Top 50 Free Open Source Classes on Computer Science

Computer science is an interesting field to go into. There are a number of opportunities in computer science that you can take advantage of. With computers increasingly becoming a regular part of life, those who can work with computers have good opportunities. You can find a good salary with a program in computer science, and as long as you are careful to keep up your skills. Here are 50 free opencourseware classes that can help you learn more about computer science:

Introduction to Computer Science

Learn the basics of computer science, and get a foundation in how computer science works.

1. Introduction to Computer Science: Learn about the history of computing, as well as the development of computer languages. A great basic course on introductory computer science.
2. Introduction to Computer Science and Programming: A series of video lectures from MIT about computer science, and the basics of programming.
3. Introduction to Computers: UC Berkeley offers a course on the basics of computing and science.
4. Artificial Intelligence: Learn about the basics of artificial intelligence and how it has been developed for computer applications.
5. Breadth Topics in Computing Science: This class from Capilano University offers a wide view of computer science. Learn about design, programming and more for different opportunities in computer science.
6. The Anthropology of Computing: This MIT course offers an interesting look into the development of computers and their impact on human society.
7. Human Computer Interaction: Basic information on how humans interact with computers, and how to better design usability, from the University of Washington.

Comprehensive Computer Science Collections

If you are interested in courses that are a little more comprehensive in nature, you can get a good feel for computer science from the following collections:

8. Computer and Computer Systems: An overall view of computers and how they are organized into systems.
9. Science and Technology: Connexions, from Rice University, offers a comprehensive course on different types of computer science.
10. Information and Technology: Many of the courses offered by the University of Tokyo include English translations, so you can get a good grasp of information and technology.
11. Electrical and Computer Engineering: Choose from a variety of courses that can give you a good grasp of the principles behind computer engineering.
12. Electrical Engineering and Computer Science: Learn about electrical engineering and computer science can be combined to create amazing technology.
13. Science and Technology: Choose from a variety of courses on technology and computers, as well as science, from OER Commons.

Programming and Languages

Get a handle on computer programming, and learn about different computer languages used in programming.

14. Building Programming Experience: Helpful hints for building up your programming capabilities.
15. Computer Language Engineering: Overview of how computer languages are developed, and how to program them.
16. Programming Languages: Provides a basic overview of programming languages, offering special insight into Scheme +.
17. AJAX: Land of Code offers this tutorial related to programming with AJAX.
18. C Programming: The University of Strathclyde provides this course on using the C programming language.
19. Fundamentals of C++: This course is offered at free-ed.net, and provides insight and helpful hints on programming with C++.
20. Java Programming: This course is written by a computer science professor at Orange Coast College, and is provided through the Sofia Open Content Initiative.
21. Perl Lessons: Learn about Perl, and how to use it, especially with CGI.
22. PHP Tutorial for Beginners: Get an overview of PHP, and how it can be used in a variety of circumstances.
23. Ruby Programming: Learn about Ruby, and learn how to use it for your projects.

Computer Software

Learn about software development, and the importance of software in computer programming.

24. Designing the user interface: This software design course from The Open University helps you learn the principles of usability.
25. Modelling object-oriented software: Learn about object-oriented software, and how it can be used to structure systems.
26. Software development for enterprise systems: An overview of how to design software meant for business.
27. Software Engineering for Web Applications: Learn about how to design software for web apps.
28. Elements of Software Construction: MIT takes you through the basics of constructing software.
29. Software Engineering Concepts: Learn the fundamental concepts behind engineering and developing software.

Computer Systems and Information Technology

Learn how to construct computer systems, and get the basic outlines of information technology.

30. Systems Design and Administration: Learn how to design and administer computer systems from Dixie State College.
31. Applied Parallel Computing: Learn about how you can use parallel computing systems.
32. Machine Structures: UC Berkeley offers a course on the structure of computers, and how they can interact in systems.
33. Operating Systems and System Programming: Get a handle on operating systems, how they work, and how to program them properly.
34. Information Technology and the Labor Market: Learn about IT, the demand for it, and how IT is reshaping the way things are done.
35. Global Issues in Information Technology: Weber State University introduces different issues in IT.
36. Finding information in information technology and computing: An overview of how information is arranged, and how to look for what you need.

Computer Processes and Data

Learn more about computer processing and data management.

37. An introduction to data and information: The Open University offers a helpful course on data and how it works in a computer environment.
38. The database development life cycle: A basic overview of how data development takes place.
39. Introduction to Algorithms: Algorithms are necessary for processing information. This MIT course introduces you to them.
40. Introduction to Communication, Control, and Signal Processing: Learn how computers process information and data.
41. Data Structures: Learn how data is structured, and how you can create your own structures.
42. Data and processes in computing: Follow data and processes development as part of computer science.
43. Representing and manipulating data in computers: A course in how you can use data for specific purposes.

Web Development

Part of computer science is being able to develop programs, applications and systems for the Internet.

44. Understanding Computers and the Internet: A look at computers and their importance to the Internet.
45. Digital Typography: Get an understanding of how to design typography for the Internet.
46. Information Visualization: Learn how to visualize information, and present it in a way that others can relate to.
47. User Interface Design and Implementation: A course from MIT about how you can design a usable interface, and implement it.
48. Communicating in Cyberspace: Learn how to communicate effectively using computers.
49. Search Engines: Technology, Society and Business: Get a handle on how search engines work, and how important they have become to society and to business.
50. Communications and Information Policy: Learn about different policies involved with communicating online.

How to minimize Internet data usage in Windows 10

Ever wondered where’s your data vanishing post the upgrade to Windows 10? Well, if you are held up in an area with limited modem speed you are bound to face such issues. If you have noticed that Windows 10 loves to feast on data, in no time would you see them disappearing strangely. Even though we can set the connection to “Metered” the data still fast diminished without any clue.

Wondering what’s leading to this heavy internet usage? Want to find out what’s causing your data to disappear? Today we will not only guide you through how to set your connection as “Metered” under the settings, but will also show you how to limit Windows 10 data.

Tips to Save your Data Consumption on Windows 10 OS

• Select “Metered” As Your Data Connection

Changing your data connection to “Metered” under the Settings is one of the most basic steps in order to send a signal to the Windows 10 that will restrict massive updates and self-regulating app downloads. In order to change the setting to “Metered” you need to click on the “Start” button (the windows key on your keyboard), then go to “Settings” in the menu, select “Network and Internet” from the list, now go to “Wi-Fi” and then click on “Advanced Options”.

The box that opens now will display the second option as “Metered connection”. Click on the slider beneath it to put it “ON”.

• Switch Off Background Apps

Windows 10 allows some of the background apps to function by default which in turn consumes a lot of data. The notable culprit here is the “Mail” application that depletes the majority of data. In such cases, it is rather safe to switch off of these offenders or apps in order to save yourself some data.

Go to “Settings”, click on “Privacy” and now locate “Background apps”. Switch off the “Background apps” options and then scroll through and switch off any other apps that you think you do not require and are finishing your data.

• Set “One Drive” Off

One Drive is one of the other background apps in the Windows 10 that depletes your data in no time. It is indeed one of the most crucial apps in the Windows 10 OS disabling which can be a radical step, however, not many of us need it running in the background at all times. Yes, the One Drive does help you sync your files which makes life simpler, but that can be even done in the next cyber café. This may take a while for you; however, it will save you some substantial data over the period.

• Read: How to uninstall OneDrive

In order to deactivate the One Drive, right clicking on the “Task Bar” will open up a list. Select “Task Manager” from the list and click on it or alternatively use your keyboard shortcuts, such as, CTRL + SHIFT + ESC all at once. Under this you will see a series of tabs and the one that you need to click on is the “Startup” tab. This will further open up a list and here you need to scroll down and select “Microsoft OneDrive”. Now deactivate this option to stop “One Drive” from automatically syncing the files in the background. You can also disable other drives, like the Google Drive or the Dropbox in order to save data.

• Deactivate PC Synchronization Function

Even though you may admire the PC sync function being the Windows 10 trademark feature, the fact is that it eats up a considerable portion of your data. So you really do not want it to run at the background unless required, hence, it’s a better idea to keep it switched off till the time you need to sync files. In order to switch the PC sync off you need to find the “Settings” option, go to “Accounts”, and find the option that says “Sync your settings” and now just slide it to “OFF”.

• Disable Notifications

“Notifications” is another section where you have the opportunity to save some data. Simply disable the notifications if you do not need to be constantly informed of the current activities by the background apps. Simply right click on the “Action Centre” icon and click on the “Turn on quiet hours” to turn it off.

• Deactivate Live Tiles

Opting to keep the “Live Tiles” option “On” will keep the News application running in the background which will constantly keep you updated with the latest Feeds. Facebook, Twitter, Mail or Weather are certain apps that are interconnected with the Feed and will keep retrieving the News automatically. In case if you are not interested in the Feeds you can deactivate it the “Live Tiles” and opt out of it. Right click on the option “Tile” and select the option that says “Turn live tile off” and you are done!

• Disable Bandwidth Sharing ! 

Windows 10 have come up with an improvement in its Windows Update option that allows it to sync updates from a local network PC in a P2P (peer-to-peer) style named “Windows Update Delivery Optimization” or WUDO.

WUDO is ideal for situations if your OS is set up with “Metered” connection but have more than one computer using the Windows 10 operating system. However, if the computers in the local network are of the same built, you can make use of only computer to update the other.

In order to deactivate this configuration click open “Settings” option from clicking on the windows start key and then settings.

Then select “Update and Security”.

Go to “Windows Update”.

Finally select “Choose how updates are delivered”.

Once you reach this option slide it to “OFF” and there you go!

WUDO is a dicey feature offered by Windows 10 since in its Home and Pro versions the WUDO is set in such a way that it transports Windows Update info to other computers via the internet, but only to computers in the local network in Education and Enterprise versions. So in situations where you are bound in a limited modem speed it is a better idea to stay away from sharing updates online with other computers.

Turn Off Auto Update Of Offline Maps In Windows 10

Just go to Settings -> System -> Offline Maps . Turn off the option Automatically Update Maps.

• Disable Windows 10 Auto Update ! Read Here

Delay Windows Update ! Only for Windows 10 Pro and Enterprise users

Yes! You also have this convenient feature in Windows 10 which allows you to actually delay/defer the Windows Updates. So if your PC is running an OS which is either Windows 10 Pro or Windows 10 Enterprise, you will find an option in the settings section of the Windows Update that will let you delay/defer the procedure of new features download for quite a few months. This definitely makes a huge impact as any update to the new features can be significantly big.

And what’s more, delaying the Windows Update will not disturb either the download process or the installation procedure of the security updates! Also, it will not affect the downloading of the features forever, but only for a limited period.

Go to the “Setting” option, click open the “Update and Security”, now select “Windows Update” and then click “Advanced Options”. Toggle towards the bottom and click on the check box next to the option that says “Defer Upgrades”. However, remember that by turning this on will also defer “Microsoft Updates”.

Please note that you need not apply all the options that we mentioned here and you should rather apply the ideas based on the type of connection that runs on your OS. However, when applied tactfully these ideas will help you control the data consumption by Windows 10 in a much better fashion, thereby helping you save a good amount of data.

Happy data saving :-)