MIT Open Learning

Twenty-five years ago, MIT made a bold bet on openness. The Institute opened its curriculum to the world through MIT OpenCourseWare, and the impact is beyond expectation: 📊 500M+ learners reached worldwide 📚 2,500+ free courses spanning MIT's curriculum 🌍 Sparked a global open education movement, inspiring universities and organizations worldwide Now, with the launch of MIT Learn — the Institute's hub for lifelong learning — and Open Learning's goal of reaching 1 billion learners in the next decade, the next chapter of open education is already taking shape. Read more: https://bit.ly/4wA4Wiy

We're on a mission to bring Massachusetts Institute of Technology's knowledge to 1 billion learners worldwide. 🌏 Why? Because more questions lead to more answers—and answers change the world. Start asking: https://bit.ly/4urlfgi #CuriosityOnAMission

For microbiologists, one of the main goals in an experiment is to connect a cell genotype with a specific phenotype. To do this, they need to start with a single cell. MIT Department of Biology researcher Yashna Thepetta explains how to get there, through a process called "streaking for singles." It's one of the foundational skills in any biology lab, and a great example of how hands-on science happens at MIT. Wonder what else you can learn? Visit learn.mit.edu.

How do you decide which global development challenges to take on as an engineer? This framework from MIT Department of Mechanical Engineering (MechE) Professor Amos Winter breaks it down into 3 key questions: 1️⃣ Real merit — Is the problem compelling enough to affect a lot of people? 2️⃣ Technical merit — Is this actually a technical problem, or is it better solved through policy, marketing, or economics? 3️⃣ Value — Who would fund this work, and more importantly, who's positioned to disseminate and adopt it? A classic mistake in global development is assuming you know what people need. The reality: people adopt what they want, not what they need. Explore more from MIT OpenCourseWare on MIT Learn: https://bit.ly/3PKwAJ8

Universal Learning is a new initiative designed to prepare learners everywhere to tackle complex global challenges through boundary-crossing thinking. Vice Provost for Open Learning Dimitris Bertsimas and Senior Director Megan Mitchell discuss the motivation behind this initiative and what sets it apart. Read more: https://bit.ly/4wt5BlY

Curious what is happening in online and digital teaching, learning, and research at MIT? Sign up for our free monthly newsletter and get the latest news from MIT Open Learning: http://eepurl.com/hVEi2v

How do engineers design underwater robots capable of exploring the ocean's full depth? MIT Department of Mechanical Engineering (MechE) researcher Teagan Sullivan takes us to the MIT towing tank, and explains the two key principles to consider when designing an underwater robot: 1. Weight 2. Buoyancy The balance between these two factors determines whether it floats, sinks, or achieves neutral buoyancy, the sweet spot that enables a remotely operated vehicle to navigate from the surface to the ocean floor. Wonder what else you can learn? Visit learn.mit.edu.

🏈 What can a ball toss teach us about visual processing and autism? Tune in to the Beyond Biology podcast to hear MIT Department of Biology Professor Pawan Sinha discuss the science of vision, his research into brain plasticity, and share the inspirational journey behind his nonprofit, Project Prakash. Listen to the full episode on MIT Learn: https://bit.ly/4tRZmFX

AI education should be accessible to everyone, because it's going to be useful for everyone. That's the simple idea behind Universal AI: an online, self-paced program designed to help learners build practical AI skills, starting with the fundamentals and moving into real-world applications. ✔️ Designed by 30+ MIT faculty and experts ✔️ Built around case studies and hands-on exercises ✔️ No coding required ✔️ First course is free ✔️ Includes the AskTIM AI assistant for help along the way MIT has long led in both advancing this field and sharing knowledge openly. Universal AI brings those traditions together — and meets the moment. Learn more: https://bit.ly/4u9F8by

🦿 What goes into making a prosthetic foot? MIT Department of Mechanical Engineering (MechE) researcher Autumn Geil shares her design for an all-plastic, injection-molded prosthetic foot designed for scale and accessibility. Using injection molding means that one expensive metal mold can produce thousands of affordable parts. Smart design meets scalable manufacturing. Wonder what else you can learn? Visit learn.mit.edu