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Learner Reviews & Feedback for Model Thinking by University of Michigan

4.8
stars
2,254 ratings

About the Course

We live in a complex world with diverse people, firms, and governments whose behaviors aggregate to produce novel, unexpected phenomena. We see political uprisings, market crashes, and a never ending array of social trends. How do we make sense of it? Models. Evidence shows that people who think with models consistently outperform those who don't. And, moreover people who think with lots of models outperform people who use only one. Why do models make us better thinkers? Models help us to better organize information - to make sense of that fire hose or hairball of data (choose your metaphor) available on the Internet. Models improve our abilities to make accurate forecasts. They help us make better decisions and adopt more effective strategies. They even can improve our ability to design institutions and procedures. In this class, I present a starter kit of models: I start with models of tipping points. I move on to cover models explain the wisdom of crowds, models that show why some countries are rich and some are poor, and models that help unpack the strategic decisions of firm and politicians. The models covered in this class provide a foundation for future social science classes, whether they be in economics, political science, business, or sociology. Mastering this material will give you a huge leg up in advanced courses. They also help you in life. Here's how the course will work. For each model, I present a short, easily digestible overview lecture. Then, I'll dig deeper. I'll go into the technical details of the model. Those technical lectures won't require calculus but be prepared for some algebra. For all the lectures, I'll offer some questions and we'll have quizzes and even a final exam. If you decide to do the deep dive, and take all the quizzes and the exam, you'll receive a Course Certificate. If you just decide to follow along for the introductory lectures to gain some exposure that's fine too. It's all free. And it's all here to help make you a better thinker!...

Top reviews

AA

Jun 6, 2016

Wonderful course and equally wonderful instructor. I really like how Scott builds up from a very simple model and by explaining the intuition behind how we got the math, explains the maths.

GM

Jan 28, 2021

Excellent overview course with potential for individuals to go further and also think about decision making in general. One of the most useful courses I have taken.

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326 - 350 of 508 Reviews for Model Thinking

By Wael E

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May 8, 2016

Fantastic, I love this course

By Ludo S

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Mar 19, 2019

Essential for everyday life!

By Rafia N

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Jan 13, 2016

This course is just amazing.

By Karen S

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Jul 25, 2021

I really love this course!!

By Hasan R C

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Jul 4, 2019

Wonderful course,

Thank you.

By Ibrahim M H

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Jul 22, 2024

this exexcellent training

By Ασπασία Λ

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Dec 14, 2020

Just Excellent. Thank You!

By Pedro P

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Jun 6, 2017

Complete and very usefull.

By Muhamed A M S A ( D - B A

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Dec 4, 2020

think you for this course

By Panshul R

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Jun 19, 2020

Quizzes could be improved

By PALLAV N

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Jun 10, 2020

Excellent course by Scott

By conanar

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Dec 6, 2016

It really opened my mind.

By Vishesh P

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May 12, 2023

course was quite helpful

By Mateusz

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Dec 10, 2020

Well, learn the program!

By Alvin B

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Nov 9, 2020

This course is so great!

By For P R

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Aug 15, 2020

Interesting & Enjoyable

By 李勇

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May 16, 2018

An extraodinary course!

By YE Q

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Nov 3, 2017

非常值得学习的课程，对学术或者实践都大有裨益！

By Sinziana C

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Oct 16, 2017

Great Course! Loved it!

By David L

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Sep 7, 2020

Really like the course

By Eva S

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Oct 4, 2020

My brain is tingling.

By Aleksey E

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Oct 21, 2017

Great course, thanks.

By DONGLI Y

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Sep 20, 2017

An excellent course!

By Susan M

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Jul 26, 2017

I loved this course.

By Pablo O

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Mar 8, 2016

Mind opening course!