Provost’s Conversations on Online Learning

The Provost’s Conversation on Online Learning (PCoOL) features public talks by leading experts and peers on the future of education, specifically around online education.  PCoOL events are free and open to members of Columbia community with a valid University ID. Listed below are all the previous PCoOL talks held at Columbia University.

Key Trends Shaping Higher Ed: A Conversation with Todd Zipper

Key Trends Shaping Higher Ed: A Conversation with Todd Zipper

On November 15th, President of Wiley Education Services Todd Zipper discussed five trends in higher education to study and adapt during this pivotal time for universities, including education as a benefit, alternative educational institutions, and the rise of the mega-nonprofit.

Online Education in the New Normal with Anant Agarwal, edX CEO

Online Education in the New Normal with Anant Agarwal, edX CEO

On April 28, 2020, edX CEO and MIT Professor, Anant Agarwal, reflected on online education in the new normal of COVID-19. He discussed what has already changed and what will change in the coming months, and shared insights around how this both impacts and expedites his vision for the future of modular education.

Addressing the Skills Shortage at Scale

Addressing the Skills Shortage at Scale

On January 31st, Pierre Dubuc, co-founder and CEO of OpenClassrooms, discussed OpenClassroom’s mission to make quality education and career advancement more accessible and affordable.

2U and the Future of Online Education

2U and the Future of Online Education

On October 17th, 2019, Chip Paucek, co-founder and CEO of 2U, Inc., discussed 2U’s vision for online education and the future of higher education, as part of the Provost’s Conversations on Online Learning series.

Online Learning Initiatives at UPenn

Online Learning Initiatives at UPenn

On February 26th, 2019, Nora Lewis, Vice Dean for Professional and Liberal Education at the University of Pennsylvania, led a conversation on online learning initiatives at UPenn, including an overview of their fully online Bachelor's program.

Beyond the Campus Walls

Beyond the Campus Walls

On Wednesday, October 3, 2018, Jeff Maggioncalda, CEO of Coursera, visited Columbia University to discuss his company’s role in the future of learning. He shared Coursera’s strategy of partnering with top universities, such as Columbia, to provide universal access to...

Online Learning with Small Private Online Courses

Online Learning with Small Private Online Courses

On Thursday, April 12, 2018, Ashwin Damera, Executive Director of the Emeritus Institute of Management visited Columbia University to give a presentation as part of the Provost’s Conversation on Online Learning (PCoOL) and shared on how his company is using and...

The Land-Grant Mission in an Online World

The Land-Grant Mission in an Online World

On Wednesday, November 8, 2017, guests from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign (UIUC), Professor John Hart and Assistant Provost Adam Fein visited Columbia to give a presentation as part of the Provost’s Conversation on Online Learning (PCoOL) and shared...

Learning with MOOCs 2015: Keynote Speaker George Siemens

Learning with MOOCs 2015: Keynote Speaker George Siemens

On October 2-3, 2015, educators, technologists, researchers, learning scientists, entrepreneurs, and funders of MOOCs gathered at the LEARNING WITH MOOCS II Conference at Columbia University to share their innovations, discuss their impact on education, and look at the future of online learning.

Open CourseWare and MOOCs: Different Aspirations, Different Strategies

Open CourseWare and MOOCs: Different Aspirations, Different Strategies

On Thursday, November 6, 2014, Shigeru Miyagawa presented at Conversations on Online Learning, a series of talks sponsored by the Office of the Provost and the Center for New Media Teaching and Learning (CCNMTL). One of the leaders in the movement to open university courses to the world, Miyagawa addresses what lessons online learning and MOOC producers can draw from the Open CourseWare movement and shows video from his own team-taught MOOC on edX.