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General => General discussion => Topic started by: The Mighty Elvi on 13 February 2012, 15:34

Title: Free Course from M.I.T.
Post by: The Mighty Elvi on 13 February 2012, 15:34
Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), one of the world's top-rated universities, has announced its first free course which can be studied and assessed completely online.

An electronics course, beginning in March, will be the first prototype of an online project, known as MITx.

One for the Geeks - Circuits and Electronics. Will look awesome on your CV. Starts March 5th.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/education-17012968


http://mitx.mit.edu/

 :nerd:
Title: Re: Free Course from M.I.T.
Post by: Wazzzer on 13 February 2012, 18:03
Sweet, always wanted to do electronics at school...
Title: Re: Free Course from M.I.T.
Post by: Sam on 13 February 2012, 18:09
Sweet, always wanted to do electronics at school...

This can only lead to failure haha. This isn't any electronics, this is Massachusetts Institute elecronics - nasa style sh!t
Title: Re: Free Course from M.I.T.
Post by: Neo Badness on 13 February 2012, 18:23
Fantastic, cheers for posting this up. :cool:
Title: Re: Free Course from M.I.T.
Post by: Wazzzer on 13 February 2012, 18:25
well for free I could try  :grin:
Title: Re: Free Course from M.I.T.
Post by: bobbarley on 13 February 2012, 18:54
Quote
Requirements

In order to succeed in this course, you must have taken an AP level physics course in electricity and magnetism. You must know basic calculus and linear algebra and have some background in differential equations. Since more advanced mathematics will not show up until the second half of the course, the first half of the course will include an optional remedial differential equations component for those who need it.

I don't have Physics...

Plus the textbook is $87!
Title: Re: Free Course from M.I.T.
Post by: dom on 13 February 2012, 19:01
Quote
Requirements

In order to succeed in this course, you must have taken an AP level physics course in electricity and magnetism. You must know basic calculus and linear algebra and have some background in differential equations. Since more advanced mathematics will not show up until the second half of the course, the first half of the course will include an optional remedial differential equations component for those who need it.

I don't have Physics...

Plus the textbook is $87!

I'm sure between us we can figure anything out!
Title: Re: Free Course from M.I.T.
Post by: bobbarley on 13 February 2012, 19:04
Are a few people serious about this?

If so we could all work together on it, obviously not "cheating", just putting heads together to solve problems  :smiley:
Title: Re: Free Course from M.I.T.
Post by: dom on 13 February 2012, 19:05
I've signed up, I've got a fairly logical mind and a degree in computer science so will help out wherever possible!
Title: Re: Free Course from M.I.T.
Post by: bobbarley on 13 February 2012, 19:07
I signed up too.  Not got a degree, but I do have an A level in IT, AS level in Computing and an AS level is Electronics  :smiley:
Title: Re: Free Course from M.I.T.
Post by: The Mighty Elvi on 13 February 2012, 19:08
The book is £57 quid on Amazon UK.

Although a quick Google search and there are sites that provide it free as a download PDF.

It does say though that its not a requirement as text is given with the course.


Title: Re: Free Course from M.I.T.
Post by: Jay on 13 February 2012, 19:47
Been going through their free stuff for a while and been waiting for this to be launched.

I should be able to do this,I hope, I did do Electrical Engineering at High School... and just passed, now just to remember all the sh!te I learnt 13 years ago  :laugh:
Title: Re: Free Course from M.I.T.
Post by: golf-sib on 13 February 2012, 22:17
Analogue systems  :sick:

Do I not miss that, yet in other news when we all going to make blue flashing police lights for our cars using the 555 timer  :grin:
Title: Re: Free Course from M.I.T.
Post by: VW BUSH on 13 February 2012, 22:22
I did electronics and applied maths for HNC, that was enough for me :grin:
Title: Re: Free Course from M.I.T.
Post by: Jack3559 on 13 February 2012, 23:15
I'm enrolled.

This is a brilliant idea. Nicely spotted Elvi.
Title: Re: Free Course from M.I.T.
Post by: PenguinGTI on 14 February 2012, 00:55
Posting images via Photobucket is the current extent of my computing expertise.  :nerd:

As for mathematics... well I know as far as the 12 x Table  :grin:
Title: Re: Free Course from M.I.T.
Post by: Seanl on 14 February 2012, 07:12
I think some are underestimating how difficult this course will be! Remember, this is where the best and most intelligent technological minds in the world go to! Even so, it's free and there's no shame in trying. I'm in too, and good luck to all those who actually undertake it.  :wink:
Title: Re: Free Course from M.I.T.
Post by: Jay on 05 March 2012, 20:46
Anyone else started theirs yet? The video's so far a cheesy, but I guess it's all an introduction so far and them getting us to understand the site and tools etc

Back to hitting the circuits ...
Title: Re: Free Course from M.I.T.
Post by: bobbarley on 05 March 2012, 21:33
Do you think if you had no internet for about 3 weeks you'd fall behind too much on this?
Title: Re: Free Course from M.I.T.
Post by: Jay on 05 March 2012, 21:35
Not if you had time to catch up, can you not do it at work or use your 3G from your phone as a hot spot?

anyone done lab0?

I'm getting "unknown error" when trying to check my answers at the end :sad:
Title: Re: Free Course from M.I.T.
Post by: bobbarley on 05 March 2012, 22:00
Still going through the lecture.

I'm so out of my depth, I never did A level Physics!!  :grin:
Title: Re: Free Course from M.I.T.
Post by: Jack3559 on 05 March 2012, 22:00
Not if you had time to catch up, can you not do it at work or use your 3G from your phone as a hot spot?

anyone done lab0?

I'm getting "unknown error" when trying to check my answers at the end :sad:

I'm getting unknown error as well.
Title: Re: Free Course from M.I.T.
Post by: bobbarley on 05 March 2012, 22:04
Working fine here.
Title: Re: Free Course from M.I.T.
Post by: Jay on 05 March 2012, 22:09
You've got to drop the signs eg V, uA etc... even though it states "volts with correct sign" :huh:
Title: Re: Free Course from M.I.T.
Post by: bobbarley on 05 March 2012, 22:13
I got one correct answer.  Absolutely no idea what's going on and I studied Electronics at school!
Title: Re: Free Course from M.I.T.
Post by: Jay on 05 March 2012, 22:19
I had to crack out a calculator, an online calculator to converts some units from representational units to EG uA to full decimal units it's been a long old day and ages since I had to do this level of conversion.

got there in the end  :grin:

Nige, don't feel to bad, I also did electrical eng at high school and I can't remember sh!t about it :laugh:
Title: Re: Free Course from M.I.T.
Post by: bobbarley on 05 March 2012, 22:42
I think my lack of Physics will be my undoing.  I didn't know any of Ohms laws or the other rules.
Title: Re: Free Course from M.I.T.
Post by: Jay on 05 March 2012, 22:46
Neither do I, not had to use them in 13 years - when or if I need them I'll read up on them.

Got that textbook in PDF format? :lipsrsealed:
Title: Re: Free Course from M.I.T.
Post by: bobbarley on 05 March 2012, 22:50
I haven't no, been looking at the online one you get when you've logged in.
Title: Re: Free Course from M.I.T.
Post by: golf-sib on 06 March 2012, 10:22
How's the course, I did a levels in physics, maths and chemistry, also did electronic engineering and worked in manufacturing in the field for a few years.

Is it time consuming and any practical side to it?
Title: Re: Free Course from M.I.T.
Post by: R32UK on 06 March 2012, 10:33
I also wish i had the time to do this...  :undecided: a levels in physics maths and chemistry also, inc degree in computer science. Although I doubt any of it would help me on this... would always be good to try pick up some basics and learn something new!!

would be good if they had a catch up section before you start the course.
Title: Re: Free Course from M.I.T.
Post by: bobbarley on 06 March 2012, 11:14
I also wish i had the time to do this...  :undecided: a levels in physics maths and chemistry also, inc degree in computer science. Although I doubt any of it would help me on this... would always be good to try pick up some basics and learn something new!!

would be good if they had a catch up section before you start the course.

To be honest having tried the first section I think it would be right up your street.

It's not just electronics, but the digital side to it as well. Like the digital 0 1 code used to make machine language etc.
Title: Re: Free Course from M.I.T.
Post by: R32UK on 06 March 2012, 12:01
I also wish i had the time to do this...  :undecided: a levels in physics maths and chemistry also, inc degree in computer science. Although I doubt any of it would help me on this... would always be good to try pick up some basics and learn something new!!

would be good if they had a catch up section before you start the course.

To be honest having tried the first section I think it would be right up your street.

It's not just electronics, but the digital side to it as well. Like the digital 0 1 code used to make machine language etc.

I remember really enjoying this side of things at uni, espcially looking into the workings of early computers that just used a single tape!

Also enjoyed having to create a binary calculator from scratch... didnt have a clue about electronics when I started out, but really enjoyed the assignment!!! (didnt really have much of a clue afterwards either if im honest  :grin:)
Title: Re: Free Course from M.I.T.
Post by: golf-sib on 06 March 2012, 12:29
Sounds good I did a bit of work with with programming pic arm7 processors in c language, interesting to see if assembly code is on there even though I imagine it no longer has a function due to the output modern processors have.

Might have to enroll tonight, is it like open university in terms of you have your own pace or is a pace set with deadlines.
Title: Re: Free Course from M.I.T.
Post by: Jay on 06 March 2012, 13:18
You have homework that has to be and assignments, also a midterm and end of term exam  :smiley:

Looks good so far, really enjoyed what I've done and seen in the course.