Pitt Senate's Spring Plenary on April 18 Will Address MOOCs and the Cyberlearning Revolution

The University of Pittsburgh Senate’s Spring 2013 Plenary Session will explore Pitt’s entry into the world of Massive Open Online Courses, or MOOCs. The free public plenary, “The Cyberlearning Revolution in Higher Education: Charting Pitt’s Direction for Instructional Technology in the Age of MOOCs,” will be held from noon to 3 p.m. Thursday, April 18, in the William Pitt Union’s Assembly Room.

Pitt Chancellor Mark A. Nordenberg will deliver opening remarks.

Featured speakers will include Cynthia Golden, director, Pitt Center for Instructional Development and Distance Education; Charles Perfetti, Pitt Distinguished University Professor of Psychology and director and senior scientist, the Learning Research and Development Center; Alan Lesgold, dean of Pitt’s School of Education and professor of psychology and intelligent systems; and Norman Bier, associate director, Open Learning Initiative, Carnegie Mellon University.

Pitt Provost and Senior Vice Chancellor Patricia E. Beeson will deliver closing remarks.

The plenary will be moderated by University Senate President Thomas C. Smitherman, professor in the Department of Medicine, Pitt School of Medicine.