Podcast highlights how anyone in the world can benefit from MIT’s open education resources
By Katherine Ouellette
Growing up in Kampala, Uganda, Emmanuel Kasigazi did not expect to share much in common with someone from Memphis, Tennessee. But when he connected with Michael Jordan Pilgreen over MIT Open Learning’s online courses and resources, they realized what a profound impact open education had on both of their lives.
“It blew my mind that this was a person across the continent. But then as we kept talking, we found that we had similar interests. We are both on this journey to transition our careers,” says Kasigazi, who is currently pursuing his master’s in Data Analytics and Visualization at Yeshiva University. “And what brought this all together was this platform.”
Inspired to connect other learners on a global scale, Kasigazi and Pilgreen are launching the Open Learners Podcast, which premieres on October 2 as a special season of MIT OpenCourseWare’s Chalk Radio. Each episode features a new story of how open education has transformed the lives of learners. Kasigazi and Pilgreen interview learners from different countries, cultures, and backgrounds about their experiences using MIT Open Learning’s resources on OpenCourseWare, MITx, MITx MicroMasters, and more.
“We are providing a place for the next generation of open learners to share their voices,” says Pilgreen, a financial technology startup consultant. “I am so happy to share these beautiful stories of hope and inspiration from across the world.”
Kasigazi and Pilgreen hope this podcast will show other online learners that they’re not alone in their educational journey.
“People are still fundamentally the same, going through the same struggles, and going through the same self-doubts when approaching learning,” Pilgreen says.
Kasigazi adds how the podcast showcases various learning journeys. “Here’s another person on another continent who went through the same thing, and they made it, and it was okay,” he says.
The hosts also recognize that education is not always accessible — and in some cases, it is prohibited altogether. But they hope the Open Learners Podcast will empower listeners to continue pursuing their educational and career goals.
“We live in the information age, knowledge is power, and MIT OpenCourseWare gives you that power,” says Kasigazi. “I hope listeners understand that they too can do it, they too can change their lives for the better.”
To share your open learning story with Kasigazi and Pilgreen, email open_learners_pod@mit.edu.
Chalk Radio is a podcast about inspired teaching at MIT produced by MIT OpenCourseWare, which is part of MIT Open Learning. OpenCourseWare offers free, online, open educational resources from more than 2,500 courses that span the MIT undergraduate and graduate curriculum. MITx offers high-quality massive open online courses adapted from the MIT classroom for learners worldwide. The MITx MicroMasters Programs provide an affordable, accelerated, and convenient path to a master’s degree. The credential itself is also valuable for professionals as they move through their careers.
Podcast highlights how anyone in the world can benefit from MIT’s open education resources was originally published in MIT Open Learning on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.