What software will I need?
* The only software you need is a recent version of any Chromium-based web browser (such as Google Chrome, Microsoft Edge, Opera, or Brave). During the course, we will use a free and open-source software app called Möbius Modeller. Even after completing the course, you will be able to continue using this app for free.
What hardware will I need?
* You do not need any specialized hardware to complete the exercises in the course. A recent mid-range laptop will be sufficient. A laptop with a dedicated graphics card will result in a smoother user experience.
Do I need to know any programming languages before I start?
* No, this course is designed for beginners and we will step you through all the programming required.
Will I be able to write code after completing this program?
* Yes. You will learn procedural programming, using typical imperative programming-language constructs. You will also learn how to create computational procedures for manipulating spatial data in diverse ways.
Will I be able to share the computational models that I create?
* Yes. The models that you create (either during the course or after) can be shared either by exporting the models in other formats or by publishing them on the internet as interactive web pages. Publishing a model is straightforward and is one of the techniques that you will learn.
Will I learn how to program in any (JavaScript, Python etc.) language?
* You will learn the fundamental concepts of programming, such as variables, data types, control flow, data structures and functions. Although we will not specifically teach languages such as JavaScript, Python, etc, the fundamental concepts that you learn will be transferable to all these languages.
What is the passing grade for the course?
* An overall average for all assignments of 70% is required to pass the course.
Do I need to achieve 70% on each assignment?
* No, you need an average grade for all assignments of 70%. This means you can do poorly or miss an assignment as long as you do well enough on other assignments to achieve 70% overall.
How will my computational modelling assignments be graded?
* Most of your computational modelling assignments will be graded using an automated online grader. For each assignment, you will be given specific instructions on the model that you need to create. You will upload your answer model, and within a few seconds, you will receive the result, with feedback. If the model you uploaded is not correct, you will have multiple chances to try again. For the last assignment of the course, you will be required to create your own model from scratch. This final assignment will be manually graded.
