Computer Training (Stanford Engineering Everywhere)

Stanford School of Engineering started its Stanford Engineering Everywhere program which offers access to computer science courses on a newly created website. This is not only useful to computer trainers but anyone who is interested in computer science in general.

The available courses are divided into three categories which are; Introduction to Computer Science, Artificial Intelligence and Linear Systems and Optimization. Of those courses the Computer Science courses are aimed at beginners while courses in the two other categories are designed more for advanced users.

Courses include an introduction, the actual lessons, handouts, assignments, exams and software. The actual lessons are available as videos which can be watched online, and as html / pdf transcripts that can be downloaded to the computer.

The video lessons require Microsoft Silverlight. Below is the list of available courses:

Introduction to Computer Science

• Programming Methodology CS106A
• Programming Abstractions CS106B
• Programming Paradigms CS107

Artificial Intelligence

• Introduction to Robotics CS223A
• Machine Learning CS229

Linear Systems and Optimization

• The Fourier Transform and its Applications EE261
• Introduction to Linear Dynamical Systems EE263
• Convex Optimization I EE364A
• Convex Optimization II EE364B

The lessons can also be viewed on YouTube, iTunes, Vyew or downloaded as wmv or mp4 torrents.

There is unfortunately no complete package download of all the lessons and pdf documents. The mp4 torrents have a size of about 650 to 700 Megabytes while the wmv torrents a size of roughly 150 Megabytes.

Closing Words

Free online courses are always nice, especially if they come from a reputable institute such as Stanford University. Most courses are more about the theory behind certain programming concepts and less about actual programming, but if you are interested in these kind of things, or want to strengthen your background in this regard, they should make for a good intro.

Update: A fourth set of courses has been added to the web page:

• Programming massively parallel processors
• iPhone application programming
• Seminars and Webinars

It is interesting to note that the iPhone application programming course leads to the iTunes website from  where it can be downloaded to the local system. To do so, you do need iTunes installed on your system.

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