Sep 17, 2014 01:17 PM EDT By J Baulkman, UniversityHerald Reporter

Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) is planning develop a student life and experiential learning curriculum to teach skills such as project management, team dynamics, collaboration and leadership.

The goal of this initiative, which will be spearheaded by the university's Division of Student Life (DSL), is to teach fundamental skills and principles usually developed through DSL-sponsored activities -- such as project management, team dynamics, civic engagement, diversity, collaboration, and leadership -- through an online platform.

"This is an exciting time for DSL as we explore the potential of online education, and consider how we as educators can help more students develop these important skills and principles," Chris Colombo, dean for student life, said in an email.

MIT plans to host the program through MITx, the Institute's portion of the edX online learning platform.

Sally Susnowitz, current director of the PSC, will take on a new role as director of the DSL-MITx Student Development Initiative, which will manage DSL's online learning strategy and assets.

"Sally has worked at the PSC since 2000, and was instrumental in its growth from a local volunteer organization that focused on education to a global network of social entrepreneurs," Colombo said. "Sally will work with colleagues within DSL and elsewhere at MIT to ensure that the student experience is engaging and rigorous, in keeping with MIT's pedagogical standards."

With DSL colleagues and other collaborators, Susnowitz will also establish an iterative cycle of experiments, refinements, and expansions that will result in well-developed, well-tested educational modules by fall 2019.

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