Do you dream of entering the world of technology through the front door? Take note: the course CS50: Introduction to Computer Science (Introduction to computer science) from Harvard University, considered the best course on this section, It can be done totally free of charge through the online educational platform edX at least until the end of 2021.
CS50 it is one of the most in-demand classes at Harvard each year. In theory its material is identical to that of other similar formations. It is an introduction to the world of algorithms, data structures, cybersecurity, software and web development, etc.
However, since it debuted in 1989 nearly 2 million students have already passed through this course, which pay close to 60,000 euros for their face-to-face format. On the educational platform edX It is in the top 100 of the best courses in all history and almost 3 million students have already signed up online. What is its popularity?
Much of CS50’s current success comes from one of its teachers, David Malan, a computer scientist who has created a true cult of his personality in this course because of his unusual way of teaching it. You just have to look at the beginning of this sample video where the students start clapping when Malan appears as if he were a rock star.
Another reason behind the popularity of CS50 is that its effectiveness implicitly facilitates job entry. You just have to take a look at some of the Harvard alumni who have been through this course.or. This is the case of the executive director of YouTube, Susan Wojcicki.
In a video she stars in to introduce the course, Wojcicki reveals that she was initially studying history at Harvard, but that in her senior year she decided to enroll in CS50 to “learn something about computers”.
“It completely changed my way of seeing life. So when I graduated in 1990 I went to Silicon Valley, got a job, and have continued to work in the tech world ever since. “
As for whether you are concerned that an online modality will not be as effective as the original face-to-face format, one of the technical members of the course, Robert Bowden, assures that the experience is the same: “It is no longer the case in which the live experience is the best. All the material is in the videos, in the documents and in the small explanatory tutorials“.
Although everything CS50: Introduction to Computer Science is in free format at edX until “expires”, you must bear in mind that you do have to pay if you want to get a certificate that shows that you have completed it as well as if you want your assignments and exams to be evaluated. The good news is that you will not have to pay the 60,000 euros of the original format but 169 euros.
Finally, if you do not know if you will have time to finish it, it is estimated that you can finish it in about 3 months if you dedicate between 6 and 18 hours a week. It’s okay if you need more time because you can go at your own pace. Just keep in mind that by the end of 2021, if Harvard does not renew this collaboration with edX, the course will be archived and you will not be able to resume it.
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