UMass Boston Launches Open Courseware Site
Boston, Mass.—The University of Massachusetts Boston launched its OpenCourseWare site on Wednesday, November 28, 2007. OpenCourseWare, viewable at http://ocw.umb.edu, makes the materials used in teaching UMass Boston subjects available on the Web, free of charge, to any user in the world. Educators will be able to utilize the materials for curriculum development, while self-learners can draw upon the materials for self-study or supplementary use.
Nine UMass Boston faculty contributed twelve courses to the site in subjects ranging from Calculus to Biology. Faculty contribute their course materials to the site on a voluntary basis; many more faculty will contribute their course materials to the site within the next year.
“UMass Boston OpenCourseWare improves students’ ability to preview courses they might take,” said Associate Provost Peter Langer, to which chemistry professor Marietta Schwartz added, “This is a venue for UMB faculty to share pedagogy, curriculum materials, and discover others who share common interests worldwide.”
“OpenCourseWare is an exciting concept which is consistent with our efforts to provide our students with innovative and cutting edge tools that will enhance the learning experience here at the University of Massachusetts Boston,” said Chancellor Keith Motley. “I will encourage all of our faculty to take advantage of this new technology.”
UMass Boston is the first public university in the northeast to launch its OpenCourseWare site, and just the seventh university in the United States. The others are MIT, Johns Hopkins, Utah State, University of Notre Dame, Tufts, and the University of California Irvine.
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About the University of Massachusetts Boston Established in 1964, UMass Boston prides itself on providing challenging teaching, distinguished research, and extensive public service to Boston and the Commonwealth. Through its six colleges and two graduate schools, the university offers undergraduate and graduate study to 13,400 students in more than 150 fields. For more information, please see www.umb.edu.