HarvardX is a broad set of faculty-led activities that includes Harvard’s participation in edX as well as aspects of Harvard’s internal online education strategy.
The direction and priorities are led by two active committees:
Their charge is to:
- develop online Harvard courses and modules for distribution on edX and also for use in Harvard residential and extended online education;
- conduct research on the effects of pedagogical and technological innovations, and how these influence learning outcomes;
- adapt teaching and learning innovations that emerge from HarvardX/edX to on-campus education at Harvard; and
- assist Harvard Schools in developing appropriate business models for their online learning efforts.
The term “HarvardX” also refers to the portfolio of Harvard online courses and modules developed through this undertaking. An important goal of HarvardX is to represent the full range and diversity of instruction across all Harvard Schools, and indeed, HarvardX is conceived to be:
- flexible to accommodate diverse needs of all Harvard Schools;
- expansive in supporting the full breadth of Harvard disciplines, pedagogies, and online education programs; and
- fundamentally experimental.
Goals
- Expand access to education worldwide
- Improve teaching and learning on campuses and beyond
- Advance teaching and learning through educational research
Courses & Student Data (April 2013)
- 849,200 unique learners on edX
- 1,130,442 course enrollees on edX
- 70% non-domestic/30% domestic visits
- 331,663 course enrollments in HarvardX courses
Spring 2013 HarvardX courses
- SPU27x: "Science & Cooking," taught by Michael Brenner, Glover Professor of Applied Mathematics and Applied Physics and David Weitz, Mallinckrodt Professor of Physics and of Applied Physics, SEAS
- CB22x: “The Ancient Greek Hero,” taught by Gregory Nagy, Francis Jones Professor of Classical Greek Literature and professor of comparative literature, FAS
- ER22x: “Justice,” taught by Michael Sandel, Anne T. and Robert M. Bass Professor of Government, FAS
- PH278x: “Human Health and Global Environmental Change,” taught by co-taught by Aaron Bernstein, associate director of the Center for Health and the Global Environment at HSPH, and John Spengler, director of the Center and Akira Yamaguchi Professor of Environmental Health and Human Habitation in the Department of Environmental Health
- HLS1x: “Copyright,” taught by William Fisher III, WilmerHale Professor of Intellectual Property Law, Harvard Law School, and director, Berkman Center for Internet & Society
Fall 2012 HarvardX Courses (Current and Completed)