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“MIT is…(fill in the blank)….”
How many times have you attempted to describe MIT? How do you fill in the blank? What do you wish you knew about the Institute? The short description for this course suggests a simple (albeit fascinating!) effort to survey MIT’s history from its founding to the present day. As you have probably discovered, MIT is not a simple place. To study MIT is to study the modern world. This course is about people. It is about discovery, exploration, adventure, learning, and the synthesis of big ideas. It is about the inflection points and the every day interactions of one creative community in New England whose influence extends around the world and into the universe beyond. And, it is about the importance of the research university: what it has been in the past and what it will be in the future.
When writing down his vision for MIT, charismatic founder and education pioneer William Barton Rogers wrote this in his 1860 Objects and Plan:
“The practical nature of the discoveries in chemistry, mechanics, geology, and other branches of scientific inquiry, has multiplied almost infinitely the lines of connection between them and the processes of the Workshop, the Manufactory, and the Farm, and of the Constructive and Locomotive Arts; and these countless connecting threads, woven into one indissoluble texture, form that ever-enlarging web which is the blended product of the world’s scientific and industrial activity.” (Emphasis added)
Through readings, videos, discussions, lectures, special guest talks and hands-on opportunities, you will explore MIT like few others have. You will take up Rogers’ challenge to weave together countless connecting threads.
This class has been steadily evolving since first taught in 2010, and this spring’s offering is no different. The class meets twice a week plus a recitation. A key feature of this class is special presentations by guest speakers. The mix varies from year to year but you can expect to meet outstanding professionals sharing stories about different aspects of MIT history. We will use the recitation sections for discussion and on-campus “field trips” to the Institute Archives and MIT Museum.
This course does not have exams, so the way you come to learn MIT history is by writing a series of short (1-2 pages) reflection papers based on the readings, videos and lectures and by completing a variety of other short projects that involve everything from working with architectural drawings to making data visualizations. There will be some flexibility in the schedule so that you can accommodate other commitments. You will have the option of writing a final research paper or completing a special project. Your grade will be based on this work as well as your participation in class and recitation.
The most important prerequisite for this class is curiosity, a desire to think deeply about MIT, and a willingness to communicate your thoughts and ideas with your classmates. The ultimate aim is to fascinate you as much as to help you improve your skills synthesizing information from diverse sources about science, technology, and culture.