Blog | Harvard Online

Anonymity, De-Identification, and the Accuracy of Data

A blog written by Professors Michael D. Smith and Jim Waldo to give readers an overview of different kinds of anonymization and de-identification strategies by looking at three different regulations.

Most Recent Articles

Social Justice in Modern Health Care
Immediate solutions for health care workers to implement towards addressing disparities.

Everyday Applications of Data Science
Professor Dustin Tingley breaks down common examples of data science at work.

Pros and Cons of Big Data
Learn how big data revolutionizes initiatives across industries and understand challenges.

How to Take Control of Your Data Health in 2024
Get familiar with your personal data privacy practices and examine the health of your data protection systems.

How Google’s 2024 Third-Party Tracking Cookie Removal Impacts Users
Understand how the latest Google privacy update impacts your business data analytics and personal data protection efforts.

Announcements

Learner Resources

Webinars

Data Science and Digital

Health Care

Humanities

Leadership and Business

Announcements

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A Decade of Innovation: Online Learning at Harvard

We are always asking, “What does the future look like for teaching and learning?”

Photo of Bharat Anand, Vice Provost for Advances in Learning at Harvard University speaking with representatives of the Ibero-American Technology Foundation at the event held in December 2023.

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Harvard Online and Ibero-American Technology Foundation: New Opportunities for Ibero-American Learners

The agreement will introduce Harvard's technology courses, starting with a focus on data science, to university students throughout the Ibero-American region.

photo of people in a meeting space sitting at long tables listening to a lecture

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UniRef Brings Harvard Courses on Web Programming to Syrian Refugees

Harvard Online is proud to provide access to education and experiences that help communities thrive.

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Harvard Online in Your Workplace: Elevate Your Team's Professional Development

At Harvard Online we understand the value of an educated and skilled workforce.

White staircase ascending up and to the right

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Advance Your Career with Harvard Online Learning Paths

Demonstrate that you are committed to your growth by specializing further and pursuing a multi-course certificate program.

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New Course Announcement: Innovations in Teamwork for Health Care

Harvard thought leaders Amy Edmondson and Michaela Kerrissey bring teaming to the Health Care Industry.

Learner Resources

Everything You Need to Know About Discounts and Financial Assistance for Harvard Online Courses

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We’re proud to bring the Harvard University experience and expertise to you, regardless of your distance from our historic Cambridge, MA campus.

Meet Our Harvard Online Learners

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Our learners are at the core of every decision we make at Harvard Online. From learning paths to course offerings to our blog posts, our team is dedicated to providing useful and informative content to our global community.

How Harvard Online Learners Succeed

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While it's true that Harvard Online courses are taught by renowned faculty who are experts in their field and address today's most urgent questions, our strength lies in our global community of learners.

Introductory Courses for Anything You Want to Learn in 2023

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Maybe you’ve wanted to learn something for years and you’ve just never found the chance? We're here to help you begin on your learning path!

How to Earn CME Credits with Harvard Online Courses on Health

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Harvard University faculty guide you through topics with a focus on the current state of the US health care system and how you can apply innovative approaches to make improvements within your organization.

Harvard Online's Top 10 Courses of 2022

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We’re ringing in the new year by looking back on 2022 with a list of our most popular courses over the past year. Our top courses from 2022 are as varied and interesting as our vast, global community of learners. From world-famous classics like CS50 and Justice, there’s truly a course for everybody.

Top 10 Summer Courses for Students

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Whether you’re trying to enhance your college application, want to get a head start on your fall semester courses, or are looking to develop further skills for your entry into the job market, here are our top 10 Harvard Online courses students should take this summer.

Explore Your Interests, Find Your Courses

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Harvard Online’s curated series of courses focus on helping you to solve the world’s most pressing challenges. From health care and digital transformation to climate change and racial justice, our current course offerings, and those in development, are centered around the key questions of today.

Top Harvard Online Courses

Learn with Harvard Online at any age or stage.

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Top Harvard Online Courses for Recent Graduates

Courses for high school and college graduates looking for their next step.

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Elevate Your Potential: The Ultimate Course Guide for Young Professionals

Promotion readiness shouldn’t be a distant aspiration but a goal that you can start working toward now.

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Empowering Leadership Excellence: Top Harvard Online Courses for Managers and Aspiring Executives

Courses for leaders across industries that will give you the competencies essential for succeeding in these management and executive positions.

Woman in orange shirt writing in a journal with a pen.

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Top 10 Online Courses for Personal Development

A list of the best online courses for for learners who are ready to take the next step in their journey of self-discovery and personal growth.

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Harvard Online’s Most Fun Courses

Yes, learning can be fun! Here are our most fun and best-loved courses.

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Top 10 Harvard Online Courses for Business Professionals

We have compiled a list of our top courses for goal-oriented business professionals who are ready to take the next step in their professional development.

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5 Courses To Help You Achieve Financial Literacy

Strengthen your financial literacy. Explore these courses that dive into economics, markets, financial analysis, and more.

An illustration with several connected boxes with people sitting on them. The box at the center says Managing Happiness, and the other boxes say: Path to Happiness, Resiliency, Neuroscience and Biology, Leadership, and Fermentation.

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Playing with Puppies and Other Ways to Learn About Happiness

We're continually fascinated by our learners’ diverse backgrounds and interests and today are looking at a few of the expected, and unexpected, courses learners decided to take along with Managing Happiness.

Graphic image of laptop, open book, and a checklist in a circle formation

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Introductory Courses for Anything You Want to Learn in 2023

Maybe you’ve wanted to learn something for years and you’ve just never found the chance? We're here to help you begin on your learning path!

Data Science and Digital

Photo of a person sitting at a desk looking at a tablet with a graph.

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Everyday Applications of Data Science

Professor Dustin Tingley breaks down common examples of data science at work, including march madness bracket predictions, dynamic travel pricing, election analysis, and more.

graphic image of five open browser windows displaying different forms of generative ai software

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The Benefits and Limitations of Generative AI: Harvard Experts Answer Your Questions

Harvard experts in education and technology share their thoughts and insights on the impacts of new artificial intelligence and machine learning on education, society, and industry.

Photo over a woman's shoulder looking at a computer screen

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Pros and Cons of Big Data

Learn how big data revolutionizes healthcare, public services, education, and social initiatives while addressing challenges like data privacy, implementation costs, and bias.

Image of laptop, phone, and table on a coffee table

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How to Take Control of Your Data Health in 2024

Get familiar with your personal data privacy practices and examine the health of your data protection systems.

Image of cell phone with red check mark in the middle of a dark screen

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How Google’s 2024 Third-Party Tracking Cookie Removal Impacts Users

Understand how the latest Google privacy update impacts your business data analytics and personal data protection efforts.

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Anonymity, De-Identification, and the Accuracy of Data

A blog written by Harvard Professors Jim Waldo and Michael D. Smith quick primer on different kinds of anonymization and de-identification by looking at three different regulations.

Black and white photos of Jim and Mike set against a graphic backdrop

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Jim and Mike on Data Privacy and TikTok

Experts in the field of computer science and data privacy answer questions about TikTok and offer their thoughts on the issues surrounding social media and data privacy.

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Jim and Mike on Password Security and LastPass

Leaders in the fields of computer science and data privacy answer questions about this LastPass breach and offer their thoughts on ways you can protect your personal data and accounts.

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Jim and Mike on the Potential and Limitations of ChatGPT

Leaders in the fields of computer science and data privacy answer questions about ChatGPT and offer their thoughts on the risks and rewards that accompany widespread generative AI technology use.

Photo of Professor Dustin Tingley in in front of a blackboard in a classroom

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Professor Dustin Tingley Explains How Data Science Is For Everyone

We spoke with Professor Tingley to discuss his mixed career path, his upcoming book, and his data-driven outlook on the future of technology and our world.

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The Emergence of Intelligent Edge Computing

Associate Professor in the John A. Paulson School of Engineering and Applied Sciences (SEAS) at Harvard University, Vijay Janapa Reddi answers questions about the development of AI and ChatGPT.

graphic image of a chicken sandwich and a shoe that are illustrated and connected by a series of lines

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What Do Chick-fil-A and Stitch Fix Have in Common?

How can data science benefit your business decisions? By combining knowledge and analysis of data with business acumen, modern companies can become experts in data science execution.

Webinars

Screenshot of Zoom webinar featuring Professors Dafny and Chernew and moderator Max Many.

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U.S. Health Care Spending: Myths, Facts, and Strategies

A discussion on the current state of health care spending in the United States with Harvard Professors Leemore Dafny and Michael Chernew.

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Effective Teamwork in Health Care: Expert Panel Discussion

A discussion on the latest research and practical guidance on teamwork in health care with Harvard thought leaders, Amy Edmondson and Michaela Kerrissey.

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Mental Health Matters: Strategies for Managing Anxiety and Feeling Happier

A discussion on trending topics in mental health with Harvard leaders Dr. Luana Marques and Professor Michael Puett, moderated by Anna Bartuska.

screenshot of a the Generative AI webinar

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The Future of Generative AI: Expert Insights and Predictions

Harvard leaders gather to share their thoughts on the impacts of new artificial intelligence and machine learning technologies.

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Addressing Racial Disparities in Health Care

A discussion with health care leaders, moderated by Aswita Tan-McGrory, Director of the Disparities Solutions Center at Massachusetts General Hospital.

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Putting Data to Work

Yael Grushka-Cockayne and Dustin Tingley discuss the importance of data science in business.

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Keeping Your Data Secure

A discussion about the data privacy trade-offs and challenges presented by today’s ever-changing role of technology.

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Building Data Science Into Your Strategy

What’s your favorite example of a company using data well? What stood out to you about the way they used data?

Health Care

Photo of pediatrician treating young child who is sitting on mother's lap

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Social Justice in Modern Health Care

Experts provide some immediate solutions for health care workers to implement towards addressing disparities.

image of a health care provider (woman) preparing patient (woman) for a shot.

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Best Continuing Education Courses for Health Care Professionals

In order to help you take the next step in your professional development, we have compiled a list of our top professional development courses for health care professionals.

Graphic image of a health care cross overlayed with a hand drawing line charts across the graphic

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The Business of Health Care in the United States

The business of health care in the United States is complicated. How can we ensure that patients have access to care while still adopting important, life-saving innovations that have the potential to improve health and health care?

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Aswita Tan-McGrory Examines Why Disparities Exist in Health Care Systems

While quality and access to health care in the U.S. has been improving in recent years, there’s still significant work to do. Aswita Tan-McGrory is one of the leaders at the helm of this transformative work.

Photo of two doctors, a woman and a man, discussing something over an ipod

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How to Earn CME Credits with Harvard Online Courses on Health

Harvard University faculty guide you through topics with a focus on the current state of the US health care system and how you can apply innovative approaches to make improvements within your organization.

Graphic image of screenshot of zoom webinar on a laptop screen against a gray background

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Addressing Racial Disparities in Health Care

A discussion with health care leaders, moderated by Aswita Tan-McGrory, Director of the Disparities Solutions Center at Massachusetts General Hospital.

Photo of Harvard Medical School building that is white with six columns in front

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Understanding Business Strategy to Facilitate Health Care Success

Go beyond simply creating value to develop the critical thinking and analytical skills to evaluate the needs of your business, and its constituents, in order to optimize business decisions and inform new or innovative health care ventures.

Humanities

Thumbnail photo of man sitting with his computer open on a table and looking down at his notebook.

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It's Time to Prioritize Your Work-Life Balance

We’ve curated a list of our top courses to help you solve your challenges and foster a better work-life balance.

Photo of woman in an open office setting working at her computer

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Harvard Online's Top Courses of 2023

Our top courses from 2023 are as interesting as our global community of learners. Find your next course!

Photo taken from above of a large dining table covered with holiday food and a centerpiece with candles.

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Bringing Science Into Your Holiday Cooking

For this holiday season, explore recipes from our three Science of Cooking courses covering physics, chemistry, and microbiology.

Photo of Saskia Keultjes, a woman with blond hair wearing a red beret looking back over her shoulder against a black backdrop

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The Art of Resilience: An Interview with Illustrator Saskia Keultjes

We spoke with artist Saskia Keultjes to learn more about her work, what inspires her creativity, and what it was like to work on a Harvard Online course.

Photo of hands holding a book open in the grass

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Harvard Online’s Summer Reading List

Kick off your summer reading with our recommended list of books written by our faculty.

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Top 10 Online Courses for Personal Development

A list of the best online courses for for learners who are ready to take the next step in their journey of self-discovery and personal growth.

_{4 Minute Read}

Playing with Puppies and Other Ways to Learn About Happiness

We're continually fascinated by our learners’ diverse backgrounds and interests and today are looking at a few of the expected, and unexpected, courses learners decided to take along with Managing Happiness.

_{4 Minute Read}

Introductory Courses for Anything You Want to Learn in 2023

Maybe you’ve wanted to learn something for years and you’ve just never found the chance? We're here to help you begin on your learning path!

image of two young women, one with an open laptop and one with an open notebook, sitting together against a graphic background of the term "2022"

_{4 Minute Read}

Harvard Online's Top 10 Courses of 2022

We’re ringing in the new year by looking back on 2022 with a list of our most popular courses over the past year. Our top courses from 2022 are as varied and interesting as our vast, global community of learners. From world-famous classics like CS50 and Justice, there’s truly a course for everybody.

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Discover the Jewish Bible’s History as a Physical Artifact

This new course will spark a desire to learn more about the materials as both artifact and religious content.

Leadership and Business

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