# New MIT course: Introduction to computational thinking for real-world problems

**URL:** <https://discourse.julialang.org/t/new-mit-course-introduction-to-computational-thinking-for-real-world-problems/45909>\
**Category:** Community\
**Tags:** teaching\
**Created:** [September 1, 2020, 6:07pm UTC](https://discourse.julialang.org/t/new-mit-course-introduction-to-computational-thinking-for-real-world-problems/45909 "2020-09-01T18:07:09Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 16\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![dpsanders](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/julialang/user_avatar/discourse.julialang.org/dpsanders/32/3573_2.png) [@dpsanders](https://discourse.julialang.org/u/dpsanders)\
**Post date:** [September 1, 2020, 6:07pm UTC](https://discourse.julialang.org/t/new-mit-course-introduction-to-computational-thinking-for-real-world-problems/45909/1 "2020-09-01T18:07:09Z")

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We’re happy to announce a new course on Computational Thinking with Julia, co-taught by  
Alan Edelman, Grant Sanderson (of 3Blue1Brown), James Schloss and myself:

> **[GitHub - mitmath/computational-thinking: Course 18.S191 at MIT, Fall 2022 -...](https://github.com/mitmath/computational-thinking)**
>
> Course 18.S191 at MIT, Fall 2022 - Introduction to computational thinking with Julia - GitHub - mitmath/computational-thinking: Course 18.S191 at MIT, Fall 2022 - Introduction to computational thin...

The first video lectures are are now up on YouTube at

https://www.youtube.com/embed/videoseries?list=PLP8iPy9hna6Q2Kr16aWPOKE0dz9OnsnIJ&wmode=transparent&rel=0&autohide=1&showinfo=1&enablejsapi=1

Please feel free to follow along between 2:30-3:30pm EDT (i.e. in 25 minutes from when this is posted), when we will be answering questions live on Discord:

> **[Discord - A New Way to Chat with Friends & Communities](https://discord.com/invite/amhdfp)**
>
> Discord is the easiest way to communicate over voice, video, and text. Chat, hang out, and stay close with your friends and communities.

or view the videos later on.

There will also be live lectures on Thursdays from 2:30 to 3pm EDT.

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**Author:** ![Tamas\_Papp](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/julialang/user_avatar/discourse.julialang.org/tamas_papp/32/25949_2.png) [@Tamas\_Papp](https://discourse.julialang.org/u/Tamas_Papp)\
**Post date:** [September 2, 2020, 1:46pm UTC](https://discourse.julialang.org/t/new-mit-course-introduction-to-computational-thinking-for-real-world-problems/45909/2 "2020-09-02T13:46:50Z")

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Is there a syllabus that is publicly available?

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**Author:** ![anon37204545](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/439d5e/32.png) [@anon37204545](https://discourse.julialang.org/u/anon37204545)\
**Post date:** [September 2, 2020, 1:58pm UTC](https://discourse.julialang.org/t/new-mit-course-introduction-to-computational-thinking-for-real-world-problems/45909/3 "2020-09-02T13:58:43Z")

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👍 for introducing Pluto in teaching

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**Author:** ![dpsanders](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/julialang/user_avatar/discourse.julialang.org/dpsanders/32/3573_2.png) [@dpsanders](https://discourse.julialang.org/u/dpsanders)\
**Post date:** [September 2, 2020, 2:01pm UTC](https://discourse.julialang.org/t/new-mit-course-introduction-to-computational-thinking-for-real-world-problems/45909/4 "2020-09-02T14:01:49Z")

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There’s no syllabus available yet.  
The modules will be

- Analysing images / data
- Ray tracing
- Epidemic propagation
- Climate modelling

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**Author:** ![viralbshah](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/julialang/user_avatar/discourse.julialang.org/viralbshah/32/54_2.png) [@viralbshah](https://discourse.julialang.org/u/viralbshah)\
**Post date:** [September 4, 2020, 2:16pm UTC](https://discourse.julialang.org/t/new-mit-course-introduction-to-computational-thinking-for-real-world-problems/45909/5 "2020-09-04T14:16:44Z")

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This class has had fantastic online reception, with many of 3blue1brown followers following it.

The class does have a website now: [https://mitmath.github.io/18S191/Fall20/](https://mitmath.github.io/18S191/Fall20/)

Yesterday’s convolutions lecture that was streamed live has over 40k views by now. I am so glad this class took off. To me, it is a unique blend of Grant’s teaching style with Alan and David’s computational thinking. I have no doubt the class itself is evolving.  
[https://mitmath.github.io/18S191/Fall20/lecture2/](https://mitmath.github.io/18S191/Fall20/lecture2/)

The class discord channel has over 600 students.

> **[Discord - A New Way to Chat with Friends & Communities](https://discord.com/invite/RAyDRr)**
>
> Discord is the easiest way to communicate over voice, video, and text. Chat, hang out, and stay close with your friends and communities.

While many people have told me that they wished they had materials of this quality as they were learning scientific computing, others have told me that the Pluto experience is the highlight for them!

-viral

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**Author:** ![spaceLem](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/julialang/user_avatar/discourse.julialang.org/spacelem/32/217628_2.png) [@spaceLem](https://discourse.julialang.org/u/spaceLem)\
**Post date:** [September 4, 2020, 3:03pm UTC](https://discourse.julialang.org/t/new-mit-course-introduction-to-computational-thinking-for-real-world-problems/45909/6 "2020-09-04T15:03:49Z")

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I’ve got to admit, seeing 3blue1brown in a video makes me very likely to want to watch it.

So glad to see he’s discovered Julia!

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**Author:** ![johnh](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/julialang/user_avatar/discourse.julialang.org/johnh/32/3615_2.png) [@johnh](https://discourse.julialang.org/u/johnh)\
**Post date:** [September 4, 2020, 4:55pm UTC](https://discourse.julialang.org/t/new-mit-course-introduction-to-computational-thinking-for-real-world-problems/45909/7 "2020-09-04T16:55:23Z")

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I have been following also. Great course and thankyou to the lecturers. Philip included.  
The use of Pluto is quite simply amazing. For a project which is 7 months old this is a great achievement @fonsp

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**Author:** ![RoyiAvital](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/julialang/user_avatar/discourse.julialang.org/royiavital/32/571_2.png) [@RoyiAvital](https://discourse.julialang.org/u/RoyiAvital)\
**Post date:** [September 4, 2020, 6:02pm UTC](https://discourse.julialang.org/t/new-mit-course-introduction-to-computational-thinking-for-real-world-problems/45909/8 "2020-09-04T18:02:49Z")

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It seems the Discord invitation is invalid. Any idea?

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**Author:** ![mthelm85](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/julialang/user_avatar/discourse.julialang.org/mthelm85/32/224164_2.png) [@mthelm85](https://discourse.julialang.org/u/mthelm85)\
**Post date:** [September 4, 2020, 6:49pm UTC](https://discourse.julialang.org/t/new-mit-course-introduction-to-computational-thinking-for-real-world-problems/45909/9 "2020-09-04T18:49:19Z")

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Whoa…David Sanders, Alan Edelman, Grant Sanderson, and James Schloss all teaching a course _together._ If I were trying to put together an intellectual version of the Harlem Globe Trotters, these folks would definitely be on the list. As it stands, it’s like the Julia version of _The Fantastic Four._ Get Chris Rackauckas involved and you will have the intellectual equivalent to Marvel’s _The Avengers._

Thanks for putting this together - I will thoroughly enjoy the material 🙂

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**Author:** ![dpsanders](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/julialang/user_avatar/discourse.julialang.org/dpsanders/32/3573_2.png) [@dpsanders](https://discourse.julialang.org/u/dpsanders)\
**Post date:** [September 4, 2020, 7:21pm UTC](https://discourse.julialang.org/t/new-mit-course-introduction-to-computational-thinking-for-real-world-problems/45909/10 "2020-09-04T19:21:13Z")

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Dooes [Discord](https://discord.gg/6DgMkg) work?

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**Author:** ![RoyiAvital](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/julialang/user_avatar/discourse.julialang.org/royiavital/32/571_2.png) [@RoyiAvital](https://discourse.julialang.org/u/RoyiAvital)\
**Post date:** [September 4, 2020, 7:33pm UTC](https://discourse.julialang.org/t/new-mit-course-introduction-to-computational-thinking-for-real-world-problems/45909/11 "2020-09-04T19:33:26Z")

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Yes it does.  
Thank You.

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**Author:** ![Iulian.Cioarca](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/julialang/user_avatar/discourse.julialang.org/iulian.cioarca/32/30166_2.png) [@Iulian.Cioarca](https://discourse.julialang.org/u/Iulian.Cioarca)\
**Post date:** [September 4, 2020, 7:40pm UTC](https://discourse.julialang.org/t/new-mit-course-introduction-to-computational-thinking-for-real-world-problems/45909/12 "2020-09-04T19:40:08Z")

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The Discord link on [18.S191 Introduction to Computational Thinking](https://mitmath.github.io/18S191/Fall20/) is still invalid. Some people in the comments section on youtube pointed this out as well.

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**Author:** ![dpsanders](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/julialang/user_avatar/discourse.julialang.org/dpsanders/32/3573_2.png) [@dpsanders](https://discourse.julialang.org/u/dpsanders)\
**Post date:** [September 4, 2020, 7:57pm UTC](https://discourse.julialang.org/t/new-mit-course-introduction-to-computational-thinking-for-real-world-problems/45909/13 "2020-09-04T19:57:44Z")

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OK fixed, thanks.

Issues should be reported on the GitHub page:  
[https://github.com/mitmath/18S191](https://github.com/mitmath/18S191)

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**Author:** ![johnh](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/julialang/user_avatar/discourse.julialang.org/johnh/32/3615_2.png) [@johnh](https://discourse.julialang.org/u/johnh)\
**Post date:** [September 6, 2020, 6:03pm UTC](https://discourse.julialang.org/t/new-mit-course-introduction-to-computational-thinking-for-real-world-problems/45909/15 "2020-09-06T18:03:52Z")

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The use of Pluto in the Convolutions lecture is stunning.  
We are working with a cat image. Grant Sanderson changes to a zebra image at the top of the workbook and then due to the reactive nature of Pluto everything changes.  
It’s like Harry Potter waving a magic wand.

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**Author:** ![fonsp](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/julialang/user_avatar/discourse.julialang.org/fonsp/32/222349_2.png) [@fonsp](https://discourse.julialang.org/u/fonsp)\
**Post date:** [September 9, 2020, 4:44pm UTC](https://discourse.julialang.org/t/new-mit-course-introduction-to-computational-thinking-for-real-world-problems/45909/16 "2020-09-09T16:44:47Z")

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If you watch Harry Potter with a loose interpretation then it’s a documentary about programmers 👀

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**Author:** ![sylvaticus](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/julialang/user_avatar/discourse.julialang.org/sylvaticus/32/203883_2.png) [@sylvaticus](https://discourse.julialang.org/u/sylvaticus)\
**Post date:** [August 23, 2022, 11:23am UTC](https://discourse.julialang.org/t/new-mit-course-introduction-to-computational-thinking-for-real-world-problems/45909/17 "2022-08-23T11:23:01Z")

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Any news about further runs of this course ? (I know it is still available as “archived” course, but it’s not the same…)