Brandeis GPS Blog Articles in September, 2018

Cloud Computing

Data hubs are becoming increasingly virtual. According to the most recent annual cloud computing survey by North Bridge venture partners, 50 percent of organizations had either a cloud-first or cloud-only policy and 90 percent used the cloud in some way. As the cloud continues to grow, it is essential that software engineers looking to advance in their field have a working knowledge of cloud-based services.

Brandeis GPS will be offering Cloud Computing as a part-time, fully online course this October. During the 10-week course, students will explore cloud-based services, using internet-based software suites such as Google Docs or Salesforce.com, through platform-based systems (PaaS), such as Microsoft’s Azure environment, that make it easy to focus on developing new apps or services, to complete cloud-based infrastructure (IaaS), such as Amazon’s Web Services.

The course also explores how use of the cloud changes how we “do” IT. Cloud-based services are especially well-suited to Agile development and Lean Startup thinking. This leads to new ideas such as DevOps and “continuous deployment.” In addition, use of SaaS security systems changes how we integrate systems, how we handle identity and access management (IAM), opening up new threats and new opportunities to keep data secure. Finally, the course looks at how the cloud enables us to work with more data than ever before, “Big Data”— NoSQL databases and scalable infrastructure (e.g., Hadoop).

Throughout the course, students will learn how to evaluate the various cloud-based services and how to communicate that evaluation to decision-makers in the organization.

It also includes a hands-on practicum using Amazon Web Services (AWS). Students will explore the most common features of Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS), and how IaaS, overall, differs from older paradigms of systems management and program architecture.

At the end of the course, students will be able to:

Describe the major categories of cloud-based services and the major trends in cloud computing and be able to explain the impact of cloud computing on the role of corporate IT;
Describe new roles and approaches to software development tuned to the cloud, starting with DevOps and the idea of continuous development;
Assess specific services, evaluate whether or not they are appropriate to specific challenges, and plan their implementation, where relevant;
Describe how the cloud has enabled enterprises to rethink how data are gathered, analyzed, and processed, using NoSQL databases, and scalable infrastructure such as Hadoop;
Evaluate security challenges in the cloud and understand current best practices;
Successfully carry out backup, system imaging and disaster recovery;
Successfully set up, monitor, and maintain a reasonably complex web-based service on Amazon Web Services (the course practicum).

At Brandeis GPS, you can take up to two courses before enrolling in one of our 12 online master’s degrees. If you’re interested in exploring the Master of Software Engineering, or would like to learn more about cloud computing for professional development, contact the GPS office for more information or to request a syllabus: 781-736-8787, gps@brandeis.edu, or submit your information.

Healthcare Delivery System Description Word Cloud

Healthcare Delivery in the U.S.

September 25, 2018 / kaplane / 0 Comments

The healthcare system in the U.S. is made up of both public and private programs. Clinicians, hospitals, patients, insurance plans, and regulators intersect to form a complex, interconnected network. To navigate the U.S. healthcare system successfully, health and medical stakeholders must have a fundamental understanding of the events and policies that have shaped the current environment in which they operate.

Brandeis GPS will be offering Healthcare Delivery in the U.S. during our upcoming October session. The fully online, 10-week course will provide an overview of how the U.S. system has developed, and place a substantial focus on how healthcare data has developed over time and informed changes to the delivery system.

The course examines how health informatics supports, influences, and is influenced by the business side of health care. It is an introduction to health care business systems and models with a particular emphasis on the value of health information technology (HIT) to the organization. Upon successful completion of this course, the student will be able to:

Discuss knowledgeably the state of health care in the United States
Evaluate options for measuring health status and financing health care and examine options for
providing health care both acute and chronic
Examine public health care and the role of the government in the delivery of health care
Explain the role of information systems in providing health care and measuring health care quality

At Brandeis GPS, you can take up to two courses before enrolling in one of our 12 online Master’s degree programs. If you’re interested in exploring the MS in Health and Medical Informatics or would like to learn more about healthcare delivery in the U.S. to fill a skills gap, contact the GPS office for more information or to request a syllabus: 781-736-8787, gps@brandeis.edu, or submit your information.

The best discounts for online students

September 21, 2018 / kaplane / 0 Comments

From retail to technology to travel to entertainment, student discounts provide you with many ways to save. At Brandeis GPS, all students receive student ID cards that you can use in addition to your .edu address to obtain discounts. We’ve compiled a list of some of the best discounts available to graduate students:

Retail:

Whether you’re looking for professional attire or something to wear on the weekend, you’ll want to check out the following student deals on clothing and other items:

Amazon: Using your student (.edu) email, get 6 months of free Amazon Prime Student (trial) then 50% off the annual Amazon Prime subscription fee. Get unlimited free Two-Day shipping as well as special offers and promotions.

EXPRESS: Get 15% off both online and in-store. Simply register and verify your student status with UNiDAYS.

J.Crew: Get 15% off in-store purchases with a valid student ID.

Tommy Hilfiger: Get 15% off your online purchase by confirming your eligibility through SheerID.

Nike: Get 10% off your online order by verifying your student details through SheerID.

Travel:

One of the benefits of an online graduate program is that you can do your work from anywhere. For discounts on the go, read about the following student travel deals:

CheapOair.com: Find cheap tickets and save big with CheapOair’s student deals and promotions.

StudentUniverse/American Airlines: StudentUniverse and American Airlines have teamed up to offer students great prices for inexpensive travel. See link for more details.

E-Z Rent-a-Car: Save 10% using the code 7192E. Coupon expires on 01/01/2019. See link for participating locations.

Electronics & Technology:

Technology is essential for students, especially those taking courses online. Here are some top discounts to use for completing coursework and beyond:

Microsoft: Students can get Office 365 for free (including Word, Excel, PowerPoint, OneNote, and now Microsoft Teams, plus additional classroom tools) and save $200 on Surface Pro and Surface Laptop plus 10% off Surface accessories.

Adobe: Get over 60% off Adobe Creative Cloud All Apps plan in your first year.

Dell: Save on select computers and earn up to 6% back in rewards through Dell University. Get free expedited shipping on your purchase as well as other exclusive offers.

News & Entertainment:

We know you have a life outside the classroom and may want to take some time to relax and stay updated on relevant news. Here are some ways to stay connected:

Bloomberg Businessweek: Students can get 12 weeks of all-access and digital access for $12.

The Economist: Students can get 12 weeks of print and digital subscription for just $12.

The New York Times: Students can save on print and digital subscription. Get 4 weeks free then $1 a week for Basic Digital Access.

The Wall Street Journal: Get up to 50% off the annual student rate or pay $15 for 15 weeks.

The Washington Post: All students are eligible for a 50% discount on digital subscriptions. Sign up with your .edu email address and verify with SheerID to activate the Academic Rate.

Spotify: Pay only $4.99 for Spotify Premium, Hulu Limited Commercials, and SHOWTIME. Simply provide your student email when prompted during registration.

Learn more details and read about other student discounts available here.

If you’d like to learn more about other benefits of a Brandeis GPS education, contact our admissions team at 781-736-8787 or gps@brandeis.edu

Molecular Biology, Genetics, and Disease

September 18, 2018 / kaplane / 0 Comments

Biotechnology and pharmaceutical organizations are increasingly viewing bioinformatics as an integral part of their research processes. Biomedical industries are seeking to make use of vast amounts of genomic data to produce complex and accurate biological models.

Brandeis GPS will be offering Molecular Biology, Genetics, and Disease as a part-time, fully online course this October. The 10-week course will introduce students to the basic concepts of molecular, cell, and developmental biology. It will cover classic genetics, from Mendelian inheritance to quantitative and complex traits, associations and population genetics. It will address the anatomy and function of genomes from humans and model organisms. Using the Human Genome Projects as an example, students will learn sequencing and mapping technologies. Basic sequence analysis methods will be introduced, along with techniques to navigate genome browsers and other relevant databases.

At the end of the course, students will be able to:

Navigate genome browsers and databases relevant to genetics and genomics.
Analyze pedigrees and apply genetics to identify disease associations.
Use techniques of physical and genetic mapping and sequencing.
Use comparative genomics to detect homologous sequences within and between organisms and to define evolutionary relationships.
Predict possible consequences of mutations and genetic variation within and outside of genes.
Use examples from developmental biology, human disease and immunology to illustrate genetic control mechanisms and mutations.

At Brandeis GPS, you can take up to two courses before enrolling in one of our 12 online master’s degrees. If you’re interested in exploring the MS in Bioinformatics, or would like to explore molecular biology to fill a bioinformatics skills gap, contact the GPS office for more information or to request a syllabus: 781-736-8787, gps@brandeis.edu, or submit your information.

Brandeis graduate student publishes new book on AI and Robotics

September 17, 2018 / kaplane / 0 Comments

We are excited to announce that Brandeis Project and Program Management student, Francis Govers, recently published a book, Artificial Intelligence for Robotics. Govers provided us with the following description:

Artificial Intelligence for Robotics starts with an introduction to Robot Operating Systems (ROS), Python, robotic fundamentals, and the software and tools that are required to start out with robotics. You will learn robotics concepts that will be useful for making decisions, along with basic navigation skills.

As you make your way through the chapters, you will learn about object recognition and genetic algorithms, which will teach your robot to identify and pick up an irregular object. With plenty of use cases throughout, you will explore natural language processing (NLP) and machine learning techniques to further enhance your robot. In the concluding chapters, you will learn about path planning and goal-oriented programming, which will help your robot prioritize tasks.

By the end of this book, you will have learned to give your robot an artificial personality using simulated intelligence.

What you will learn

Get started with robotics and artificial intelligence
Apply simulation techniques to give your robot an artificial personality
Understand object recognition using neural networks and supervised learning techniques
Pick up objects using genetic algorithms for manipulation
Teach your robot to listen using NLP via an expert system
Use machine learning and computer vision to teach your robot how to avoid obstacles
Understand path planning, decision trees, and search algorithms in order to enhance your robot

Francis Govers’s paperback and e-book can be found on Amazon here.

For software engineers seeking to develop an advanced set of robotics technology skills, Brandeis GPS offers an MS in Robotic Software Engineering. For more information about the part-time, fully online program, contact the GPS office: 781-736-8787, gps@brandeis.edu, or submit your information.

What’s next for EdTech

September 14, 2018 / kaplane / 0 Comments

Education technology is constantly evolving alongside the development of new tools, processes and resources. Each year, an expert panel of community members publishes the NMC Horizon Report, which lays out the latest trends and developments in EdTech and identifies new impacts on learning, teaching, and creative inquiry.

This year’s key findings include:

In the short-term, a growing focus on measuring learning and new learning spaces;
In the mid-term, an increase in open educational resources and the rise of different forms of interdisciplinary studies; and
In the long-term, advancing cultures of innovation and cross-institution and cross-sector collaboration

The report predicts that analytics technologies and makerspaces will likely influence EdTech in 2019. Within the next five years and beyond, educators can expect to see the adoption of more adaptive learning technologies and artificial intelligence, mixed reality and robotics.

Be at the forefront of EdTech

Brandeis University is proud to offer master’s degrees for practitioners seeking to make an impact on the future of education technology:

MS in Instructional Design and Technology

MS in Strategic Analytics

MS in Robotic Software Engineering

Brandeis GPS programs are part-time, and 100% online. To learn more about our master’s degrees, request more information or contact the GPS office: 781-736-8787, gps@brandeis.edu.

Cognitive and Social Psychology of User-Centered Design

September 12, 2018 / kaplane / 0 Comments

For those who build things designed for human use, the understanding of human behavior is critical, and the design and development of digital properties is no exception. More and more designers are working to produce technologies that adapt to the user rather than attempt to force behavioral change. It is important for these designers to apply social and psychological principles to predict user responses.

Brandeis GPS will be offering Cognitive and Social Psychology of User-Centered Design as a part-time, full online course this October. The 10-week course will explore the behavioral, cognitive and social aspects of human activity. Throughout the course, students will examine the psychological and social aspects that impact human interface interaction in both physical and virtual environments. Topics will include Signal Detection Theory, Gestalt Theory, Cognitive Load Theory, and various motivational theories as well as the cultural and social implications of design.

By the end of the course, students will be able to:

Identify the cognitive and social psychology principles that impact the use of a particular design, and offer design solutions that will ensure effective user experience
Explain Cognitive Load Theory, apply the theory to designs, and explain the whys and hows of reaching optimal cognitive load
Explain Signal Detection Theory and apply the theory effectively to designs
Make reasonable predictions of human behavior with regards to a user interface and/or design by applying their knowledge of perception, attention, and cognition
Apply knowledge of emotion and motivation theories to designs in order to make them more effective, and explain the choices and applications
Identify where a particular design may create a cognitive error, or why a particular design may have caused a cognitive error, and offer solutions to reduce error
Effectively communicate design solutions to stakeholders

At Brandeis GPS, you can take up to two courses before enrolling in one of our 12 online master’s degrees. If you’re interested in exploring the MS in User-Centered Design, or would like to learn more about cognitive and social psychology as part of your own professional development, contact the GPS office for more information or to request a syllabus: 781-736-8787, gps@brandeis.edu, or submit your information.

Photo from BostonUSA.com

FinTech in Boston

September 6, 2018 / kaplane / 0 Comments

With hundreds of startups and some of the world’s largest asset managers, custodial banks, and insurers, it’s no surprise that Boston is a hub for financial technology. Boston is home to many companies in the financial services industry, large and small, including Circle, MassMutual, Flywire, and FinTech Sandbox. In the upcoming week, September 10-14, 2018, these organizations and more will come together for Boston FinTech Week 2018. The theme of this year is: Moving Beyond Volatility.

As part of a collaboration between Boston’s accelerators, institutions, startups, universities, firms, and co-working spaces, events will highlight content on new models and technologies that move markets forward. Throughout the week there are more than 35 free events across downtown Boston celebrating FinTech innovation. Events range from Fintech for Social Impact to Innovation in Insurance. See the full list of the events taking place and register for each event individually here.

For those in the financial sector looking for the technical skill-sets necessary to build a FinTech career, Brandeis GPS will be offering the following course this fall: FinTech: The Evolution of Technology for Financial Services. The 10-week, fully online course will explore FinTech as a solution to challenges facing an inter-connected global marketplace. It will address the evolution of the financial industry landscape, the challenges and opportunities this new era presents, and the drivers behind the change.

At Brandeis GPS, you can take up to two courses before enrolling in one of our 12 master’s degrees. If you’re interested in exploring the MS in Digital Innovation for FinTech, or would like to explore technology for FinTech as part of your own professional development, contact the GPS office for more information or to request a syllabus: 781-736-8787, gps@brandeis.edu, or submit your information.

How to be a successful leader

September 4, 2018 / kaplane / 0 Comments

Word Cloud of RMGT description There are many factors that determine the success of an organizational leader, from personal attributes such as leadership style and emotional intelligence to communication, decision making, and conflict resolution skills. Then you have external factors, including organizational structure and the influence of corporate culture. Regardless of external influences, successful leaders have a strong moral code, are able to motivate a team, and can provide effective feedback when necessary.

Brandeis GPS will be offering Organizational Leadership and Decision Making during our Fall 2 session, starting in October. The fully online, 10-week course will focus on leadership as a process by which one person influences the attitudes and behaviors of others. Topics covered include various leadership theories and models, differences across cultures, ethics and attributes, organizational change and development, and the role of the leader in establishing organizational culture and facilitating change. Students will deepen their understanding of these concepts through group projects and leadership simulations.

At the end of the course, students will be able to:

Gain insight into their own strengths and weaknesses as a leader and create a plan for continued introspection and improvement
Describe the nature of leadership and assess the basic functions of management and the complexities of leadership
Analyze the role of moral reasoning and ethics in organizational and team decisions
Examine multiple viewpoints for differing frames of reference, perspectives, and orientations to the same situation
Employ leadership, team-building and decision-making concepts; examine how teams make high-stakes decisions in stressful situations, why individuals and teams make flawed choices and how leaders shape the context and the process through which teams make decisions
Critically reflect on leadership style and their own experience within a team and its leadership
Understand the role of leaders in setting strategic focus and direction

At Brandeis GPS, you can take up to two courses before enrolling in one of our 12 online Master’s degree programs. If you’re interested in exploring the MS in Technology Management or would like to learn more about leadership and decision making as part of your own professional development, contact the GPS office for more information or to request a syllabus: 781-736-8787, gps@brandeis.edu, or submit your information.