An online training course in Python programming, data science and machine learning, tailored for health, disease and bioscience.
Whether you are a novice or experienced programmer, L2D contains modules that are right for you.
The Basic Python component of the L2D course offers learners a comprehensive introduction to programming in Python. Some of the key study areas covered in this module are:
The Data Handling component of the L2D course comprises an introduction to importing, handling and analysing a variety of different data types, in Python. This module is a vital prerequisite to understanding and applying the Machine Learning techniques that we cover in later parts of our curriculum. Some of the key study areas covered in this module are:
The Machine Learning component of L2D segues on from the previous Data Handling module, whereby learners are thoroughly introduced to Numpy arrays, and preparing data for machine learning. This module delves into supervised machine learning, and provides an introduction to the classification question. Some of the key study areas covered in this module are:
This is the final concluding instalment of the L2D course, and covers unsupervised machine learning, Some of the key study areas covered in this module are:
Our course provides a rich resource of learning materials, available online for learning and studying at a learner’s preferred pace. These include:
With each lesson topic release, we hold a 1-hour live lecture online, that allows learners to log in remotely, while we explain the core concepts of each topic. Students have the option to code live with us, in real-time, and pause, ask questions, and have us review their code on-screen with them, to help with any issues they may be facing. These live lectures are filmed in high resolution, and made archival for students to replay, at their leisure.
These effectively provide an online textbook-style resource, that thoroughly explores each topic, complete with plentiful life science-based examples. These materials are complete with figures, do-it-yourself exercises and solutions. All our online learning materials are hosted online as HTML pages, which can be accessed on a variety of devices.
With each lesson topic offered on L2D, we also provide succinct tutorial videos, that cover the main areas of study to which learners are introduced. These are professionally filmed in 4K resolution, and are presented and narrated by an L2D lecturer. The tutorial videos also come complete with type-along, animated code and output boxes, that learners can follow at their own pace, pausing and rewinding, as necessary.
Learners are expected to complete one assignment per lesson topic. Assignments are marked by our L2D tutors, who provide plentiful point-by-point, personalised feedback, giving any learners who are struggling the opportunity to thoroughly discuss and understand the material and concepts taught on the course.
L2D run two courses per year. The accelerated Summer course commences in June of each year, and the paced Fall course commences in October.
To comfortably enrol in the L2D course, it is recommended that you have a very basic level of proficiency in using a personal computer: and a basic proficiency in using the operating system of your choosing (either Windows, Linux or Mac OS). You will also need a suitable computer of your own and access to a broadband internet connection.
If you choose to take the entire L2D course, comprising the Basic Python, Data Handling and Machine Learning modules, the combination price of the course is reduced to £1000, per individual.
Yes. Our Basic Python course – in its earliest modules – takes learners through the basics of setting up Python, and the most basic programming operations and functions. For those individuals who have either not programmed before, or who have limited programming experience, we recommend that you enrol in L2D from the Basic Python stage. Please contact admin@learntodiscover.ai for more information on the optimal point at which to join the course.
Yes. For those individuals who have extensive Python programming experience, we recommend they take modules onwards of our Data Handling units: a prerequisite of this and all subsequent modules on our course, is a basic proficiency in the Python programming language. For learners who have this level of experience, we recommend joining from this stage, onwards. Please contact admin@learntodiscover.ai to discuss this, and how to join at the appropriate stage of the course.
Each year, we run two L2D cohorts, to cater to different levels of prior programming experience among our learner base.
If you would like help deciding which cohort is best for you, please contact us at admin@learntodiscover.ai
L2D has a dedicated team of tutors and academics on standby for learners who have specific questions or queries related to their study. Tutors are also available to engage in dedicated 1-to-1 support sessions, that learners can arrange via our dedicated online booking system. For learners who wish to seek other avenues of support, questions can be posted on our dedicated online forums, moderated regularly by L2D tutors.
Irrespective of when you take the L2D course, the workload is roughly the same. We recommend about 8 hours of self-study per lesson topic: this covers time for attending our live lectures, as well as self-study and completing assignments. There is an assignment due at the end of each lesson topic release. If learners opt for joining the paced Fall cohort that commences in October of each year, these hours of study are spread out over a fortnightly period. For learners who opt for the accelerated Summer cohort that commences in June, these hours of study are condensed into a single week.
While we average the hours of study per topic to be roughly 8 hours in total, realistically, this varies slightly. Many learners find the Basic Python topics faster to complete, while the more complex Machine Learning topics may take individuals a longer period of time to finish, for example.
Once a learner has completed the final Machine Learning lessons, we assess their learning with a Final Project; completion of this is allocated a further 30 days, and tutor support is available throughout, should learners have any questions.
The L2D course is currently hosted on a GitHub-based learning environment. We provide assignment submission and marking via GitHub Classroom, and materials are hosted on individually-created GitHub repositories, provided for each learner on a per-topic basis. These repositories contain everything a learner will need to complete each lesson offered on L2D: this includes written materials, video materials, details of live lectures, supplementary Jupyter Notebook assignment templates and data: specific to each lesson release. Our GitHub learning environment also features a public discussion forum available to all learners, allowing interaction with both L2D academics and other learners partaking in the course. We fully encourage and make heavy use of these forums as a place to announce updates, and receive questions from our learners, with publicised solutions and answers.
By the end of the course, L2D learners will have fully familiarised themselves with GitHub as a platform and environment for learning, programming, collaborating and exchanging code, data and files. GitHub is also a global community that serves as an international online hub for informatics, programming and computer science. Together with the materials and topics covered, the training we provide via GitHub is a pivotal component of the knowledge that L2D learners leave our course with.
The L2D course is assessed via topic-wise assignments, together with a Final Project:
To register your interest in an upcoming course, please fill out our enquiry form, and a representative will get back to you as soon as possible.
We offer a limited number of in-person workshops throughout the year. Upon request, it is possible to book our L2D Academics to host a face-to-face, in-person workshop at a venue of your choosing. In terms of content and activities, these workshops typically offer tailored programmes of learning spread out over one or more days of teaching activities. If you are interested in attending or suggesting a future L2D workshop, please get in touch with us at admin@learntodiscover.ai.
Yes. Our online resources are available to each individual learner on a personalised, one-user-only login to our online learning portal. These will be available for a limited time, following completion of the course.
