How can a person who lacks a strong quantitative background get up to speed using online education resources?
I’m 36, and am realizing more and more that my lack of quantitative education and experience is preventing me from achieving my potential as a professional. Over the next year, I’d like to strengthen my quantitative thinking skills, and build up my foundation in stats and analytical reasoning. I’d like to do this using distance education. Any thoughts on what the best distance learning for this sort of thing is?
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MIT offers video feeds of a lot of their classes and lectures online for free. I’m going to BC but I love ‘sitting in’ on their Physics experiments.
I appreciate this is a generalisation but in my opinion it depends on your preferred learning style.
Some folks are happy reading theory, others need to see what is being discussed. Some people like to see how the theory is applied and require written/audio/visual examples.
Some people get a lot from metaphor or a comparison that illustrates the theory.
Others like to try it out for themselves.
For me personally I like a mixture so use lots of resources and all can be accessed online. Video, documents, pictures, user forums and one to one with an online tutor (be that email/live chat or telephone).
As a trainer I do value live teaching and think you have a more personal interaction that is real time and addresses thoughts as they arise – but I accept that there are also people who can learn just as well without setting foot in the training room.
Perhaps try a number of free online courses in any subject (google search?) with different approaches and see how that suits you. Once you know, search for courses in your chosen subject that utilise that style.
Sorry I can’t be more specific about particular courses but this subject is not my area of expertise.
AC
Do you know what your preferred learning style is?
I prefer working with things to prove the basic concepts to myself. To understand what is going on inside those formulae. It is easier for me to have a teacher lead me through, but to ask questions all the time. It’s harder for me to deal with static presentations. You?
You can practise your problem skills on issues you encounter daily. Not necessarily concentrating only on technical areas.
If you seeking for technical knowledge, nothing beats reading and appreciating text, journals and publications. All these can be obtained online. some journal websites are free.
Also I think, get involved in forums that offer advises from technical people. I recently find it useful to use ImechE forum whenever i face technical problems at work.
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