<h1>edX and Massachusetts Community Colleges Join in Gates-Funded Educational Initiative</h1>
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<h2>First Blended MOOC Course slated for Bunker Hill Community College (BHCC) and MassBay Community College</h2>
<h2>First Blended MOOC Course slated for Bunker Hill Community College (BHCC) and MassBay Community College</h2>
<p><strong>CAMBRIDGE, Mass. – November 19, 2012 –</strong>
<ahref="https://www.edx.org/">edX</a>, the world’s leading online-learning initiative founded by Harvard University and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), today announced an innovative blended massive open online course (MOOC) offering at <ahref="http://www.bhcc.mass.edu/">Bunker Hill</a> and <ahref="http://www.massbay.edu/">MassBay Community Colleges</a>, the first community colleges to work with edX to bring a new teaching model to the classroom. Through this public/private initiative, community colleges will benefit from edX’s platform, connecting students with leading MOOC professors from around the world.</p>
<p>Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick and other dignitaries speak at a press conference hosted by edX, the world’s leading online-learning initiative founded by Harvard University and MIT, on Monday, November 19. EdX announced the first-of-its-kind community college partnership with Bunker Hill and MassBay Community Colleges, bringing an innovative blended teaching model to their classrooms.</p>
<p>Left to Right: Dr. John O’Donnell, president of MassBay Community College; Richard M. Freeland, Massachusetts Commissioner of Higher Education; Anant Agarwal, president of edX; Governor Deval Patrick; Mary L. Fifield, president of Bunker Hill Community College; Paul Reville, Massachusetts Secretary of Education</p>
<p><strong>CAMBRIDGE, Mass. – November 19, 2012 –</strong>
<ahref="https://www.edx.org/">edX</a>, the world’s leading online-learning initiative founded by Harvard University and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), today announced an innovative blended massive open online course (MOOC) offering at <ahref="http://www.bhcc.mass.edu/"target="_blank">Bunker Hill</a> and <ahref="http://www.massbay.edu/"target="_blank">MassBay Community Colleges</a>, the first community colleges to work with edX to bring a new teaching model to the classroom. Through this public/private initiative, community colleges will benefit from edX’s platform, connecting students with leading MOOC professors from around the world.</p>
<p>“Our technology and innovative teaching methods have the potential to transform the way community college students learn, both in and out of the classroom,” said Anant Agarwal, president of edX. “Our work with Bunker Hill and MassBay will enable us to work with other state institutions throughout the country to provide excellent educational opportunities on an ever-tightening budget.”</p>
<p>“Our technology and innovative teaching methods have the potential to transform the way community college students learn, both in and out of the classroom,” said Anant Agarwal, president of edX. “Our work with Bunker Hill and MassBay will enable us to work with other state institutions throughout the country to provide excellent educational opportunities on an ever-tightening budget.”</p>
<p>The collaboration between these two innovative community colleges, both of which have a history of offering online and hybrid courses, and edX was made possible through a $1 million grant from the <ahref="http://www.gatesfoundation.org/Pages/home.aspx">Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation</a>. The grant is part of a $9 million investment announced in June 2012 to support breakthrough learning models in postsecondary education. edX, Massachusetts and the Gates Foundation believe that investing in this initiative will pave the way for further innovations in online and on-campus learning for these and other community colleges around the country. </p>
<p>The collaboration between these two innovative community colleges, both of which have a history of offering online and hybrid courses, and edX was made possible through a $1 million grant from the <ahref="http://www.gatesfoundation.org/Pages/home.aspx"target="_blank">Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation</a>. The grant is part of a $9 million investment announced in June 2012 to support breakthrough learning models in postsecondary education. edX, Massachusetts and the Gates Foundation believe that investing in this initiative will pave the way for further innovations in online and on-campus learning for these and other community colleges around the country. </p>
<p>“MOOCs are an exciting innovation. They hold great promise, but are not without challenges– and we are still discovering their full potential,” said Dan Greenstein, Director of Postsecondary Success at the Gates Foundation. “We believe having diverse options for faculty and students that meet a wide array of learning needs and styles can enhance student engagement, improve educational outcomes, and increase college completion rates. We are eager to learn from and share the data that will be generated from these investments in MOOCs.”</p>
<p>“MOOCs are an exciting innovation. They hold great promise, but are not without challenges– and we are still discovering their full potential,” said Dan Greenstein, Director of Postsecondary Success at the Gates Foundation. “We believe having diverse options for faculty and students that meet a wide array of learning needs and styles can enhance student engagement, improve educational outcomes, and increase college completion rates. We are eager to learn from and share the data that will be generated from these investments in MOOCs.”</p>
<p>“I thank the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and edX for understanding the importance of innovative thinking in order to better prepare our students for the jobs of the 21st century global economy,” said Governor Deval Patrick. “A stronger community college system fuels our economy by connecting well-prepared students with employers.”</p>
<p>“I thank the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and edX for understanding the importance of innovative thinking in order to better prepare our students for the jobs of the 21st century global economy,” said Governor Deval Patrick. “A stronger community college system fuels our economy by connecting well-prepared students with employers.”</p>
<p>Beginning in the spring 2013, Bunker Hill and MassBay Community Colleges will offer an adapted version of the <ahref="https://www.edx.org/courses/MITx/6.00x/2012_Fall/about">MITx 6.00x Introduction to Computer Science and Programming</a> course at their respective campuses. This unique learning experience will allow students to benefit from virtual courses, enhanced by in-class supporting materials and engaging breakouts. The collaboration aims to build upon edX and community college data-driven research to examine the advantages of a blended classroom model that utilizes edX’s MOOC content, consisting of innovative learning methodologies and game-like educational experiences.</p>
<p>Beginning in the spring 2013, Bunker Hill and MassBay Community Colleges will offer an adapted version of the <ahref="https://www.edx.org/courses/MITx/6.00x/2012_Fall/about">MITx 6.00x Introduction to Computer Science and Programming</a> course at their respective campuses. This unique learning experience will allow students to benefit from virtual courses, enhanced by in-class supporting materials and engaging breakouts. The collaboration aims to build upon edX and community college data-driven research to examine the advantages of a blended classroom model that utilizes edX’s MOOC content, consisting of innovative learning methodologies and game-like educational experiences.</p>
<p>“Community college professors are both teachers and mentors to our students. The blended classroom model allows our professors greater one-to-one contact with our students, allowing for greater course content mastery and application,” stated Dr. John O’Donnell, president of MassBay Community College.</p>
