Initiatives: Online Learning

Since its inception, the Kirwan Center has been supporting USM institutions in making strategic forays into online learning. “Online learning” in this context is defined as any learning environment that makes substantive use of a web-based component that enables collaboration and access to content beyond the classroom. Online learning strategies across the USM range from fully online degree/certificate programs, to MOOCs, to hybrid and "flipped" courses.

To advance this work, the Kirwan Center has launched USMx to help institutions  leverage the affordances of online learning to give students the flexibility to interact with content, faculty, and learning communities in the ways that best meet their needs. 

The USMx mission is to provide both access to innovative e-learning technologies as well as the resources, support, and planning necessary for strategic implementation of online learning.  This, in turn, helps our institutions achieve their mission of providing access to high quality, affordable higher education to a diverse student body both in Maryland and across the globe.

    In addition to UMUC, which offers over 90 fully online programs, the USM now has 44 degree programs offered entirely online.

    Our Work in Online Learning

    Page 3

    June 5, 2019

    UMES to offer first-of-its-kind MOOC in Hospitality/tourism course makes history on Boston-based edX platform.

    On July 10, the University of Maryland Eastern Shore will become the nation's first historically black institution to launch a Massively Open Online Course (MOOC) on the Boston-based edX platform in partnership with the University System of Maryland's Kirwan Center for Academic Innovation.

    The UMES MOOC is anchored in the university's well-regarded hospitality and tourism management program.  The course, “Introduction to Hospitality and Tourism Industry,” will enable learners to: 

    September 30, 2018

    The University of Maryland (UMD) Project Management Center for Excellence has transformed its approach to online education by working with the edX platform to deliver its Agile Project Management Professional Certificate program at a global scale.

    EdX is a nonprofit, open-source learning destination that offers online educational programs and courses in alliance with more than 130 member institutions, comprised of both leading global universities and colleges, and a diverse group of prominent organizations from around the world. Founded by Harvard University and Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and based in Cambridge, MA, edX is focused on transforming online and classroom learning through groundbreaking methodologies, game-like educational experiences and cutting-edge research on an open-source platform.

    September 25, 2018

    Beginning Sept. 30, the University of Baltimore School of Law and edX—a premier provider of massive online open courses (MOOCs)—will host "The Supreme Court and American Politics," an eight-week self-paced examination of the causes and effects of politics on the nation's top legal institution. The course, available entirely online at no cost, is hosted by Lyle Denniston, long-time Supreme Court reporter, unofficial dean emeritus of the Supreme Court press corps and UB's Wilson H. Elkins Professor of Academic Transformation in the University's Bank of America Center for Excellence in Learning, Teaching and Technology. 

    Pages