Study Guide

Objective

Modern technological, scientific and industrial breakthroughs require more and more sophisticated and advanced tools in solving the greatest challenges of the world and human kind. We need supercomputers.

Supercomputers are immensely powerful machines capable of advanced modeling and computing with seemingly endless increase of performance. But how powerful is a supercomputer in practice? How are they built and why do we need them? What are their main advantages and possibilities? How are supercomputers used?

In this online course we’ll examine these questions and many more. You will learn 1) the essential vocabulary needed to understand what supercomputing really is all about, 2) the fundamentals of supercomputers and high performance computing, and 3) how supercomputers are utilized. By the end of the course, you will have the theoretical knowledge needed to explain the basic principles of a supercomputer and high performance computing. We’ll also take a look at some real-life examples and practical use cases of these amazing machines.

There are two language versions of the course. The English version will be available from 13.12.2021. The Finnish version will be available in spring 2022.

Enroll in a course at: https://edukamu.fi/elements-of-supercomputing
For KAMK students the study credit is automatically registered into PAKKI system within few weeks after the completion of the course.

Content

Introduction to HPC
What is a supercomputer?
Running and using a supercomputer
Parallel computing concepts
Mote technical aspects of parallel computing
HPC programming (optional)

Teaching methods

Opintojakso on itsenäisesti suoritettava verkkokurssi Edukamu-alustalla. Ilmoittautuminen Edukamussa:

suomenkielinen kurssi: https://edukamu.fi/elements-of-supercomputing-fi
englanninkielinen kurssi: https://edukamu.fi/elements-of-supercomputing

Evaluation scale

0 - 5

Assessment criteria, approved/failed

To complete the course short exams must be passed and every knowledge check question must be answered correctly.

Prerequisites

No prerequisites.

Further information

Level: Basic, no prerequisites
Time to complete: Approximately 15-30 hours (1 ECTS credit)
Structure: Six thematic chapters (chapter 6 is optional)
Evaluation: Short exam at the end of chapters 1-5
Grading: Pass/Fail

There are two language versions of the course. The English version will be available from 13.12.2021. The Finnish version will be available in spring 2022.