DSLx Life Learning���

Sally Susnowitz & Jill Forgash

An online educational platform focused on 

life‐enhancing information and ideas

MIT studentsundergrads

grad studentsentering freshmen

juniors

graduating seniors

PhD

MEng

MA

MOOC users

looking for internships

transitioning to a career

moving into a dorm

sophomoresdeclaring a major

choosing a thesis topic

navigating the job market

unsure about how to meet other MEng students…where are they?

trying to find work‐life balance

having difficulties with an advisor

supporting a family while in school

feeling isolated from other students

working full‐time jobs

having a roommate conflict

trying to eat healthy on a budget

managing stress – how do people do it?

students

staff

facultyMIT community enterprise

alumni

post‐docs

parents

DSLODL

IS&T

ODGEDUE

Work‐Life Center

spouses & partnersundergrads

PhDs

MA/MS

MEng

DLC’s

Online to In Person

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Learn from alumni interactions online

Talk with advisors, roommates, staff, etc.

Attend on‐campus workshops

Get counseling

Talk with peers

Reach out to on‐site alumni while traveling

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Residential Course

MOOC

On campusactivities

Leadership Summit

Microlessonsto Modules 

to Academic Integration

Onsite Experiences

MIT abroad

central MIT community

curated & connected

Why not Google?

A comprehensive online resource for what MIT students want and need to know about life at MIT and beyond

“Life here is stressful: we should be making a place for empathy”

76% of undergrad and 58% of grad MIT students say MIT is rated a 1 or a 2 on a scale of stressful (1) to calm (6)

MIT students are typically online 10‐12 hours a day

IS&T

Resource Development

DSL Senior Staff

ODL

Technical platform

Process

Content

Funding

DLC’s

DSLx Staff Working Group

Student Working Group

DSL, DUE, ODGE 

Mind+Hand+Heart, other initiatives

Work‐Life Center

Individual students, staff, faculty, alumni

Student Groups

MIT legalDSL

• Platform designed for MOOCs

• Pre‐constructed pathways

• Classroom on the web

• Platform designed for microlessons& modules

• Self‐directed pathways

• Learning beyond the classroom

JF1

Progress

DSL educational topic inventory

Building awareness and participation

MicrolearningBoot Camp

Spring Creative Blitz

“Teach It Yourself” (TIY)Student Contest 

Staff contest –coming soon!

lifelearning.mit.edudslx.mit.edu(for content contributors)

Pilot

Ongoing Present Future

“Charlie is a greatperson who talked me through some tough times. Thank you for always listening.”

Sherry JungBA ’99 MechEPhD ‘05 Materials Science

Charles AbbottBA ’99 MechE

Honor a Friend

Sherry’s gift in honor of Charlie supports the Communication section

$1M ‐2M $100k‐200k

√

$10k + $2k +

PlatformsPeopleEvents

• Pilot v 1• Pilot v 2• Pilot v 3• Staff, production 

aides, consultants• Student Assistants• Grants to groups• Event series

• Interactive features• Information series• Consultants• Student Assistants• Student bloggers• An event series

• Contest for content• 1‐2 consultants• 1‐2 events

• Information series• Student bloggers• Student Assistants• Several events

Sally SusnowitzDirector, DSLx Life Learning

lifelearning@mit.edu

lifelearning.mit.edu���