Coursera is currently offering quite a number of free courses - in software
development and other areas - for us shut-ins!
One in particular that I'd like to draw attention to is:
Science Matters: Let's Talk About COVID-19
<https://www.coursera.org/learn/covid-19>
It is offered by Imperial College London, Abdul Latif Jameel Institute for
Disease and Emergency Analytics
<https://www.imperial.ac.uk/jameel-institute/> and features as speakers -
among others - Professor Neil Ferguson
<https://www.imperial.ac.uk/people/neil.ferguson>, lead author of the
"London Model" we have been hearing so much about in the news.
Not not to get political (see what I did there?) but there is a lot of
misinformation being spread in social media about this model - such as
statements that Ferguson "revised the projection" downward - which is just
not true. These misinformed social media posts are taking best-case and
worst-case (do nothing) projections, and claiming that the best-case is a
"revision" which it is not. The model has always had a range of projections
from worst case (do nothing) to best case (multiple containment and
mitigation measures). In fact, subsequent to the publication of a number of
apparently deliberately misleading articles, the model was revised UPWARD
for best-case scenarios.
It is an eight week course, and is being developed as events play out. The
course is currently in Week 3, and at this point should be easy to
catch-up. There are weekly updates I believe every Thursday by leading
experts. ("Week 2" is udated every week with a new situation report - it's
a unique situation that Coursera did not envision!)
This is a beginner-level course, and I feel it would be approachable for
anybody with some basic science education. That said, the report on the
model is dense reading, but only 15 pages (with 5 pages of references!). I
STRONGLY urge reading this paper!
There are two additional free courses offered from reputable sources that I
will mention. I have signed up for both, but have not started them.
Fighting COVID-19 with Epidemiology: A Johns Hopkins Teach-Out
<https://www.coursera.org/learn/covid19-epidemiology>
COVID-19: What You Need to Know (CME Eligible)
<https://www.coursera.org/learn/covid-19-what-you-need-to-know/home/welcome>
The latter has an optional certificate for $49. This gives 2 CME
(Continuing Medical Education) credits. Unless you are a doctor or other
health care worker who can use the CME credits, suggest you audit the
course for free if interested. Pass along to any doctors or health care
workers you may know. Word from a doctor I know who works at Scripps Green
and County Mental Health, his co-workers have LOTS of questions and there
is a lot of confusion.
I have not yet started these last two course, so cannot comment on them at
this time.
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