mit school of online education

Certificate & Online Programs

Mit’s commitment to education extends beyond the classroom and includes opportunities to learn online or pursue advanced certificates..

As the world of online learning and Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs) continues to grow, MIT has provided more opportunities to reach individuals across the world through online platforms. There has also been incredible growth in the online education industry, and MIT has made valuable contributions to increasing its online presence. As we continue to grow, more opportunities will become available.

Credentialed Online Programs

Mitx micromasters credential in data, economics, and development policy.

Learn practical skills and theoretical tools to tackle some of the world’s most pressing challenges. Through a series of five online courses and exams, learners engage with cutting-edge field research and gain a strong foundation in microeconomics, development economics, and probability and statistics. For more information, please visit  the DEDP website .

MITx MicroMasters Credential in Finance

Meet the complex demands of today’s global finance markets with five courses developed and delivered by MIT Sloan faculty. Accelerate your career or fast-track your MIT Master of Finance degree. For more information, please visit the MicroMasters Finance website .

MITx MicroMasters Credential in Principles of Manufacturing

Learn the principles of manufacturing: process control, production flow, supply chain and basic finance, from the world’s top-ranked Mechanical Engineering department. For more information, please visit the POM website .

MITx MicroMasters Credential in Statistics and Data Science

From probability and statistics to data analysis and machine learning, master the skills needed to solve complex challenges with data. For more information, please visit the DS website .

MITx MicroMasters Credential in Supply Chain Management

Gain expertise in the growing field of Supply Chain Management through an innovative online program consisting of five courses and a final capstone exam. The MicroMasters Program in Supply Chain from MITx is an advanced, professional, graduate-level foundation in Supply Chain Management. It represents the equivalent of one semester’s worth of coursework at MIT. For more information, please visit  the SCM website .

Hybrid and On-Campus Certificate Programs

MIT certificates allow students to advance their knowledge in a particular field of interest and enhance their professional skills. Below is a list of on-campus certificate programs.

Professional Education

MIT Professional Education is the hub for non-degree programs geared toward professionals. They offer substantial programming for individuals looking to take classes or participate in short programs. They also offer custom programs and digital programs, which further expand the reach of professional education. Many of the programs offered lead to the completion of a certificate that enables professionals to reach their career goals. For more information, please visit  the Professional Education website .

Certificate in Systems & Product Development

The certificate program offered by the department of System Design & Management (SDM) is designed for working professionals interested in expanding their knowledge and understanding of systems engineering. To learn more about this opportunity, please visit  the System Design & Management website .

Graduate Certificate in Logistics and Supply Chain Management (GCLOG)

The MIT Graduate Certificate in Logistics and Supply Chain Management (GCLOG) is an elite academic program from the MIT Global Supply Chain And Logistics Excellence (SCALE) network, geared towards outstanding graduate students from Latin America. For more information, please visit  the SCALE website .

Certificate Opportunities for MIT Graduate Degree Students

In addition to the standalone certificate program offerings, MIT offers a variety of certificate programs for MIT graduate students to accompany their graduate degree. Below is a list of certificate programs available to MIT degree students only.

Business Analytics Certificate Program

More information about the Business Analytics Certificate Program can be found online.

Biophysics Certificate Program

More information about the Biophysics Certificate Program can be found online.

Certificate Program in Graduate Education in Medical Sciences (GEMS)

More information about the Certificate Program in Graduate Education in Medical Sciences can be found online.

Certificate Program in Science, Technology and Policy (STP)

More information about the Certificate Program in Science, Technology and Policy can be found online.

Environmental Planning Certificate

More information about the Environmental Planning Certificate can be found online.

Healthcare Certificate

More information about the Healthcare Certificate can be found online.

Sustainability Certificate

More information about the Sustainability Certificate can be found online.

Technical Leadership Certificate

More information about the Technical Leadership Certificate can be found online.

Urban Design Certificate

More information about the Urban Design Certificate can be found online.

Non-Degree Learning Opportunities

Opencourseware.

MIT was a pioneer in the free exchange of online course materials, developing a repository of information in the OpenCourseWare (OCW) site. Through the OCW, individuals can learn at their own pace and study a wide range of fields. For more information, please visit  the OCW site .

MIT has partnered with the edX platform to develop dozens of free online courses. Now, anyone has the opportunity to experience the rigorous courses that MIT has to offer and broaden their knowledge on topics in science, engineering, and technology.

Many MITx course offerings, such as the MicroMasters programs above, lead to the completion of a verified certificate, though this varies by course. For more information, please visit  the MITx site .

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pathways for:

• Distance learning
• Global connection
• Career development
• Bridging language differences

Digital Plus Programs (DPP) is the next evolution of online learning from MIT Professional Education. We’ve blended cutting-edge content with the best of online technology and instructional design to enable better learning outcomes while promoting engagement and collaboration.

ONLINE PROFESSIONAL CERTIFICATES

Our Online Professional Certificate Programs provide an in-depth view of the elements that are reshaping our current world, preparing professionals to face the change with the latest knowledge and skills.

FROM 9 TO 13 MONTHS

ONLINE INDIVIDUAL COURSES

Our online individual programs equip professionals with the fundamentals of the latest key drivers of innovation within the business world. Training them to develop the hard and soft skills that are most in demand.

FROM 5 TO 10 WEEKS

ONLINE BLENDED CORPORATE PROGRAMS

We accompany organizations in the continuous training of professionals, demanded by the current context, offering different Online Blended Corporate Programs for today’s companies that seek to lead tomorrow.

CHOOSE YOUR PATH TO SUCCESS—WE PREPARE YOU TO REACH IT

Blended professional certificate programs.

Chief Digital Officer

Chief Digital Officer Professional Certificate: discover the five courses of this programs and how to lead the digital transformation.

Chief Product Officer

This program will provide you with the knowledge, leadership skills, professional direction, required to become a successful Chief Product Officer today.

Chief Sustainability Officer

MIT Professional Education’s Blended Professional Certificate in Chief Sustainability Officer is aimed at professionals with seniority in their organizations.

Chief Technology Officer

In this 12-month program, participants will explore these five courses that will equip you with the tools and frameworks to lead the technological strategy.

ONLINE PROFESSIONAL CERTIFICATE PROGRAMS

Digital transformation.

This Online Professional Certificate in Digital Transformation prepares participants to understand the new digital paradigm of the technological revolution in which we are immersed, as well as the most disruptive technologies of the 4th Industrial Revolution.

Industry 4.0

From leading technologies such as IoT and AI to understanding the fundamentals of smart manufacturing and product platforms, we prepare professionals to tackle these challenges head-on and provide them with the knowledge and tools to succeed in the digital age.

Product Management

Each product and service has its own set of objectives and challenges which require an innovative and customized approach to its product management. Product management can be described as the intersection of business, user experience, and technology. This program will train you to deal with complexity, implement technologies and platforms, and design unique solutions that will bring beneficial results in every aspect of the business.

Strategic Technology Roadmapping and Innovation

MIT Professional Education’s Online Professional Certificate Program in Strategic Technology Roadmapping and Innovation is designed to equip professionals with the full range of tools, skills, and knowledge needed to successfully lead their organizations through the complexities of technology implementation, always keeping in mind the human factor of team management.

Sustainability

Will you lead the charge forward towards a more optimized and sustainable future? Our Professional Certificate will provide you with the critical foundational education and tools necessary to produce real, lasting changes in the modern world and future for generations to come.

ONLINE COURSES

Tech skills.

Blockchain:

Disruptive technology.

The technology that began as the infrastructure for a crypto currency is today the engine of a new generation of transactions and data transfers that are simpler, faster, more efficient, and more secure.

Cloud & DevOps:

Continuous transformation.

When the skeleton that holds our technology changes structurally, it is essential to understand its new properties in order to make strategic decisions about the future of a project.

• Data Leadership

An executive course in data analytics that explores the multiple roles of science-driven leadership.

Digital Platforms:

Designing two-sided markets from apis to feature roadmaps.

Digital platforms and two-sided markets have quickly established themselves as a staple of modern business, presenting new opportunities and challenges alike for engineers, product managers, regulators, and entrepreneurs.

Digital Transformation:

From ai and iot to cloud, blockchain, and cybersecurity.

This program analyzes the history of the most innovative technologies and prepares the participants so that they can successfully and practically take on digital transformation in a professional environment.

Forecasting Technology Innovation

Using data for a strategic advantage.

Gain insights and strategies for accurate forecasting and make informed decisions for your organization with MIT Professional Education.

Industrial Internet of Things:

From theory to applications.

IoT, or the Internet of Things, is changing the way we live and work to an unprecedented degree. Advances in technology make it urgent to master concepts such as artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning and blockchain.

• Innovation and Technology

This program will help you examine the role of critical thinking while you create an innovating toolkit with resources and knowledge to solve real-world problems. You will be able to make innovating an integral function of your organization, scaling up from a hunch to solve problems that matter.

Machine Learning:

From data to decisions.

Technology is drastically reshaping the business world. And in this world marked by tight competition, organizations are required to innovate and develop at the speed of light to remain ahead – regardless of what industry they belong to, or which countries they operate in.

Management of Technology:

Roadmapping & development.

Strategy & Portfolio Analysis

The comprehensive goal is to lead participants in their quest to develop the necessary skills and knowledge to effectively manage technology within their organizations.

New Space Economy:

Technologies, products, services, and business models.

This course provides the foundations for understanding the New Space economy from the frameworks of product, processes, funding, business model, technology, and market.

Human Skills

• Cultural Awareness for Global Business

We live in a business environment which is increasingly more global and culturally diverse. Today’s professionals need to know how to interact appropriately with people from other cultures, both within their own companies and with others.

Designing High-Impact Solutions with MITdesignX

Learn how to work through the weeds of complexity. Gather the tools and skill sets to lead your team through complex problem solving by first learning to articulate and define the key elements of your specific goals within a wider network.

Leadership in Innovation

This program merges the development of leadership skills with the vision needed to address the innovation processes that are already affecting organizations. We escape from the figure of the traditional boss to form leaders who are one step ahead.

Persuasive Communication:

Critical thinking to enhance your message.

Accordingly, the demand for professionals to communicate clearly and effectively is more urgent than ever. More than simply transmitting your ideas, professionals and innovators must now learn to capture and maintain their audiences’ attention.

Transformational Leadership:

Five practices of high impact innovators.

MIT Professional Education’s online course Transformational Leadership provides the curriculum, tools, and techniques to become a catalyst for positive and transformational change within your organization.

Women in Leadership:

Becoming an agent of change.

This online course offers training in communication and corporate female leadership regarding intersectional perspectives and differences in the workplace.

Industrial Skills

Circular Economy:

Transition for future sustainability.

Circular Economy presents an encompassing, quantitative, and qualitative portrayal of sustainable solutions from an economic perspective in order to reduce, reuse, and regenerate materials, leading to economic growth, sustainable resilience, and improved society.

Clean Energy Solutions:

Technological change to meet emissions reduction targets.

As participants leverage data to analyze and compare energy systems against climate mitigation goals, they will also strategize about key innovation opportunities for their organizations.

Designing Product Families:

From strategy to implementation.

The speed of innovation and mass customization offer new competitive advantages to organizations. In response, they must apply strategies to design and develop their product families on a common platform.

Life Cycle Assessment:

Quantifying environmental impacts.

Conduct a Life Cycle Assessment with informed decision making –from research to conclusions—with MIT Professional Education’s NEW 8 weeks, 100% online program: Life Cycle Assessment: Quantifying Environmental Impacts.

Smart Manufacturing:

Moving from static to dynamic manufacturing operations.

As towns and cities internationally grapple with the causes and effects of the climate crisis, the new era we are entering will require modern and advanced methods and a contemporary approach to repair and rebuild infrastructure with increased sustainability and resilience.

Sustainable Infrastructure Systems:

Planning and operations.

As regions around the world deal with the effects of the climate crisis, this new era will require new methods and a new approach to repairing and rebuilding infrastructure in a more sustainable, adaptable way.

Sustainability:

Strategies and opportunities for industry.

As human activity catalyzes environmental destruction, a reevaluation of our current business practices is vital for professionals to carry out operations in a way that guarantees a sustainable future for business, the planet, and our lives.

LIVE VIRTUAL COURSES / 3 WEEKS

• Applied Generative AI for Digital Transformation

BUNDLE PROGRAMS

Management of technology, would you like to dive deeper into our online course portfolio, at digital plus programs we promote the development of two key languages to understand, master and lead change:, digital plus programs in numbers, an experience that does not end with us.

JONATHAN KELLY

Global Associate Account Executive at Amazon Web Services

The MIT Cloud & DevOps Certificate Course was a both a challenging and rewarding opportunity to collaborate with and learn from thought leaders in the tech sector. I am so thankful to have had an opportunity to participate!

Cloud & DevOps online course

FLÁVIA BRITO

Global CEO at BIDWEB Security IT

During the program, my peers and I managed to develop business using blockchain. Studying at MIT Professional Education and understanding more about blockchain has helped me a lot professionally.

Blockchain online program

VISHAL CHANDNANI

Global Director of Engineering at Prudential Financial

The MIT Leadership and Innovation program pushed me beyond my comfort zone. It’s an action-packed course with lots of twists and a happy ending. World-class instructors and facilitators combined with comprehensive course materials and fun student project groups make a winning combination!

Leadership & Innovation online program

DIGITAL PLUS PROGRAMS NEWS

Starts June 13, 2024 Moral Problems and the Good Life

Start Anytime Evaluación de Impacto de Programas Sociales

Starts September 10, 2024 Designing and Running Randomized Evaluations

Starts September 10, 2024 The Challenges of Global Poverty

Starts September 12, 2024 u-lab: Leading From the Emerging Future

Start Anytime Multivariable Calculus 2: Integrals

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Start Anytime Introduction to Mechanics: Simple Harmonic Motion and Non-Inertial Reference Frames

Start Anytime Paradox and Infinity

Start Anytime Computational Data Science in Physics I

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Start Anytime COVID-19 in Slums & Informal Settlements: Guidelines & Responses

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Start Anytime Introduction to Mechanics: Kinematics and Dynamics

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Start Anytime Calculus 1B: Integration

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Start Anytime Introduction to Philosophy: God, Knowledge and Consciousness

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Start Anytime Calculus 1C: Coordinate Systems & Infinite Series

Start Anytime Mastering Quantum Mechanics

Start Anytime Vibrations and Waves

Starts June 4, 2024 Problems of Philosophy

Start Anytime Just Money: Banking as if Society Mattered

Starts May 14, 2024 Data Analysis for Social Scientists

Starts May 14, 2024 Foundations of Development Policy

Starts May 14, 2024 Political Economy and Economic Development

Starts May 14, 2024 Microeconomics

Starts May 14, 2024 Good Economics for Hard Times

Starts May 14, 2024 Microeconomic Theory and Public Policy

Start Anytime Math Boot Camp for Engineers

Start Anytime Electricity and Magnetism: Electrostatics

Start Anytime Entrepreneurship 103: Show Me The Money

Start Anytime You Can Innovate: User Innovation & Entrepreneurship

Start Anytime Bootstrapping for Entrepreneurs

Start Anytime Product and Service Creation in the Internet Age

Start Anytime Microstructural Evolution of Materials: Statistical Mechanics

Start Anytime Microstructural Evolution of Materials: Defects and Diffusion

Start Anytime Microstructural Evolution of Materials: Surfaces & Surface-Driven Reactions

Start Anytime Microstructural Evolution of Materials: Phase Transformations

Start Anytime Entrepreneurship 102: What can you do for your customer?

Start Anytime Entrepreneurship 101: Who is Your Customer

Start Anytime Resolving Renewable Energy Siting Disputes

Starts October 31, 2023 Qualitative Research Methods: Conversational Interviewing

Starts October 31, 2023 Qualitative Research Methods: Data Coding and Analysis

Start Anytime Tools for Academic Engagement in Public Policy

Start Anytime Cybersecurity for Critical Urban Infrastructure

Start Anytime Electronic, Optical and Magnetic Properties of Materials

Start Anytime Structure of Materials

Start Anytime Electrical, Optical & Magnetic Materials and Devices

Start Anytime Mechanical Behavior of Materials, Part 1: Linear Elastic Behavior

Start Anytime Mechanical Behavior of Materials, Part 2: Stress Transformations, Beams, Columns, and Cellular Solids

Start Anytime Mechanical Behavior of Materials, Part 3: Time Dependent Behavior and Failure

Start Anytime AP® Microeconomics

Start Anytime The Iterative Innovation Process

Start Anytime Organic and Biomaterials Chemistry Part 1: An Introduction to Polymer Chemistry

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Start Anytime Analysis of Transport Phenomena: Models

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Start Anytime Analysis of Transport Phenomena: Scaling

Start Anytime Analysis of Transport Phenomena: Asymptotics

Start Anytime Analysis of Transport Phenomena: Series Expansions

Start Anytime Analysis of Transport Phenomena: Fluid Mechanics

Start Anytime Analysis of Transport Phenomena: Convection

Start Anytime Analysis of Transport Phenomena: Nonequilibrium Thermodynamics

Start Anytime Analysis of Transport Phenomena: Electrochemical Transport

Start Anytime Global Shakespeares: Re-Creating the Merchant of Venice

Start Anytime Effective Field Theory

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• Free online courses from MIT, ranked #1 university in the world.
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MIT School of Distance Education

MIT School of Distance Education (MITSDE) is an integral constituent of MAEER's MIT Pune, established in the year 2008. MAEER's MIT was founded in 1983 by Dr. Vishwanath D. Karad (Founder, Executive President & Managing Trustee) with the view of bringing excellence in education and innovation. MIT is among the first in professional education, offering academic programs at more than 90 institutions and 5 universities across India.

Drawing from the rich & long legacy of MAEER’s MIT, MITSDE – a distance learning centre, is born out of the need for upskilling in working professionals to create a strong workforce equipped with industry-ready skills and relevant knowledge to effectively bridge the skill gap.

Whether you are looking to enhance your skills, advance your career or explore new opportunities, MITSDE's distance learning courses are designed to help you achieve your goals and gain your full potential in the ever-evolving business landscape.

MITSDE offers Distance Post Graduate Programs with specialisations in various domains namely Marketing, Banking and Finance, Human Resources, Operations, Information Technology, Logistics and Supply Chain, Project Management, Material, Construction and Project Management, and more.

Through a combination of updated curriculum, practical training and industry exposure, our online learning PG courses prepare students to take on leadership roles and make a meaningful impact in their respective fields.

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Industry collaborations

Industry experts are here to guide you with their knowledge and experience, something which is not included in the books, prepare you for the challenges ahead and how to look out for opportunities in those challenges. Equip yourself with the knowledge and experience of these experts to launch a successful career.

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Experience the true sense of experiential teaching and practical learning approach. With the courses that are regularly updated to bring to you the latest information and learn what is relevant.

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Transforming Learning and Teaching at MIT and Beyond

Open Learning is bringing MIT teaching and research to the world and reinventing how education is delivered, on campus and beyond.

The numbers tell the story.

More than 200 million individuals have accessed MIT OpenCourseWare (OCW) in the 20 years since the Institute began offering courses and teaching materials from across its curriculum online for free.

More than 10 million people have registered for a massive, open, online course (MOOC) through MITx , which provides an in-depth and interactive educational experience from content delivered on MIT campus.

More than 242,000 MITx certificates have been earned by learners worldwide who have completed the innovative courses via computer and smartphone.

When the Covid-19 pandemic struck, hundreds of thousands of learners were able to turn to educational resources from MIT Open Learning to support their academic and lifelong learning goals.

People around the globe credit the many online resources from MIT Open Learning for expanding their knowledge and shaping their paths, professionally and intellectually.

“Every night, I would learn something new. I never want to stop learning and thinking beyond my limits.” — Samip Jain SM ’20, who spent three years after college in India taking MITx courses online

“I totally love OCW. Period,” says Mehmet Volkan Cakir, a postdoctoral researcher at the University of Leipzig in Germany, who uses OCW “to satisfy (his) curiosity.” He says: “It’s making high-quality classes, notes, problems, and discussions from the most qualified and joyful people available to anyone with internet access. That’s so valuable that I think we will appreciate its effect more and more in the future.”

“I Never Want to Stop Learning”

Abigael Bamgboye , a graduate of Imperial College London who works as a consultant at Bain & Company, logged more than 800 hours of online learning on her way to completing the MITx MicroMasters Data and Economic Development Policy program.

The MITx MicroMasters Programs offer a professional and academic credential for online learners anywhere in the world who seek focused, accelerated advancement. Learners who enroll in a program—no admission required—take a series of graduate-level online courses taught by MIT instructors. A credential is earned by completing the course and passing one or more proctored exams. MITx MicroMasters credential holders are then eligible to apply to over 160 graduate programs from 46 schools in 30 countries (including MIT), expanding pathways to graduate study globally.

“There are so many ways the MicroMasters [program] has enhanced my life,” Bamgboye says, “from broadening my horizons to equipping me with new skills to providing me with the vocabulary and context to participate in conversations and activities I am interested in.”

Read more : MicroMasters—Improving Lives, Through the Lens of Economics

After graduating from college in India, Samip Jain SM ’20 spent three years of his evenings learning online, taking MITx courses on web development, data analysis, music theory—anything that sated his appetite to learn—while working full-time as a software developer.

“Every night, I would learn something new,” says Jain, who went on to receive his master’s degree at MIT in integrated design and management. “I never want to stop learning and thinking beyond my limits.”

Mohammad Hizzani was in the 2020 graduating class of the Refugee Action Hub (ReACT) program, which offers an education to employment pathway program, leveraging MIT Open Learning’s online resources,  for people in displaced populations worldwide.

“ReACT gave me not just the knowledge—it gave me access to opportunities I never dreamed of,” said Hizzani, who was among the 28 students earning a Certificate in Computer and Data Science while tuned in to the 2020 virtual commencement ceremony from such locations as Jordan, Rwanda, Syria, Kenya, Lebanon, and Palestine.

  A Catalyst for Important Work

MIT Open Learning is a “learning catalyst,” says Sanjay Sarma . As vice president for Open Learning at MIT, Sarma oversees a broad array of initiatives and programs, including the Office of Digital Learning, the MIT Integrated Learning Initiative, and the Abdul Latif Jameel World Education Lab. He also is the Fred Fort Flowers and Daniel Fort Flowers Professor of Mechanical Engineering at MIT.

“We bring MIT’s core academics to an online audience through programs like OpenCourseWare, MITx, MicroMasters Programs, and digital learning, while at the same time contributing to foundational research in areas ranging from cognitive neuroscience to education policy,” Sarma says.

“We’ve become a powerhouse: a catalyst for important work that elevates practice and policy by looking at education through the lens of an engineer.” –Sanjay Sarma, Vice President for Open Learning

The foundation for MIT Open Learning was laid in 2001 with OpenCourseWare , which marks its 20th anniversary this year. “It was a bold experiment to open up MIT’s curriculum and teaching to the world ,’” Sarma says. “The creation of OpenCourseWare sparked a movement of open educational resources.”

The OCW website now hosts nearly every course in MIT’s curriculum. With more than 2,500 courses and supplemental materials online and more than 6,000 videos on its associated YouTube channel, OCW has logged more than 500 million visits and provided more than 5 billion minutes of learning.

In 2011 MIT launched MITx and in 2012, with Harvard University, founded edX , a platform that hosts MOOCs for which learners can earn a certificate upon completion. The MITx course Introduction to Computer Science using Python, first offered in 2012, became the most popular MOOC in MIT history in 2018 when it surpassed 1.2 million enrollments. Today, MIT Open Learning is leading new efforts to build the next generation of digital learning platforms and technologies to support the future of learning, from mobile-responsiveness to assistive learning to virtual reality simulations.

Community-Fueled Growth

Over the course of the Campaign, MIT Open Learning has grown tremendously, Sarma says. “Thanks to broad support, we were able to launch a number of initiatives, expanding our portfolio of digital learning offerings to include pre-K through 12 and particularly workforce learning and professional development.”

MIT launched the MIT Integrated Learning Initiative (MITili) to examine in depth how people learn from the earliest stages. “If we better understand how we learn,” Sarma says, “we can adapt the delivery of that learning, in person and online. Led by a neuroscientist and an economist, MITili looks at learning science from ‘neurons to nations.’”

Meanwhile, a Campaign gift launched the Abdul Latif Jameel World Education Lab , which enables MIT to work with universities, schools, and organizations around the world to help them innovate by drawing from MIT’s research and practice.

Pre-Covid-19, Open Learning’s residential team worked with faculty on digital learning strategy, both in producing online courses for a wider public audience and in using digital learning tools within their own classrooms to create hybrid learning models.

“We were already doing that capacity building before the pandemic,” Sarma says. “When the crisis hit, MIT was able to more rapidly transition because we had that support team and that expertise of evidence-based practice.”

MIT doesn’t have a traditional school of education, Sarma notes. “Open Learning has grown into that place, in doing foundational educational research that is informing the design of learning experiences on campus as well as online,” he says. “We’ve become a powerhouse: a catalyst for important work that elevates practice and policy by looking at education through the lens of an engineer.”

“Open Learning is leading MIT’s efforts to reimagine education in a changing world. At this moment in time, with a pandemic and a global reckoning around racial equity and disparity, education is a powerful vehicle. We’re opening up access to education, and supporting learners and educators where they are.”

—Mark Sullivan

This article was originally published in July 2021.

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The pros and cons of online learning

What to look for in an online course.

By: MIT xPRO

If you’re at a point in your life where you’re considering continuing your education, you may wonder if online learning is the right path for you.

Taking an online course requires a notable investment of time, effort, and money, so it’s important to feel confident about your decision before moving forward. While online learning works incredibly well for some people, it’s not for everyone.

We recently sat down with MIT xPRO Senior Instructional Designer and Program Manager Luke Hobson to explore the pros and cons of online learning and what to look for in an online course. If you’re waiting for a sign about whether or not to enroll in that course you’ve been eying, you just might find it here.

Pros of Online Learning

First, let’s take a look at the true value of online learning by examining some of the benefits:

1. Flexibility

Online learning’s most significant advantage is its flexibility. It’s the reason millions of adults have chosen to continue their education and pursue certificates and degrees.

Asynchronous courses allow learners to complete work at their own pace, empowering them to find the optimal time to consume the content and submit assignments.

Some people are more attentive, focused, and creative in the mornings compared to the evenings and vice versa. Whatever works best for the learners should be the priority of the learning experience.

2. Community

When Luke asks people about their main reason for enrolling in a course, a common answer is networking and community.

Learners crave finding like-minded individuals who are going through the same experiences and have the same questions. They want to find a place where they belong. Being in the company of others who understand what they’re going through can help online learners who are looking for support and motivation during challenging times and times that are worth celebrating.

Some learners have created study groups and book clubs that have carried on far beyond the end of the course-it’s amazing what can grow from a single post on a discussion board!

3. Latest information

“Speed is a massive benefit of online learning,” and according to Luke, it often doesn’t get the attention it deserves.

“When we say speed, we don’t mean being quick with learning. We mean actual speed to market. There are so many new ideas evolving within technical spaces that it’s impossible to keep courses the way they were originally designed for a long period of time.”

Luke notes that a program on Additive Manufacturing , Virtual Reality and Augmented Reality , or Nanotechnology must be checked and updated frequently. More formal learning modalities have difficulty changing content at this rapid pace. But within the online space, it’s expected that the course content will change as quickly as the world itself does.

Cons of Online Learning

Now that we’ve looked at some of the biggest pros of online learning, let’s examine a few of the drawbacks:

1. Learning environment

While many learners thrive in an asynchronous learning environment, others struggle. Some learners prefer live lessons and an instructor they can connect with multiple times a week. They need these interactions to feel supported and to persist.

Most learners within the online space identify themselves as self-directed learners, meaning they can learn on their own with the right environment, guidance, materials, and assignments. Learners should know themselves first and understand their preferences when it comes to what kind of environment will help them thrive.

2. Repetition

One drawback of online courses is that the structure can be repetitive: do a reading, respond to two discussion posts, submit an essay, repeat. After a while, some learners may feel disengaged from the learning experience.

There are online courses that break the mold and offer multiple kinds of learning activities, assessments, and content to make the learning experience come alive, but it may take some research to find them-more on what to look for in an online course later in this article! Luke and his colleagues at MIT xPRO are mindful of designing courses that genuinely engage learners from beginning to end.

3. Underestimation

Luke has noticed that some learners underestimate how much work is required in an online course. They may mistakenly believe that online learning is somehow “easier” compared to in-person learning.

For those learners who miscalculate how long they will need to spend online or how challenging the assignments can be, changing that mindset is a difficult process. It’s essential to set aside the right amount of time per week to contribute to the content, activities, and assignments. Creating personal deadlines and building a study routine are two best practices that successful online learners follow to hold themselves accountable.

Experience the Value of Online Learning: What to Look For in an Online Course

You’ve probably gathered by now that not all online courses are created equal. On one end of the spectrum, there are methods of online learning that leave learners stunned by what a great experience they had. On the other end of the spectrum, some online learning courses are so disappointing that learners regret their decision to enroll.

If you want to experience the value of online learning, it’s essential to pick the right course. Here’s a quick list of what to look for:

• Feedback and connection to peers within the course platform. Interacting regularly with other learners makes a big difference. Luke and the MIT xPRO team use peer-reviewed feedback to give learners the opportunity to engage with each other’s work.
• Proof of hard work. In the online learning space, proof of hard work often comes in the form of Continuing Education Units (CEUs) or specific certifications. MIT xPRO course participants who successfully complete one or more courses are eligible to receive CEUs , which many employers, licensing agencies, and professional associations accept as evidence of a participant’s serious commitment to their professional development.

Online learning isn’t for everyone, but with the right approach, it can be a valuable experience for many people. Now that you know what to look for in an online course, see what Luke and the MIT xPRO instructional design team have to offer by checking out the latest MIT xPRO courses and programs .

Originally published at http://curve.mit.edu on August 8th, 2022.

The pros and cons of online learning was originally published in MIT Open Learning on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.

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Cybersecurity: Creating a Culture of Awareness

One of the biggest myths is that cybersecurity is just an IT problem. Decisions about cybersecurity have implications throughout your organization—not only for technology-focused teams, but for every team. It only takes one bad actor or one mistake to put the entire organization in jeopardy. Therefore, all of us have a role to play in keeping our organization secure.

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This online program is for business leaders, managers, and executives in both technical and non-technical positions looking to build an action plan for a more cyber resilient organization. Technology and business consultants and others acting as liaisons between technology and business units will also benefit. There are no technical prerequisites for this program.

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• An awareness of the leading approaches to managing cybersecurity, including 'defense in depth' and the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) Cybersecurity Framework
• A practical interpretation of the tradeoffs between security and privacy, and a method for understanding your organization's priorities

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Interactive Cybersecurity Simulation

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A Personalized Cybersecurity Playbook

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Stuart Madnick John Norris Maguire (1960) Professor of Information Technology; Professor, Information Technology and Engineering Systems; Co-Director, PROFIT Program Stuart Madnick is the John Norris Maguire Professor of Information Technologies at the MIT Sloan School of Management, a Professor of Engineering Systems at the MIT School of Engineering, and the Founding Director of Cybersecurity at MIT Sloan: the Interdisciplinary Consortium for Improving Critical Infrastructure Cybersecurity. Madnick’s involvement in cybersecurity research goes back to 1979, when he coauthored the book Computer Security. Currently he heads the Cybersecurity at MIT Sloan initiative, formerly called the Interdisciplinary Consortium for Improving Critical Infrastructure Cybersecurity, aka (IC)3.

Keri Pearlson Executive Director, Cybersecurity at MIT Sloan Keri Pearlson is the Executive Director of Cybersecurity at MIT Sloan and has held positions in academia and industry including Babson College, The University of Texas at Austin, Gartner’s Research Board, CSC, and AT&T. She founded KP Partners, a CIO advisory services firm and the IT Leaders’ Forum, a community of next generation IT executives. She is the founding director of the Analytics Leadership Consortium at the International Institute of Analytics. Pearlson began her career at Hughes Aircraft Company as a systems analyst.

Dr. Michael Siegel Director of Cybersecurity at MIT Sloan (CAMS) and Principal Research Scientist Dr. Michael Siegel is a Principal Research Scientist at the Sloan School of Management, Massachusetts Institute of Technology. He is also the Director of Cybersecurity at MIT Sloan (CAMS). Dr. Siegel’s research focuses on the management, strategy, technology, and organizational issues related to cybersecurity with specific interest in vulnerability markets, cyber risk metrics, dark web business models, IoT endpoint security, cybersecurity workforce development, and educating management in cybersecurity. He also has done research in the intelligent integration of information systems, risk management, insurgency and state stability, data analytics, healthcare systems, and systems modeling. More info

Stuart Madnick John Norris Maguire (1960) Professor of Information Technology; Professor, Information Technology and Engineering Systems; Co-Director, PROFIT Program

Keri Pearlson Executive Director, Cybersecurity at MIT Sloan

Dr. Michael Siegel Director of Cybersecurity at MIT Sloan (CAMS) and Principal Research Scientist Dr. Michael Siegel is a Principal Research Scientist at the Sloan School of Management, Massachusetts Institute of Technology. He is also the Director of Cybersecurity at MIT Sloan (CAMS). Dr. Siegel’s research focuses on the management, strategy, technology, and organizational issues related to cybersecurity with specific interest in vulnerability markets, cyber risk metrics, dark web business models, IoT endpoint security, cybersecurity workforce development, and educating management in cybersecurity. He also has done research in the intelligent integration of information systems, risk management, insurgency and state stability, data analytics, healthcare systems, and systems modeling. Dr. Siegel has published articles on such topics as simulation modeling for cyber resilience, cyber vulnerability markets, data management strategy, architecture for practical metadata integration, heterogeneous database systems, and managing and valuing a corporate IT portfolio using dynamic modeling of software development and maintenance processes. His research at MIT has continued for over 30 years and includes a wide range of publications, patents and teaching accomplishments.

What Participants Say

"I have a much better understanding of the types of threats I need to consider for my company, including some jargon I didn't previously understand. I loved the sections on building a culture of security and I am actively implementing some of those ideas." — Sarah Taylor, General Manager at Research Square USA

"I really liked the simulation of applying costs for cybersecurity, and the discussion about the Apple case. It makes one realize the number of layers affected when such incidents happen." — Bruno Schmid, Senior Security Engineer at Avectris Switzerland

"The best part is the videos and especially discussions. Applying what you have learned at the same time as learning from other students' points of view." — Simon Mzaouakk, VP- Technology Officer at Watertown Savings Bank USA

"Interactions with the class participants and simulations helped me understand what like-minded professionals face in their cybersecurity related challenges." — Heng Chye Carter Tan, Enterprise Solutions Architect at Keppel Enterprise Services Singapore

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