University of Michigan and edX to offer public discourse seminars
Massive open online course provider edX and the University of Michigan are offering "teach-out" seminars in a bid to boost public discussion on political issues. On 24 March, 1965, the university led an informal "teach-in" lecture series that brought together students, experts and members of the public amid nationwide anti-Vietnam War protests. Fifty-two years later the faculty is honouring the tradition by launching an online four-course series on political topics, including democratic and authoritarian rule, fake news, understanding scientific research and the future of Obamacare. Each course will last a week and take between three and four hours to complete.

TEACH-OUTS: March 24, 1965 was an important day in University of Michigan history. In the midst of nationwide protests against the Vietnam War, faculty led the first ever “teach-in,” an informal lecture series that brought together experts, students and community members to discuss political issues of the day.

Nearly 52 years later, teach-ins are a strategy many campus leaders and students continue to use. And this year, the University of Michigan is partnering with MOOC platform edX to honor the teach-in tradition with a free online program the school is calling “teach-outs.” The four-course series is geared towards creating a public discourse around some of today’s most pressing issues: democratic and authoritarian rule, fake news, understanding scientific research and “the future of Obamacare.” Each course lasts about one week and takes approximately three to four hours to complete.

“Our faculty are responding to the uncertainty of today as they did with the Teach-In,” James DeVaney, associate vice provost for academic innovation at the University of Michigan, told Inside Higher Ed. “Learners and experts will ask questions and explore solutions to the most pressing issues of our day.”