Now, more than ever, the world needs OCW

In John's May Newsletter

Now, more than ever, the world needs OCW

Dear John,

OCW is here for you, whenever you need it. With record numbers of learners around the world turning to OCW in recent weeks, there has never been a more important time to support our work.

If you’re able, please consider a donation to OCW. Every gift helps make an impact for learners who rely on our resources.

Thank you for your support.

With appreciation,
The MIT OpenCourseWare team

Insights for Remote Teaching and Learning

A woman holds a laptop open with the words "Never Stop Learning" on the screen. Thee are books in the background.

How to keep education happening when students and instructors can’t meet in person

These days, university professors worldwide are scrambling to begin teaching their classes online rather than in person. At the most basic level, some courses can be taught online using just streaming video (whether live or pre-recorded) and familiar, readily available technology such as email and group chat apps. But if you’re looking to step up your online teaching, you may find inspiration in reading about what tools MIT’s faculty have been adopting in recent years.

> Read the complete article

Three people in a field looking up at the night sky filled with stars.

21A.157 The Meaning of Life
This course examines how a variety of cultural traditions propose answers to the question of how to live a meaningful life. It considers the meaning of life, not as a philosophical abstraction, but as a question that individuals grapple with in their daily lives, facing difficult decisions between meeting and defying cultural expectations. The course also provides tools for thinking about moral decisions as social and historical practices, and permits students to compare and contextualize the ways people in different times and places approach fundamental ethical concerns.

15.S12 Blockchain and Money
This course is for students wishing to explore blockchain technology's potential use—by entrepreneurs and incumbents—to change the world of money and finance. The course begins with a review of Bitcoin and an understanding of the commercial, technical, and public policy fundamentals of blockchain technology, distributed ledgers, and smart contracts. The class then continues on to current and potential blockchain applications in the financial sector.

Courses from MIT’s 2020 MacVicar Fellows

Image of the four awardees of the 2020 MacVicar Faculty Fellows Program: Polina Anikeeva, Jacob White, William Tisdale, and Mary Fuller.

The 2020 MacVicar Faculty Fellows are (clockwise from top left): Polina Anikeeva, Jacob White, William Tisdale, and Mary Fuller. Photo credits (clockwise from top left): Lillie Paquette, Sampson Wilcox, Webb Chappell, Jon Sachs.

For the past 28 years, the MacVicar Faculty Fellows Program has honored several MIT professors each year who have made outstanding contributions to undergraduate teaching, educational innovation, and mentoring.

This year's awardees are Professors Polina Anikeeva (materials science and engineering), Mary Fuller (literature), William Tisdale (chemical engineering), and Jacob White (electrical engineering and computer science).

> Read the complete article

Faculty Profile: Hazel Sive

A photo of Hazel Sive shown from the shoulders up.

How do cells organize themselves into a heart or a brain?

Ask MIT’s Hazel Sive, an expert in developmental biology, about her work in embryonic development, and her love for teaching immediately shines through. She’s just as likely to start talking to you about music.

> Read the complete article

In case you missed it, hear an update from MIT Dean for Digital Learning Krishna Rajagopal on how OpenCourseWare has been an important resource during the Covid-19 pandemic.

An OCW Story

A man looking down is writing something in a notebook with a laptop open in front of him.

"OCW is a wonderful initiative which has [served me well. It] has the potential to change the world. Being in a moment in history where everything is so competitive, [sharing] knowledge is a beautiful mission filled with humanity. Please, keep doing this amazing work."
-Bruno, Student, Brazil

>We'd love to hear from you. Tell us your OCW Story.

For free resources for high school teachers and students, check out:

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