"Unbundling” content is the future of education: Anant Agarwal, CEO, edX
Dr. Anant Agarwal, MIT Professor and CEO of edX, a not-for-profit organization founded by Harvard and MIT, visited IIM Bangalore on 20 January, 2016 to discuss the role of technology in re-imagining management education. In his talk, titled ‘Online Social Learning – Innovation and Accountability,’ Dr. Agarwal emphasized the importance of technology innovation to take education to the masses, while ensuring that accountability is not sidelined. Expressing his joy at being at ‘one of his favourite campuses in India,’ he mentioned how the IIMB-edX partnership was the beginning of an enormous opportunity for the Institute and edX. The 12 business and management MOOCs launched by IIMB and the courses in the pipeline are key to imparting essential life-skills that every professional needs, he said.
Dr. Agarwal shared valuable insights on the future of online learning and lauded IIMB’s effort in constantly exploring innovative uses of educational technology: ‘Status quo means you are on a slope – if you are not innovating, you are slipping down.” He spoke about how the edX platform was working aggressively on including tech-enabled interventions like virtual proctored exams, instructor grading, timed exams and adaptive learning to ensure that MOOCs double down on ‘quality’ and ‘accountability.’
According to Dr. Agarwal, the need of the hour was to find mechanisms to scale up education with “zero” marginal cost and technology could play a significant role in achieving this. He also talked about initiatives like credit for MOOCs, MIT’s micro-masters, etc. which pave the way for ‘unbundling’ time, content and credentials for learners world-wide.
IIMB faculty had a stimulating discussion on topics ranging from future of universities to efficacy of online discussion fora with Dr. Agarwal. In the closing, Dr. Anant Agarwal left the faculty and the IIMBx MOOC team with an invigorating thought on how technology was like a rising tide that could take educational institutions and educators all over the world upwards towards improved learning.
Dr Sushil Vachani, Director, IIMB, welcomes Dr Anant Agarwal, MIT Professor & CEO, edX, to IIMB, on January 20, 2016.
Dr Anant Agarwal, MIT Professor & CEO, edX, addresses the faculty at IIMB.
Dr Vasanthi Srinivasan, Professor, Organisational Behaviour and Human Resource Management Area, IIMB, has a question for Dr Anant Agarwal, during the discussion of the role of technology in re-imagining management education at IIMB.
(First row) Faculty members of IIMB Dr Sourav Mukherji, Ramya Ranganathan and Ritu Tripati at the discussion with Dr Anant Agarwal.
"Unbundling” content is the future of education: Anant Agarwal, CEO, edX
Dr. Anant Agarwal, MIT Professor and CEO of edX, a not-for-profit organization founded by Harvard and MIT, visited IIM Bangalore on 20 January, 2016 to discuss the role of technology in re-imagining management education. In his talk, titled ‘Online Social Learning – Innovation and Accountability,’ Dr. Agarwal emphasized the importance of technology innovation to take education to the masses, while ensuring that accountability is not sidelined. Expressing his joy at being at ‘one of his favourite campuses in India,’ he mentioned how the IIMB-edX partnership was the beginning of an enormous opportunity for the Institute and edX. The 12 business and management MOOCs launched by IIMB and the courses in the pipeline are key to imparting essential life-skills that every professional needs, he said.
Dr. Agarwal shared valuable insights on the future of online learning and lauded IIMB’s effort in constantly exploring innovative uses of educational technology: ‘Status quo means you are on a slope – if you are not innovating, you are slipping down.” He spoke about how the edX platform was working aggressively on including tech-enabled interventions like virtual proctored exams, instructor grading, timed exams and adaptive learning to ensure that MOOCs double down on ‘quality’ and ‘accountability.’
According to Dr. Agarwal, the need of the hour was to find mechanisms to scale up education with “zero” marginal cost and technology could play a significant role in achieving this. He also talked about initiatives like credit for MOOCs, MIT’s micro-masters, etc. which pave the way for ‘unbundling’ time, content and credentials for learners world-wide.
IIMB faculty had a stimulating discussion on topics ranging from future of universities to efficacy of online discussion fora with Dr. Agarwal. In the closing, Dr. Anant Agarwal left the faculty and the IIMBx MOOC team with an invigorating thought on how technology was like a rising tide that could take educational institutions and educators all over the world upwards towards improved learning.
Dr Sushil Vachani, Director, IIMB, welcomes Dr Anant Agarwal, MIT Professor & CEO, edX, to IIMB, on January 20, 2016.
Dr Anant Agarwal, MIT Professor & CEO, edX, addresses the faculty at IIMB.
Dr Vasanthi Srinivasan, Professor, Organisational Behaviour and Human Resource Management Area, IIMB, has a question for Dr Anant Agarwal, during the discussion of the role of technology in re-imagining management education at IIMB.
(First row) Faculty members of IIMB Dr Sourav Mukherji, Ramya Ranganathan and Ritu Tripati at the discussion with Dr Anant Agarwal.