford.edu/see/courseinfo.aspx?coll=824a47e1-135f-4508-a5aa...
Being self taught it's nice to have a structured syllabus which helps me pick up things I might not have gotten to on my own so it's been a great way to learn. I would be really excited to do this with others if there's enough interest. The Pro Dupal 7 group (the few times I've made it out) has been a wonderful learning experience and I would love to see more study group activities. Thanks Drop Labs!
Absolutely
Count me in!
fo sure
I would definitely be interested
YEAH!
I would be 100% interested in this!
Me too!!
I would definitely like to join.
Lightning talk at our meetups
I think the availability of university online course material to be a valuable resource to announce to our members via a Lightning talk at least once at each of our Meetups in the next 30 days.
More than just the URLs, include recommended classes with URL, and how to navigate and find classes one might be interested. This would be a service to our members, who have interests outside of just Drupal, PHP, programming, databases, etc.
Pete
Peter
LA's Open Source User Group Advocate - Volunteer at DrupalCamp LA and SCALE
Clarification on Lightning talk "content"
Not all our members are reading this thread. So, I feel most all attendees would appreciate hearing and seeing a dog and pony, show and tell, about free Stanford programming classes,
Bringing a self paced, coding course, to the attention of "all" members is the idea. Not to have the lightning talk actually go through the full material, though it might put up on the screen several snippets, so to set expectations, and increase motivation, that even themers could benefit from scanning the class material.
Lets encourage the "theming" half of our members to get their toes wet, or not ... and see they really do want to hire someone with coding talent, rather than roll their own. I'm for freelancer for hire on small or big coding projects. ;-)
I was thinking the Lightning talk would not be about DropLabs offering a 'course' over several months that cover a particular classes' material, but would just be about the Stanford class, and get a show hands for the possibility of a Droplabs course.
I do feel many themers are fully able to write cool snippets, use snippets, use example modules, and make minor tweaks (patches) to existing modules, if they want to add that to their resume. I'd consider that valuable addition for a professional Drupalist.
LAMPsig.org gave three coding classes in PHP for web site development, 4-5 years ago. Three different teachers, three different topics. PHP for beginners. OO PHP. And SQL PHP coding. We had to come up with our own course material. I've been asked if it's still available. I have the OO PHP material. I feel it needs the lecture to make sense. My brother taught the SQL, so he might have it.
Pete
Peter
LA's Open Source User Group Advocate - Volunteer at DrupalCamp LA and SCALE
Looks like there's interest in more than one class
Hi Everyone -
There appears to be a lot of support for this idea. Given the wide range of different skill levels and interests, I'm pretty sure one class won't fit everyone. I went through the material for the 106 course - (roughly a 101 course) and it's pretty darned basic.
Can we all check out the classes for ourselves and meet back here and see who else might be interested in the same? Watch a few videos of the class you want to take and see if it's where you really want to be. Perhaps you've already covered a lot and need a refresher. In which case, self-paced like Pete is suggesting might be the way to go.
We can form up in groups for those who want to follow the curriculum schedule. I'm especially interested in the AI class, which has a slightly different format and aim.
http://www.ai-class.com/
Pete! Are you volunteering to make announcements and post links? That's very generous and a great idea.
I'm out of town for a little while. If people can check out a few courses and report back what they think, like can find like and all kinds of awesomeness will follow. Thank you to everyone who has posted links already. I had no idea there would be so much interest.
BTW is there anyone out there interested in marrying Drupal to hardware? I know of a few folks who are interested, and it's been suggested that we do some Arduino stuff at DL. I'd like to hear back from the community to see if anyone else is interested.
Cheers,
Lee
Founder
http://www.larks.la
Robot Coordinator
http://droplabs.net
Organizer, Dragonslayer
http://drupal.la &n
Pet project uses AI and ML
I have an intense interest in AI as I have two projects requiring it. One is on the back burner. The other is a future part of my invention patent, which I am focusing on now. So, making announcements and posting links, while doing "minutes", which I owe 4 set of now, and working on LA Governance issues, makes more Drupal volunteering not likely at this time.
Other members should post links now. And announcements. I will find them of value. I've yet to get time to review the course offerings. My interest in topics includes, but is not limited to, compiler compilers, natural language parsing, and semantic Web 3.0 implementations, all related to my patent's future.
I'm writing the minutes, as I feel I need to show our community and it's organizers how to attract attendees to meetings, by showing the value of a missed meeting. This minutes method really works to draw new and repeat attendees, if that is the desire of the meetup leader. I'll write minutes for another 1-3 months, as catch can. And then leave it up to someone else.
The patent has it's first Drupal module completed today, but for theming. There are two more modules to complete. In a few weeks I will do a pony show on the first module at a meeting. And expose some of the code on how to store interrelated, multiple nodes with a single submit. It includes two content types being saved, not just one. Complex, even by Drupal standards. And the next two modules will be harder.
Peter
LA's Open Source User Group Advocate - Volunteer at DrupalCamp LA and SCALE
Here's a Machine Learning Class as well
Along with the AI class, they're teaching a Machine Learning class using the same distributed learning platform as the AI class.
http://www.ml-class.com/
It also looks like the Intro to Databases class mentioned above is taught the same way.
Founder
http://www.larks.la
Robot Coordinator
http://droplabs.net
Organizer, Dragonslayer
http://drupal.la &n
I am agree to join
I am sure and agree to join this course how it possible let me explain it.
I like all the topics available
Sure matches my needs for my patent direction. Most all these classes, high end mathematics, is what I need, particularly the NLP and convex stats for analysis. I've downloaded the small class material zips, that are linked at the bottom of each class page. Two of them are large, still downloading, at 153 and 282 meg.
The Method class zip is the 282 meg, and the one Lee wants to do. Maybe Droplabs can make a thumbnail available to copy to laptop? I'll put my collection on a thumb and make it available at meetings. Got to remember to do that tomorrow, when the 282 meg will be finished downloading.
The robotics would be fun stuff, though it looked like repackaging of stuff I did in aerospace. I do plan on making my own robot one day, and coding it with some cool visual recognition and physical action effects.
Yes, I will be scanning through all the course material over the next month, to cherry pick algorithms for my IP development. SEE is cool.
Now, if only the do the same for physics. CERN has cool datasets available, of their current work.
Peter
LA's Open Source User Group Advocate - Volunteer at DrupalCamp LA and SCALE
If you're interested in
If you're interested in iPhone development I have time stamped all the lectures. Find at http://iphoneworxx.com Each lecture is time stamped to make it easier to repeat sections where you may need remediation or simply to refresh your memory. I have also time stamped the German course and some from Utah. This is complicated stuff if you intend to pursue it you must be willing to do the programming assignments.
I'm going to be taking the Machine Learning class...
Hi Everyone -
Am signing up for the machine learning class. Unfortunately, I'll be out of town during big swaths of the semester, so while I cannot lead the class, I can get it started. I can meet at Droplabs Thursday nights or Saturdays. Anyone interested in studying with? Let me know which days are preferable for you.
If other people are interested in the other classes, you can find each other through this thread and collaborate on times and locations as well.
Here's the link to the Machne Learning class:
http://www.ml-class.org/course/class/index
Cheers!
Lee
Founder
http://www.larks.la
Robot Coordinator
http://droplabs.net
Organizer, Dragonslayer
http://drupal.la &n