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BITS Pilani collaborates with Coursera to launch first online B.Sc in Computer Science from top-ranked engineering institute in India

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BITS Pilani collaborates with Coursera to launch first online B.Sc in Computer Science from top-ranked engineering institute in India

This degree is the first bachelor’s degree from an Indian institute on Coursera. It will enable people from diverse backgrounds to acquire a computer science degree, helping address the growing demand for skilled, qualified IT professionals in India and across the world. 

By Coursera

Birla Institute of Technology & Science (BITS), Pilani, an Institute of Eminence and a globally acclaimed Indian institute in science, engineering, and management domains, has collaborated with Coursera, one of the world’s leading online learning platforms, to launch an online Bachelor of Science (B.Sc) degree in Computer Science. 

Designed to serve Indian and global audiences, BITS Pilani’s B.Sc degree will expand access to high-quality computer science education. The programme’s job-relevant curriculum, designed with inputs from various industry partners, will empower learners to develop advanced skills in software development, data analysis, and core systems, alongside leadership and soft skills.

With 28 million new technology jobs projected to emerge in India by 2025, there is a growing need for technical talent. A recent Nasscom-Zinnov report estimates a shortfall of 14 to 19 lakh technology professionals in India by 2026. To address this, BITS Pilani’s B.Sc degree prepares graduates to enter the job market ready for various in-demand entry-level job roles, such as application and system software developer, computer programmer, and data analyst.

“We are honoured to partner with BITS Pilani as it reimagines a B.Sc degree for a digital future,” said Betty Vandenbosch, Chief Content Officer at Coursera. “Through our partnership, we are opening up access to this premiere institute at an unprecedented scale — enabling more students to earn this highly sought-after computer science degree in a flexible, affordable way.”  

“Our collaboration with Coursera gives us the platform to help ensure that our aspirational degree programmes are readily accessible to a large and diverse audience, irrespective of locational or other constraints,” said Prof. G Sundar, Director, Off Campus Programmes and Industry Engagement, BITS Pilani. “This collaboration will enable BITS Pilani to help address the need for equitable growth of the pool of technology talent across the country and the globe.  This also empowers learners with knowledge and skills, which are highly valued by the IT industry, and serves to provide Indian institutions as major providers of high quality education, internationally as well.” 

Eligibility that enables many 

The degree requires no entrance exam and is open to students from diverse profiles, including those without a science or significant mathematics background. Anyone with a class 12 or its equivalent qualifications can apply.

Accessibility to pursue education from anywhere

The 100% online programme can be accessed from anywhere in the world. By leveraging virtual and cloud labs, learners will apply their skills using simulations and real-world environments.

Flexibility to pursue the programme while working or along with pursuing any other degree programme

To maximize flexibility, students can take up to six years to complete this three-year degree. This will enable flexibility for learners to pursue the programme while working or along with pursuing any other degree programme. The programme also features an intermediate exit option of a diploma, which students can earn in about two years.  

Student support system and access to BITS Pilani’s alumni network

The degree prioritises building a digital network, using Zoom and Slack. Students will connect with peers around the globe in digital study groups and group projects. There will also be periodic live sessions so that students can connect with BITS Pilani’s faculty and peers in real-time. When needed, learners will be able to access career services, including CV reviews and job-interview preparations. 

Upon graduation, students will gain access to the institute’s illustrious alumni network — a community that has spawned 900+ startups and 13 unicorns, including Zeta, MPL, Swiggy, BigBasket, and Groww. 

Online applications open today, Sep 12, 2022

Students can apply starting today, Sep 12, 2022, for the first cohort that begins in November 2022. The last date to apply is Nov 15, 2022. For details of the programme and to start the application, please visit https://www.coursera.org/degrees/bachelor-of-science-computer-science-bits.

What’s Going On in This Picture? | Sept. 12, 2022

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Look closely at this image, stripped of its caption, and join the moderated conversation about what you and other students see.

Spacing Retrieval is More Important than Extra Retrieval

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Spacing Retrieval is More Important than Extra Retrieval

Let me phrase those results a different way. Taking the same amount of time and energy that it took to write the normal quiz for a class and just distributing those questions across a couple different quizzes was more beneficial than writing and answering (and grading?) additional quiz questions.

Educators: Quiz your students. Absolutely you should incorporate retrieval practice. Just space it out over time instead of providing blocked weekly quizzes just over that week’s content. But congratulations! You don’t have to do the extra work of writing and grading more quiz questions to get this benefit!

Students: Quiz yourselves and when you do, make sure you’re reviewing old material. Build in frequent study sessions, but you don’t have to double the time you’re spending studying to get great benefits, as long as you’re doing what you should be doing throughout (spaced retrieval).

Caveats

I started this blog by saying you shouldn’t change your habits on the basis of one study. And then I told you to change your habits on the basis of this study…

This study in housed in a large body of research, making me feel pretty confident about those tips above. That said, there are some things to consider here. This research was done with precalculus engineering students at a university. They’re probably not representative of everyone. Even further, in order to analyze the data, the researchers could only look at students who actually took all of the quizzes (about half the class). Their behavior may have been different (i.e. they may have studied a lot more outside of class), which could influence these results.

Another important result in this study is that increased spacing reduced quiz performance. Even though students remembered more of the material long-term, their initial performance wasn’t great. This is so important. Students are not going to like this. It’s harder than taking a weekly quiz over what they just learned. It’s also important that educators not “punish” students for this reduced initial performance. If we want to encourage students to engage in a behavior at home that is going to lower their grades in class… that is arguably unethical as grades (perhaps unfortunately) determine much of their future success. Educators need to express this to students. They need to understand why they are doing something different and harder than they’ve done before and they need to be provided with the psychological safety to fail early for later gains. In other words, quizzes should be low or no stakes in order to reduce the anxiety involved with what will inevitably be lower initial marks.

Bottom Line

Retrieve old stuff.

No, really. The bottom line here is that you should be utilizing retrieval and you should space it out, but you don’t need to worry about doing so over and over and over again necessarily (although a few times to get that spacing in is necessary). And it’s going to be hard, but that is going to lead to better retention and therefore better performance on the final and in the next class. #worthit

References:

(1) Hopkins, R. F., Lyle, K. B., Hieb, J. L., & Ralston, P. A. S. (2016). Spaced retrieval practice increases college students’ short- and long-term retention of mathematics knowledge. Educational Psychology Review, 28(4), 853-873.

(2) Lyle, K. B., Bego, C. R., Hopkins, R. F., Hieb, J. L., & Ralston, P. A. (2020). How the amount and spacing of retrieval practice affect the short-and long-term retention of mathematics knowledge. Educational Psychology Review, 32(1), 277-295.

Alison Learner Spotlight: Friday Ameh

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Alison Learner Spotlight: Friday Ameh

Lawyers, advocates, legal practitioners, and everyone working in the legal profession can work in various fields. The responsibilities often differ but some things are standard across the board. Providing legal advice to ensure justice prevails are just some of their objectives. Legal practitioners need a well of knowledge, skills, critical thinking and problem-solving skills, and lots of transferable skills contribute to their success. Our Alison Learner Spotlight is on Friday Ameh. We spoke to him and heard about how studying with Alison has not only changed his life but influenced his career.

What is your current role? 

I currently work as a legal practitioner in a law firm based in Nigeria. 

How did you find out about Alison? 

I came across Alison while searching online for platforms that provide online courses during the COVID-19 lockdown. 

What made you choose to study with Alison? 

I chose to study with Alison after reading the positive reviews given by some Alison graduates who had done some courses both on LinkedIn and the Alison website. 

What courses did you do? 

The first course I did on the Alison platform was Introduction to Conflict Management and Negotiation. After this, I did other courses on the platform numbering more than 80. Some of them include Gender Discrimination in the Workplace, Diploma in Cryptocurrency, and Stress Management in the Workplace.

 How much time per week did you spend studying? 

I spend at least 8 hours studying on the Alison platform per week.  

How have the courses you have completed enriched you in your role? 

The courses I have completed have positively enriched me in my role. 

What lessons and/skills did you acquire during your Alison studies that you are utilizing in your role? 

The skills that I acquired during my Alison studies that I am utilising in my role include communication, teamwork, time management and emotional intelligence. 

How did the courses you completed prepare and help you in your career? 

The courses I have completed have really prepared me and helped me in my career. So far, I am seeing huge improvements in my career. 

What knowledge didn’t you know before learning with Alison that you have since learned during your studies? 

Before doing the Diploma in Depression course, I used to think that depression was a disease. It was while doing the course that I learned that depression was not a disease but a disorder. I also used to think that depression was another word for sadness. It was while doing the course that I learned that a person could be sad and not be depressed. 

How has Alison affected /influenced your career trajectory? 

Alison has positively affected and influenced my career trajectory. My opinions on issues are greatly respected. 

What are the key differences you’ve seen in yourself because of Alison? 

I am now a better communicator because of Alison. I am now a better team player because of Alison. I am now a better time manager and leader because of Alison. 

Did you experience any challenge while completing the course? 

Yes. One of the challenges I face is the challenge of a bad internet network. There are also times that I may not be able to create time to study due to stress and ill health. 

Are there other courses you’d like to study through Alison? 

Yes. By studying a course on Change Management on Alison, I want to learn how to better accept change.  

How do you stay motivated during studying? 

I avoid multitasking. I take regular breaks. I keep a positive attitude and I also keep in mind the end goal of studying. 

What were the most positive aspects of your time with Alison? 

Alison has helped to boost my level of productivity. Alison has also helped to boost my self-confidence, competence, and confidence. 

What did you enjoy most about your studies with /through Alison? 

What I enjoy the most is that Alison’s course contents are easy to understand. 

 What advice do you have for current and potential Alison students? 

Explore courses that interest you. Manage your study space. Your study space should be free from distractions. Take regular breaks. Keep in mind the end goal of your studies. Share what you have learned with other people. 

 How do you prepare for online learning? 

I ensure that I am in a good state of health. I also ensure that I am mentally ready for learning. I ensure that my study space is conducive for learning and devoid of distractions. I set realistic goals for my online learning. 

 How did you find a balance between work and study? 

Finding a balance between work and study is challenging. One of the things I do is to ensure that I schedule wisely. I ensure that my work does not interfere with my study time and vice versa. 

What educational preparation and courses would you recommend for someone who wants to advance in your field? 

I would advise a person who wants to advance in my field to take courses on communication. One of the qualities of a good advocate is the ability to communicate excellently both orally and in writing. I would also advise a person who wants to advance in my field to take courses on emotional intelligence. Emotional intelligence enhances a lawyer’s communication skills. A high level of emotional intelligence helps lawyers interact with their clients. It enables lawyers to understand their clients and their concerns. 

What skills or traits should one pursue to help them develop /succeed in any industry? 

Time management, communication, teamwork, critical thinking, problem solving, leadership, creativity, adaptability, leadership, growth mindset, emotional intelligence, openness to feedback and criticism.

Soft skills are essential to have no matter what career path you are on. Knowing and understanding your strengths and weaknesses can help you become better in your job. If you are unsure of your skills Alison’s free Workplace Personality Assessment can help you discover your skills. At the end, you’ll be provided with a list of recommended courses to help you nourish, develop and grow in those areas.

If you’d like to share your Alison success story with other students, comment below. Who knows, we could shine our learner spotlight on you next.

Should More Parents Play Video Games With Their Kids?

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Some parents who grew up playing video games are introducing the popular pastime to their children. Should more parents embrace the joys of gaming with their kids?

Art generated by Artificial Intelligence

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Are you ready to take advantage of Artificial Intelligence? 

Or do you think we should establish a limit?

 

Recently, “a man won first prize in a fine art contest at the Colorado State Fair using an AI-generated piece of art,” reports the site Vice.

 

The design was generated under the instructions of Jason Allen and the work in question called Théâtre D’opéra Spatial won in the digital art category.

 

What is the controversy? Allen used an artificial intelligence software called Midjourney to prepare the piece, which followed his instructions.

With the awarding of the prize, all kinds of opinions began to be raised about where art and intellectual property are left with the presence of AI. In fact, it didn’t take long for the controversy to break out on Twitter, with many artists accusing Jason Allen of “accelerating the death of creative work”.

 

 

For his part, the winner acknowledged that he knew it would be controversial, but that they were debunking the human element in their AI-generated art. The author explained that his contribution in the form of indications to the software was essential to model the keys of the winning painting.

 

“I had to generate images with Midjourney, make passes with Photoshop and enhance with Gigapixel,” he noted.

 

Among the best-known Artificial Intelligence design tools, you can find (we included the same introduction they share on their websites).

 

Midjourney: (the one used for the project) is an AI tool capable of creating anything you write, until very recently its beta phase was private, but now it is public, so anyone can generate their own works of art.

 

DALL-E: create original, realistic images and art from a text description. It can combine concepts, attributes, and styles.

 

Wombo Dream: use the power of AI to transform your idea and art style into a beautiful painting right before your eyes in seconds. WD is expanding art to the masses. You don’t need a paint brush, pencil, or any art supplies to make beautiful artwork, all you need is an idea.

 

NightCafe: Creator is an AI Art Generator app with multiple methods of AI art generation. Using neural style transfer you can turn your photo into a masterpiece. Using text-to-image AI, you can create artwork from nothing but a text prompt. The App is available for free online, and on Android and iOS phones – simply save it to your home screen to install the app.

Craiyon, formerly DALL-E mini, an AI model that can draw images from any text prompt.

Deep Dream Generator Is a set of tools that make it possible to explore different AI algorithms. We focus on creative tools for visual content generation like those for merging image styles and content or such as Deep Dream which explores the insight of a deep neural network.

 

Are you ready to try, what will you create? We’ll love to share our student’s works. 

 

How do you think this can be useful to you personally, professionally, and academically? We would love to hear from you!

 

We play with the tools, and create with A.I. below using this text: “Open Learning and Sustainable Development at AIU”.

Used:https://creator.nightcafe.studio/create/text-to-image?algo=stable https://hotpot.ai/dalle-mini)

 

 

If you are interested in learning more about Artificial Intelligence and how it is impacting our reality, be sure to read:

https://www.businessinsider.es/obra-creada-ia-gana-concurso-pintura-muerte-arte-1117665

Distance

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Tell us a story, real or made up, that is inspired by this image.

Word of the Day: succinct

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This word has appeared in 114 articles on NYTimes.com in the past year. Can you use it in a sentence?

Discover how UNT graduate, Steven Schmidt earned his bachelor’s while working full-time

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Discover how UNT graduate, Steven Schmidt earned his bachelor’s while working full-time

After earning his culinary degree in Washington, Steven Schmidt went to work as a chef at the University of North Texas. There, Steven also enrolled in the online program for the Bachelor of Applied Arts and Sciences (BAAS) from UNT in the fall of 2020.

After earning his culinary degree in Washington, Steven Schmidt went to work as a chef at the University of North Texas. There, Steven also enrolled in the online program for the Bachelor of Applied Arts and Sciences (BAAS) from UNT in the fall of 2020.

Steven chose UNT for its prestigious reputation. And along with learning from the respected faculty of UNT, Steven has also enjoyed doing group projects on Coursera with students in his program from across the country and the world.

With the flexible online learning experiences offered by his program through Coursera, Steven has been able to keep his commitments to his job and be present at home with his family. He even notes how his daughters sometimes join him around the table at home so they can all do their schoolwork together. He says with other programs, he would only be able to take one course a semester.

During his time in the BAAS program, Steven has also been promoted in his job. He’s now the Culinary Operations Chef at UNT and he plans to eventually get his master’s from UNT as well. Steven credits his time-management skills for his personal and professional success so far. His tip for students starting the program is, “Set your schedule and stick with it.”

If you’re a working professional who’s interested in getting your bachelor’s degree from a highly regarded institution, you’ll find the flexibility to do it with the BAAS program from UNT. Apply today and see just how successful you can be.

Learn more about the University of North Texas BAAS program

What’s Going On in This Graph? | Sept. 14, 2022

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What makes Serena Williams’s tennis career record so extraordinary?