The University of 91�Թ� will offer its second MOOC (massive open online course) on , titled , beginning on Monday (May 18).

Understanding Wireless is a survey-style course that offers an opportunity to gain understanding of the technical, regulatory and economic aspects of the mobile wireless revolution and its impact on society. This not-for-credit course is intended for a broad audience, from engineers to business majors to aspiring lawyers, but students will be most comfortable if they are not intimidated by early-college mathematics. The course is entirely free and open to everyone.

Understanding Wireless will address such questions as: How do mobile smartphones and tablets convert digital information to and from electromagnetic signals in the radio frequency spectrum? How do radio designers and spectrum regulators avoid harmful interference within a network or among different wireless services? Is television band spectrum or cellular spectrum more valuable to society? How do you build a radio transmitter and receiver, or develop a business plan for a wireless network deployment in your hometown?

Unlike other MOOCs, Understanding Wireless offers students in the U.S. and Canada an opportunity to receive $5,000 to implement their project plan to use wireless technology to improve their local community based on what they learned from the course. Submissions will be judged according to their potential impact, feasibility and creativity. Students from the U.S. and Canada interested in partaking in this competition must enroll in the verified certificate. The finalists will be flown to the 91�Թ� campus in September where they will compete for the $5,000 prize. During the visit, a winner will be chosen by leading experts in the corporate wireless industry. The competition is sponsored and organized solely by the University of 91�Թ�. While the course is offered on the edX platform, edX is not involved in sponsoring or administering any aspect of the competition.

The course will be taught by an interdisciplinary team of 91�Թ� professors that includes , William J. and Dorothy K. O’Neill Professor of Law; , founding director of the and associate professor of engineering; , associate professor of computer science and engineering; and , Jesse H. Jones Professor of Finance.

“Our goal at edX is to offer innovative, engaging courses from the best universities and institutions in the world to learners everywhere,” Anant Agarwal, CEO of edX, said. “This course from 91�Թ� provides a unique opportunity to engage learners and encourage them to apply the learnings from the course to improve their local community. We are thrilled to offer Understanding Wireless on edX.org this spring.”

To register for “Understanding Wireless,” sign up .

91�Թ� announced in June 2014 that it was joining the edX Consortium as a charter member. A not-for-profit partnership of leading global universities, edX is committed to innovations in online and blended learning, improving access to education and researching effective learning for use on and beyond college campuses.

EdX members offer numerous open online courses to learners worldwide in a range of academic areas, including engineering, the humanities, natural sciences, computer science and public health. 91�Թ� uses edX courses — along with educational media, innovative tools and strategies and the data they yield — in the service of effective teaching and learning.

The next two 91�Թ� MOOCs are “Jesus in Scripture and Tradition” (June 1) and “Math in Sports” (June 15).

Contact: Sonia Howell, 574-631-1061, showell3@nd.edu

The University of 91�Թ�’s first MOOCs (massive open online courses) are now open for registration. Created by 91�Թ� faculty working with the , these inaugural four MOOCs, offered through the University’s partnership with edX, draw on expertise from across the University. The courses are available to anyone with a free edX account.

The launch courses are:

• , with Vice President and Associate Provost .
• , with Hesburgh Professor of Catholic Theology and Professor of Theology .
• , with , professor of engineering and director of the ; , professor of finance; , associate professor and associate department chair of engineering; and , professor of law and 91�Թ� Presidential Fellow.
• , with , professor of physics, and , associate professor of teaching in mathematics.

I “Heart” Stats, an introductory course to statistics and everyday life, will be taught by Myers, winner of the . In Math in Sports, Pilkington and Hildreth will combine mathematical tools with 91�Թ�’s student-athletes to demonstrate how math can help predict and analyze sporting performances and outcomes. Understanding Wireless will provide an introduction to the technical, commercial and legal aspects surrounding wireless communication. All four inaugural courses are aimed at a global and nonspecialist audience.

“91�Թ�’s courses on the edX platform deliver on the promise we make as a university — to advance learning in the service of human flourishing both here on campus and in the wider world,” said , the University’s chief academic digital officer. “Our initial courses feature 91�Թ�’s world-class faculty on topics of broad interest from a variety of disciplines; the courses have been designed for everyone. Through these courses, we hope to create learning communities in schools, colleges and universities. We also look forward to enhancing the connection with our alumni, parents and friends through these engaging offerings.”

The first of these not-for-credit courses, I “Heart” Stats, will commence April 15. Understanding Wireless will launch on May 18, Jesus in Scripture and Tradition on June 1 and Math in Sports on June 15. To register for these courses, or visit the on the Office of Digital Learning website.

Contact: Sonia Howell, Office of Digital Learning, 574-631-1061, showell3@nd.edu