Free online Stanford University courses for Researchers

You probably knew that Stanford University is known is an academic powerhouse ranking as one of the world’s top universities. But did you know there is a way to get Stanford on your CV? Without having to step through its doors?

Well good news… a wide range of FREE online courses from Stanford University are available to take on edX. Here is a short list of this months courses that we thought might be of interest to Dementia Researchers.

• Algorithms: Design and Analysis – Welcome to the self paced course, Algorithms: Design and Analysis! Algorithms are the heart of computer science, and the subject has countless practical applications as well as intellectual depth. This specialization is an introduction to algorithms for learners with at least a little programming experience.
• Communicating with Presence – Modern society has provided us with technological advantages but also barriers to connect with our patients in a meaningful way. In this 15-minute online module we highlight the Stanford Presence 5 model, which is a framework for integrating humanism and effective communication as you interact with your patients.
• Computer Science 101 – Introduction to Computer Science for a zero-prior-experience audience. Play with little phrases of code to understand what computers are all about.
• Health Across the Gender Spectrum – This course offers an intimate, story-based introduction to the experiences of six transgender children and their families. Through illustrated stories and short teaching videos, learners will gain a better understanding of gender identity and the gender spectrum.
• How You Say It Matters: A Toolkit for Improving Communications About Academic Standing – Do you want to help your students experiencing academic difficulty feel motivated, not crushed? Learn our approach to “psychologically attuned” communications about academic standing.
• Language, Proof, and Logic – The ability to reason is fundamental to human beings. Whatever the discipline or discourse it is important to be able to distinguish correct reasoning from incorrect reasoning. The consequences of incorrect reasoning can be minor, like getting lost on the way to a birthday party, or more significant, for example launching nuclear missiles at a flock of ducks, or permanently losing contact with a space craft. The fundamental question that we will address in this course is “when does one statement necessarily follow from another” — or in the terminology of the course, “when is one statement a logical consequence of another”.
• R Programming Fundamentals – This course covers the basics of R: a free programming language and software environment used for statistical computing and graphics. R is widely used by data analysts, statisticians, and data scientists around the world. This course covers an introduction to R, from installation to basic statistical functions. You will learn to work with variable and external data sets, write functions, and hear from one of the co-creators of the R language, Robert Gentleman.
• Statistical Learning – Learn some of the main tools used in statistical modeling and data science. We cover both traditional as well as exciting new methods, and how to use them in R. Course material updated in 2021 for second edition of the course textbook.
• Strategies To Improve and Incorporate Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in Healthcare – Find out how you can lead coalitions for change from wherever you are in your organization in order to build and sustain recruitment practices that enhance diversity, equity, and inclusion in your healthcare team and foster inclusivity in the workplace.
• Your Body Inside and Out: Using Exercise Physiology to Slow Aging – This online class will present the latest scientific information on the interaction between aging and physical activity. In an approachable style, you will learn how your physiology changes with age and how different types of movement can impact that trajectory of aging. Physical activity is a powerful medicine and you will learn how to harness its benefits to improve your health and wellness throughout the lifespan. Whether you are new to exercise or a life-long athlete, this class will open your eyes to the amazing systems within your body and help you strategize on activities that fit your goals for a healthy life.

These free courses do not include certificates of completion, but that’s the only catch. And you still have the option to obtain a certificate for a small fee if you really want something to stick on your CV.

Looking for something more substantial? Check our our Higher Education Courses Directory.