by Nicole Erb, Director of Chapters
A year ago, after moving across the country for my husband’s career, I found myself with some time on my hands. Because of our move, I had left a high-intensity position in an urban school district, and as I searched for a new job, I wanted to continue my professional development as an education leader. Luckily, it didn’t take me long to find the perfect opportunity.
I don’t remember how I first learned about the edX courses run by the MIT Teaching Systems Lab. For anyone not familiar with edX, it is a platform that enables learners across the globe to participate in online classes led by faculty from a variety of universities. I had never taken an online course, and I wasn’t sure that it would be for me. Two things, however, encouraged me to give it a shot. 1) The course, Competency-Based Education: The Why, What, and How, covered a topic I had been wanting to learn more about. 2) It was led by Justin Reich, who taught one of my classes when I was at HGSE and now leads the MIT Teaching Systems Lab.
From the first day the course opened, I was immediately reminded of how much I love being a student. I eagerly consumed the videos and readings that delved into the complexities surrounding competency-based education, and I equally enjoyed sharing my thoughts and responding to fellow classmates on the forums. In addition, the final assignment allowed me to begin outlining my vision for creating a new high school, which is one of my long-term professional dreams.
By the time the course ended, I had already signed up for the next two available classes: Envisioning the Graduate of the Future and Design Thinking for Leading and Learning. While I found that those courses were slightly less informational than the first class, they both still provided me the opportunity to reflect on my vision for education, explore helpful resources, and connect with educators around the world. After they ended, I couldn’t wait for the next course.
Unfortunately, waiting was inevitable, as the MIT Teaching Systems Lab didn’t have any new offerings last fall. Finally, though, the wait is over, and their next course, Launching Innovation in Schools, starts next week. My current work schedule, while flexible, gives me less free time than I had last year, but I am still looking forward to the class. The best part of the edX courses (aside from being free) is that they allow students the freedom to participate as much or as little as they choose.
Though I’m not sure how much time I’ll be able to spend on coursework this round, I am mostly excited to continue learning from other educators who are passionate about education innovation. If you’re interested in joining a discussion group around this topic (whether or not you’re able to take the course), I would love to hear from you! You can reach me (Nicole Erb) at nms790@mail.harvard.edu. To learn more about Launching Innovation in Schools or to register, visit the edX course site.