DSL-MITx Student Development Initiative

MIT’s investment in online education is transforming how the Institute teaches and how students learn. Now the Division of Student Life (DSL) is preparing to join the online learning revolution, thanks to the support of two alumni.

Two MIT alums (Michele and Burt (1984) Kaliski) who are longstanding supporters of MIT’s Public Service Center, have launched development of a student life and experiential learning curriculum with a gift that they hope will engender additional support from other alumni. The curriculum is intended to teach fundamental skills and principles usually developed through DSL-sponsored activities -- such as project management, team dynamics, civic engagement, diversity, collaboration, and leadership -- through an online platform.

The DSL-MITx Student Development Initiative will manage DSL’s online learning strategy and assets. Director Sally Susnowitz will lay the groundwork for the curriculum with the goal of hosting it through MITx, the Institute’s portion of the edX online learning platform. With DSL colleagues and other collaborators, she will also establish an iterative cycle of experiments, refinements, and expansions that will result in well-developed, well-tested educational modules by fall 2019.