A Bold Experiment in Boundary-less Education SMA: The Singapore MIT Alliance Internet2 Conference March 18, 2004 M.S. Vijay Kumar Assistant Provost & Director of Academic Computing David Mycue Principal Strategist, AMPS

The Singapore-MIT Alliance Joint effort between MIT, the National University of Singapore, and Nanyang Technological University Combines distance-learning with traditional on-campus learning Provides advanced engineering degrees that are highly collaborative –Between schools –Between disciplines

The SMA Program July 1999 –Advanced Materials –High Performance Computation for Engineered Systems July 2000 –Innovation in Manufacturing Systems and Technology July 2001 –Computer Science –Materials Science and Management

SMA Synchronous Delivery Live lecture format T.120 application sharing PowerPoint & PDF primary presentation tools Internet2 Control Room –Videoconferencing codec –Near broadcast-quality production system Technical Support

Asynchronous Elements Central website Allows for easy access control and organization of content Course materials include streamed video lectures, homework assignments, lecture notes, readings Delivery is primarily Synchronous; On-demand streaming as backup and reference for students

SMA - Context of MIT Education Extends MIT’s Value Proposition –High b/w of Interaction between excellent Faculty and Students –Research-Teaching –Laboratory Experience (iLab) Truly interactive synchronous education involving MIT and Singapore students Phase 1: Can we provide MIT-class education at a distance? SMA: Yes !

SMA - Context of MIT Education Influencing Infrastructure for Education –Level 5 Classroom –Research Interaction Facilities –Campus Network –Stellar –New Tools (Sympodium lectern, techcheck) –Extended community service Considerations

Directions for Technology- Enabled Education (MITCET) The visions cluster around two goals: Improve the experience “at home” –Enhance the core educational experience –Meet the lifelong learning needs of MIT students –Create flexible ways to pursue educational and research excellence –Engage and strengthen the MIT community Expand MIT’s reach and influence –Expand MIT education globally to top-tier students –Offer MIT education and training to corporate partners –Create educational offerings for the mass market

Ahead: SMA-2 5 Graduate Engineering Programs Addition of a Biological Engineering program More PhDs; Fewer Masters of Engineering Dual admission and Dual Degree for Masters – MIT-Singapore (NUS/NTU) SMA-1 students do not get an MIT degree –1 semester MIT Residency More Research and Collaboration “Revolutionizing the Concept of Distance Learning”