Ahead of the learning curve
For all that has changed over Harvard’s 375 years, one thing has remained roughly the same: It’s still a place where many of the brightest students come to learn from some of the best teachers. But if anniversaries are a good time to reflect on what has gone well, they’re also a time to set challenges — to imagine what could become even better. If anything, 2011-12 was the year when Harvard began to focus more heavily on how students learn and teachers teach. Evidence of a renewed commitment to teaching and learning could be found across the University. Rita E. and Gustave M. Hauser’s $40 million gift, announced in October, led to the launch of the Harvard Initiative for Learning and Teaching. In November, the Harvard Innovation Lab opened its doors to the public, drawing students, faculty, and researchers across the Charles River to collaborate across disciplines. And this month, Harvard and...