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--- Have you heard of the MOOCs? (http://www.gatchamania.net/threadid.php?threadid=4977)
Posted by Daniella T on 21-11-2015 at 21:05:
Have you heard of the MOOCs?
Dear all, I decided for once to post a "rave" instead of always complaining. And today is, indeed, another day to complain: I don't know if you've heard, but Brussels has shut down completely, due to a terrorist threat. No metro, shops closed, and people advised to stay inside.
Anyway, here's the rave: I don't know if you've heard of the Massive Open Online Courses, aka MOOCs. They are free university courses you can take online, virtually on anything you want, and you don't pay anything unless you want to get a certificate.
I followed one beginner's class of programming the Python language, which was absolutely fantastic! Then I did a more advanced course on interactive programming, still in Python, which was very, very hard for a total newbie in programming like me, but at least I finished the first part and actually wrote a "Pong" game -- for those who've heard of it 
. Now I'm following a (more relaxing) course on Internet History, which is one of the most fascinating things I've ever learnt. As I don't want a certificate, I haven't paid anything.
The site I use is Coursera, and if offers classes from many different universities: two of my courses are from the University of Michigan and the interactive programming is from Rice University.
Anyway, I just wanted to rave a bit about it...
I'd be interested to know if anyone else here is following a MOOC -- and on what
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They were in the wrong place at the wrong time. Naturally, they became heroes -- Princess Leia Organa of Alderaan.
Posted by Springie on 21-11-2015 at 21:50:
Neat! I would like to learn more graphic arts skills/animation in the future...thanks for sharing this!
Ugh...and stay safe, Daniella! It is such a frightening time...*hugs*
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Posted by ElectricWhite on 21-11-2015 at 22:26:
This is the first I`ve heard of the MOOCs specifically...sounds a bit like Khan Academy. At any rate, it`s good that you have something to keep your mind occupied while everything is shut down. Take care of yourself during this hard time!
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“There are worse crimes than burning books. One of them is not reading them." --Ray Bradbury
Posted by mylari on 21-11-2015 at 23:38:
I've done Coursera before. It's a really great resource for gaining knowledge or just taking courses for the fun of it. I took a statistics class through there that was taught by a Princeton professor. I have a friend who has been taking random classes there for a few years. I've only done the one course though since I've been doing actual college courses.
Glad it's been giving you a place to occupy yourself and bring you some sanity in this crazy world!
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Posted by ChrisW on 22-11-2015 at 01:54:
*hugs* 
I took a free introductory music class through there. Was quite fun!
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Eagle Whisperer
Posted by Becky Rock on 22-11-2015 at 02:53:
I hope the imminent threat turns out to be false, but between Brussels shutting down and the unknown, it makes things hell. Be safe, DT!
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Posted by Daniella T on 22-11-2015 at 09:01:
Thank you, everyone!
On Coursera, I like the idea of just taking random courses, as Mylari said, and seeing how they turn out -- I'll see if they have any language courses I could take, after the Internet one.
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They were in the wrong place at the wrong time. Naturally, they became heroes -- Princess Leia Organa of Alderaan.
Posted by ChrisW on 22-11-2015 at 20:39:
Highbrow is another one.
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Eagle Whisperer
Posted by msannomalley on 23-11-2015 at 13:48:
I've heard of MOOC's. If I had more time, I'd want to take art classes or language classes.
P.S.: I saw a story on how the people of Brussels were posting cat pictures on Twitter during the lockdown so the police could do their job. I love this reaction-combating evil and fear with cuteness. 
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Il mio aliscafo è pieno di anguille
Posted by ChrisW on 24-11-2015 at 00:35:
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LOL yes!
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Eagle Whisperer
Posted by ElectricWhite on 24-11-2015 at 02:15:
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They need to use Fennecs!
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“There are worse crimes than burning books. One of them is not reading them." --Ray Bradbury
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