Curso gratis online de SIG

We just released a new MOOC on Geographic Information Systems (Part 1).
This english version is based on a previous french speaking course elaborated in the context of a collaborative project between the Ecole Polytechnique Federale de Lausanne (EPFL MOOCs), Switzerland, the Centre Universitaire de Recherche et d'Application en Teledetection (CURAT) - Universite Felix HOUPHOUET-BOIGNY in Abidjan-Cocody (Ivory Coast) and the Department of Geomatics at the Centre de Suivi Ecologique (CSE) in Dakar, Senegal.

More information and link to the MOOC "Geographical Information Systems - Part1" available here. 

Direct link from the Coursera website is: https://www.coursera.org/learn/gis-1/
A "Moocsig" Facebook page and related group for both english and french languages are available here.
The group constitutes an exchange forum between participants and teachers:https://www.facebook.com/moocsig. 

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Curso online gratuito sobre servicios del ecosistema

A new MOOC on Ecosystem Services produced by the University of Geneva, the Geneva Water Hub, the Luc Hoffmann Institute, and the Natural Capital Project is now available.


This MOOC is for anybody interested in mastering the strengths and weaknesses of the Ecosystem Services concept as a tool for promoting sustainable development. Subjects covered are both technical (methods for valuation, data acquisition, etc.) and socio-political (how to mainstream the process, ethics, criticism of the method, etc.). Watch an introductory video (3min) to get a feel for the course content and philosophy.


Learners will hear from many of the field’s leading minds. The course is taught by three primary instructors and by 29 guest instructors and interviewees coming from many of the key institutions (the Natural Capital Project, WWF, IUCN, IPBES, TEEB, Luc Hoffmann Institute) and Universities. Learners can expect to hear multiple contrasting opinions. See the full syllabus and list of instructors on the course page.


This course is offered “on-demand”. In practice, class cohorts are formed on a regular basis and you can take as much time as necessary to complete the course (2-5 hours for 5 weeks is a rough estimate). The first cohort begins February 2nd 2017 and once per month thereafter.


Access to all course materials and exams is free. To obtain a certificate of completion costs 49 USD. Financial aid is available (see FAQs on bottom of the course page).


All related information is available at: https://www.coursera.org/learn/ecosystem-services

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Curso de SIG gratuito online: Análisis espacial

This course is for people who know something about data analysis and want to learn how the special capabilities of spatial data analysis provides deeper understanding. You'll get free access to the full analytical capabilities of ArcGIS Online, Esri's cloud-based GIS platform. Previous experience with GIS software is helpful but not necessary.

• Hands-on exercises, short video lectures, quizzes, case studies, and discussion
• Six week course, two–three hours of study per week
• Certificate of completion and awards

Join here!

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Curso online de gestión de bases de datos de historia natural

Desde la Unidad de Coordinación de GBIF España os comunicamos que sigue abierto el plazo de preinscripción para el VII Taller Online de Fichado de Datos para Técnicos de Colecciones de Historia Natural.

Este curso online está dirigido a técnicos que trabajan informatizando datos de especímenes de colecciones de historia natural (tanto zoológicas como botánicas) y a investigadores que quieren organizar la información de sus ejemplares biológicos en una base de datos.

El curso se desarrollará del 8 al 22 de junio de 2016. El formulario de preinscripción puede cumplimentarse en línea a través del siguiente vínculo http://goo.gl/forms/uHkGGGnTt1 antes del 18 de mayo. Una vez realizado el proceso de selección y el alumno sea admitido en el curso, éste recibirá en su correo electrónico las claves y el link para acceder a la plataforma y al curso correspondiente.

Durante el taller se trabajará con una de las aplicaciones de captura de datos desarrolladas por la Unidad de Coordinación de GBIF de España: HZL (Herbar/Zoorbar Ligerohttp://www.gbif.es/hzl/hzl.php); especialmente diseñada para fichar material biológico de una manera cómoda y rápida. A lo largo del programa se tratará la informatización de los datos de ejemplares, la gestión de georreferenciaciones (localidades), la gestión de nombres científicos y producción de etiquetas y la posibilidad de integrar estos datos en los softwares Herbar y Zoorbar, preparados para una informatización y gestión más completa.

El programa del curso ha sido diseñado para usuarios con poca o ninguna experiencia en gestión de bases de datos de historia natural, no obstante, se requiere estar familiarizado con MS Access, lo cual facilitará el manejo y entendimiento de la aplicación.

Para obtener más información sobre cualquiera de estos temas, por favor consultad la página web del taller:http://www.gbif.es/formaciondetalles.php?IDForm=150

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Online course: Introduction to R for Data Science

R is rapidly becoming the leading language in data science and statistics. Today, the R programming language is the tool of choice for data scientists in every industry and field. Whether you are a full-time number cruncher, or just the occasional data analyst, R will suit your needs.

This introduction to R programming course will help you master the basics of R. In seven sections, you will cover its basic syntax, making you ready to undertake your own first data analysis using R.

Starting from variables and basic operations, you will learn how to handle data structures such as vectors, matrices, data frames and lists. In the final section, you will dive deeper into the graphical capabilities of R, and create your own stunning data visualizations. No prior knowledge in programming or data science is required.

What makes this R programming course unique is that you will continuously practice your newly acquired skills through interactive in-browser coding challenges using the DataCamp platform.

Instead of passively watching videos, you will solve real data problems while receiving instant and personalized feedback that guides you to the correct solution.

What you'll learn

• R language fundamentals and basic syntax
• What R is and how it’s used to perform data analysis 
• You will become familiar with the major R data structures
• You will make your own visualizations using R

 Start the course here!

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