Course pathways and bundles

Use these pathways to assemble modules into workshops, practical classes or longer courses. Dependencies are deliberate: timing and metadata validation precede quantitative analysis.

Dependency and progression map

Strand	Recommended progression	End competence
First encounter	OSC-01 / FND-01 → FND-03 → FND-04 → MET-01 → EPI-01	Manipulate, explain, distinguish signal/model/measurement.
Neurophysiology	FND-01 → NPH-02 → NPH-03 → NPH-04 → NPH-06 → NPH-07	From polarity and threshold to quantitative excitability and diversity.
Electrophysiology	FND-04 → EPH-01 → EPH-04 → EPH-05/06 → EPH-02	From clamp logic and acquisition integrity to a bounded model voltage-clamp analogue.
Synapses and networks	EPH-03 → SYN-01 → SYN-02 → SYN-03/04 → NET-01/02 → NET-04/06/07	From event transmission to integration and network motifs.
Sensory neuroscience	FND-03 → SEN-01 → SEN-02 → SEN-03/04 → SEN-05	From photodiode transduction analogy to quantitative detection/reliability.
Computational neuroscience	FND-02 → CMP-01 → CMP-02 → CMP-03 → CMP-04/05/06/07 → CMP-08 → CMP-09	From equations and parameters to dynamical interpretation and inference.
Data analysis and statistics	EPH-04 → DAT-01 → DAT-02 → DAT-03 → DAT-04/05/06 → STA-01/02 → STA-03/05/06 → DAT-08	Validated metadata before features, inference or decoding.
Calcium imaging	DAT-03 → IMG-01 → IMG-02/03 → IMG-04 → IMG-05 → EPI-01	Forward model, observation limits and inverse inference against ground truth.
Extracellular recording	EPH-04 → EXT-01 → EXT-02/03 → EXT-04 → EXT-05 → EPI-01	Representation and recording chain before sorting and unit claims.
Experimental design and epistemology	MET-01 → MET-02 → MET-03 → MET-04/05 → MET-06 → EPI-02/03/04	Question, measurement, design, uncertainty, reproducibility and claim restraint.

Reusable output dependencies

Upstream output	Downstream use
Timing certificate from EPH-04	Required by NPH-04/05/06, SYN-03/05, NET-06, DAT-04/06/07, IMG-02 and all frequency-dependent EXT work.
Variable dictionary from FND-04 / DAT-01	Used by every acquisition and analysis module to prevent unit and provenance errors.
Threshold/rheobase dataset from NPH-03	Feeds STA-02, MET-04 and comparative model modules.
F–I or sensory-response curves	Feed STA-05, CMP-05 and DAT-08.
Preset phenotype atlas	Feeds CMP-03/04/09 and advanced classification work.
Multi-board recordings	Feed DAT-07, STA-05 and network methodology seminars.
Imaging/extracellular ground-truth datasets	Feed inference, sorting, quality and epistemology modules.
Protocol skeleton from MET-03	Used as the planning object for later acquisition modules and teacher training.
Reproducibility package from MET-06	Becomes the submission format for advanced modules and semester projects.

Course-construction examples

Programme	Audience	Module sequence	Prerequisites	Final competencies	When time is limited
60-minute public demonstration	Families and general public	OSC-01 (30) + FND-03 (30)	None	Predict, manipulate, observe a model spike and explain the representation boundary.	Remove FND-03 discussion and integrate its chain into OSC-01.
Two-hour school/outreach workshop	Secondary school or mixed public	FND-01 (30) + NPH-02 (30) + NPH-03 (30) + OSC-02 learner challenge (30)	None	Polarity, threshold, evidence-based explanation and basic inquiry.	Remove NPH-03 quantification or OSC reflection.
Three-hour introductory university practical	First-year neuroscience	FND-04 (30) + EPH-01 (45) + NPH-03 (60) + DAT-02 (30) + MET-02 (15 adaptation)	Basic neuron terminology	Record a controlled current-clamp experiment, QC it and define threshold operationally.	Use qualitative threshold; omit MET-02.
Half-day neurophysiology workshop	Undergraduate	EPH-04 (45) + EPH-01 (45) + NPH-03 (60) + NPH-04 (60) + DAT-03 (45)	FND-04	Validated timing, threshold, F–I curve and spike detection.	Remove NPH-04 or use prepared data.
Full-day computational neuroscience workshop	Advanced undergraduate/master’s	CMP-01 (60) + CMP-02 (60) + CMP-03 (60) + CMP-04 (60) + CMP-08 (60) + EPI-02 (45)	Python, basic differential equations	Relate board behaviour to equations, parameters, sensitivity and phase-plane interpretation.	Use prepared traces and omit CMP-08.
Two-day experimental-methods course	Master’s/doctoral	Day 1: MET-01/02/03, EPH-04, EPH-06, DAT-01/02. Day 2: acquisition module of choice, STA-01/02/03, MET-05/06, EPI-03.	Basic neuroscience and Python	Design, validate, acquire, analyse, quantify uncertainty and package a reproducible result.	Use prepared dataset and omit one statistics block.
Three-day Spikeling intensive	Advanced undergraduate/master’s	Day 1 neurophysiology/electrophysiology; Day 2 synapses/networks and acquisition; Day 3 analysis/statistics/computation/epistemology. Suggested core: FND-04, EPH-01/04/05, NPH-03/04/07, SYN-01/02/03, NET-01/02/06, DAT-01–06, STA-01–03, CMP-01/02, MET-03/06, EPI-02.	Intro neuroscience; basic Python recommended	Operate platform as an experimental system and complete a reproducible mini-investigation.	Use prepared data on Day 3; remove NET-06 and NPH-04.
Lecture-accompanying short series	Undergraduate lecture course	Eight 45-min modules: FND-02, NPH-02, NPH-03, SYN-02, SEN-01, CMP-02, IMG-01, EXT-01.	Concurrent lectures	Concrete demonstration linked to cellular, synaptic, sensory, computational and methods lectures.	Select any four modules.
Semester-long practical sequence	Undergraduate/biomedical engineering	12 × 2-hour sessions assembled from FND, EPH, NPH, SYN, SEN, NET, DAT, STA, MET and one IMG/EXT capstone.	Intro neuroscience and Python	Progress from platform literacy to independent mini-project and reproducibility package.	Use 8 sessions by merging acquisition and analysis pairs.
Teacher-training course	University lecturers, school teachers, outreach staff	OSC-01/02 + FND-02/03 + MET-01/02/03 + EPI-04; optional NPH-03 and SEN-01 demonstrations.	None	Select modules, set boundaries, facilitate inquiry and adapt challenge cards responsibly.	Omit quantitative modules.
Paired-board network workshop	Undergraduate computational/systems neuroscience	SYN-01 (45) + SYN-02 (45) + NET-01 (45) + NET-02 (60) + NET-07 (60)	FND-04, EPH-03	Build, test and communicate small functional network motifs.	Remove NET-07 or use instructor demo.
Calcium-imaging and extracellular-analysis course	Advanced undergraduate/master’s	DAT-03 (60) + IMG-01/02/03/05 (4 h) + EXT-01/02/03/04/05 (5 h) + EPI-01 (45)	Python and signal basics	Compare direct electrical ground truth with two indirect measurement pipelines and quantify inference limits.	Use only imaging or extracellular strand; omit ROI/sorting capstone.