MIT’s Open Secret: Learn STEM, No Tuition Required | MIT OpenCourseWare

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In this episode of Go! For Launch, Audrey Odwuor speaks with Sarah Hansen and Curt Newton from MIT OpenCourseWare (OCW)—a pioneering initiative that’s been making world-class MIT course materials freely available online for over two decades.

Curt, OCW’s director, and Sarah, who leads open education innovation and hosts the Chalk Radio podcast, share the origin story of the program and its global impact on learners, educators, and institutions. They dive into what makes OCW unique, how it empowers self-directed learners, and why openly licensed education has never been more important in a changing world.From inspiring career pivots to new frontiers in AI-driven translation and open pedagogy, this episode explores how access to knowledge can truly transform lives—and how you can start learning today, for free.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

1. How MIT OpenCourseWare became a global leader in open education

2. What makes OCW different from other online education platforms

3. How learners around the world are using OCW to launch new careers

4. Why openness, cultural relevance, and adaptability matter in education

5. How AI and translation tools are expanding OCW’s global reach

Timestamps:

00:01:33 – What is MIT OpenCourseWare and who is it for?

00:04:44 – MIT’s bold decision in 2000 to give its course materials away for free

00:06:48 – Building a global movement for open education

00:08:03 – How educators adapt OCW to fit local cultures and communities

00:10:16 – Favorite STEM courses and how they help new learners

00:12:01 – Why “How to Speak” is OCW’s most-watched video

00:14:11 – OCW’s global impact and the power of AI-driven translation

00:17:12 – A Ukrainian initiative using AI to translate OCW into native language

00:19:00 – How an artist used OCW to pivot into a career in finance

00:20:42 – Learners in Uganda, Sudan, and beyond share their stories

00:23:00 – The case for lifelong learning: “K to gray” education

00:25:24 – Sarah and Curt share their nontraditional paths to MIT

00:29:13 – How AI might shape the future of self-directed learning

00:32:18 – Where to begin with OCW and how to find your learning path

00:33:32 – “OpenCourseWare is like the Grand Canyon—choose your own adventure”

00:34:52 – What Sarah and Curt are deeply curious about

00:37:32 – The human side of MIT and the heart behind open learning

Helpful Links:

MIT OpenCourseWare: https://ocw.mit.edu

Chalk Radio podcast: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLUl4u3cNGP63YwKIMA9K08FFvdeBEl6Lo&si=W7vozMfP1TxRF84j

Social and Ethical Responsibilities of Computing: https://computing.mit.edu/cross-cutting/social-and-ethical-responsibilities-of-computing/

MIT MicroMasters Programs: https://micromasters.mit.edu

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