Understanding Quantum Computers: MOOC opening today

["Dave Farber" <farber () gmail com>]

Begin forwarded message:

> From: Rodney Van Meter <rdv () sfc wide ad jp>
> Date: October 2, 2017 at 3:13:34 AM EDT
> To: David Farber <dave () farber net>, Dave Farber <farber () gmail com>
> Cc: Rodney Van Meter <rdv () sfc wide ad jp>
> Subject: Understanding Quantum Computers: MOOC opening today
>
> Dave, for IP, if you don’t mind just a smidge of self-promotion. Given the constant interest in quantum computing 
> here on IP, I would expect there to be some folks happy to see this announcement.
>
> We are doing a *free* MOOC (massive online open course) on quantum computers!
> https://www.futurelearn.com/courses/intro-to-quantum-computing/
>
> The course started *today* (Monday, Oct. 2).  The targeted completion
> time is three weeks, and it will remain open for a couple of weeks
> after that.  Learners from more than 100 countries and territories are
> already active.  Join us and learn about quantum computing!
>
> The course is targeted to be 10-15 hours for two audiences; sixteen-
> to twenty-year-olds who might be attracted to study quantum computing
> in college, and working programmers who are just getting interested in
> QC. The goal is to bring people into the field, and to broaden
> understanding of the basic concepts among the general public. The
> course is as rigorous as we can make it without advanced math,
> hopefully preparing you for more thorough study in a college course.
> There will be kets and vectors with 2^n elements and graphical vector
> manipulations, but not real linear algebra and calculus.
>
> This is a lot more than just videotape of me standing in a regular
> lecture hall.  The course consists consists of:
>
> * 50,000 words in 36 text articles
> * dozens of diagrams and diagrammatic animations
> * 21 short, high production value videos, totalling about two hours
> * 4 JavaScript apps for demonstrating some concepts (1-D and 2-D
>  interference, Euclid's algorithm, etc.)
> * 5 3-D printable models for some concepts (e.g., 2-D
>  interference) both for furn and to help vision-impaired learners
> * 9 multiple choice or fill-in-the-blank quizzes
> * 8 discussion boards, which we monitor and contribute to
>
> We have a fantastic team: Prof. Keiko Okawa has been doing online
> learning since the 90s, and leads Keio's Digital Media Content Center.
> Three people from DMC are producing the videos. I'm the lead educator.
> My research associate Takahiko Satoh is contributing, as well. A trio
> of grad students and several of my undergrads are doing the apps and
> various tasks.
>
> The platform is FutureLearn, which came out of the Open University in
> the UK. They have a particular teaching style, especially keeping
> individual steps short and adding as much interactivity as is
> reasonable. They also emphasize accessibility. In this sense, it's
> rather different from EdX and Coursera.  Overall, it's interesting,
> and I agree with parts of their philosophy. Ask me later in the fall
> how well it works out in practice.
>
> See you online!
>
>        —Rod



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