Frequently Asked Questions | MIT J-WEL

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Frequently Asked Questions

About J-WEL

Benefits of J-WEL Membership

Site Content

Technical

About J-WEL

What is J-WEL?

A program of MIT Open Learning, the Abdul Latif Jameel World Education Lab (J-WEL) at MIT seeks to promote excellence and transformation in education globally. As an incubator for change in education at MIT and around the world, J-WEL provides a platform that engages educators, technologists, policymakers, and societal leaders in addressing global opportunities for education through online and in-person collaborations, workshops, and information sharing events.

How is J-WEL structured?

J-WEL members participate via our three collaboratives: J-WEL pK-12, J-WEL Higher Education, and J-WEL Workforce Learning. Members can join one or more collaboratives at a variety of levels that meet their organizational goals and institutional considerations and address the scope of their educational goals.

Who can be a member of J-WEL?

Any organization seeking to improve education or training programs or other opportunities for educational change, is welcomed to join J-WEL. This includes schools and universities, government agencies, NGO, and companies. J-WEL does not offer memberships to individuals.

How does my organization become a J-WEL member?

We want to make sure J-WEL is the right forum for our members to develop innovations and address educational challenges at their organization, so the best place to start in considering membership is a conversation with one of our faculty directors or collaborative staff. To inquire about setting up a call or meeting, please use the Contact Us form on this site.

How is J-WEL related to edX, MITx, MIT OpenCourseWare and other MIT digital learning initiatives?

J-WEL is a program of MIT Open Learning, the same office that houses MITx, MIT OpenCourseWare, and other MIT digital learning initiatives. Through this close connection, J-WEL is able to share MIT's deep experience with digital learning. J-WEL also works closely with the MIT Integrated Learning Initiative (MITiLi) to make research findings in the science of learning and cognition available to our members. edX, the organization through which MITx offers MIT's Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs), is a Cambridge, MA-based non-profit established by MIT and Harvard University. The staff of edX coordinates closely with the MIT Open Learning team.

How is J-WEL related to the Abdul Latif Jameel Poverty Action Lab (J-PAL) and the Abdul Latif Jameel Water and Food Systems Lab (J-WAFS)?

J-WEL joins J-PAL and J-WAFS as part of the larger family of MIT initiatives launched by the generosity of MIT alumnus Mohammed Jameel and Community Jameel. The labs work together to promote solutions to the world’s pressing challenges in areas of global poverty, food and water scarcity, and education.

 

Benefits of J-WEL Membership

What are the benefits of J-WEL membership?

Through J-WEL, we connect MIT’s faculty, educational researchers, and staff with organizations innovating on and improving educational efforts around the world. We tailor an annual cycle of engagements to the expressed needs and interests of our membership and work with them to plan and execute innovations and interventions with local applicability and the potential for global impact at scale. Through on-campus events, including our J-WEL Weeks and J-WEL Exchanges, online opportunities including webinars and access to exclusive content in our site library, we make accessible the expertise and resources necessary to help your organization tackle the hard problems in education. At our highest membership level, we will design a program specific to the needs of your individual organization. We also provide a slate of ancillary benefits to our members, including discounts on MIT educational opportunities including MITx, MITx MicroMasters, MITx Pro, MIT Bootcamps, MIT Professional Education, and MIT Sloan Executive Education.

What are J-WEL Weeks?

J-WEL Weeks are signature, goal-oriented programs that provide members and invited guests with first-hand access to MIT’s educational resources and practice. Two distinct J-WEL Weeks are run per year, each thematic, and comprising multiple modules. Members address challenges in their organizations, by defining goals and considering next steps that will allow implementation.

Each J-WEL Week is a connected learning and exploration journey for participants. Most importantly, J-WEL Weeks will develop a close collaborative network of innovators able to impact education on local and global scales.

J-WEL Weeks set the stage for ‘deeper dive’ J-WEL Exchanges—bootcamps and workshops focusing on key topics in education, as well as for specific membership programs including those for innovative institutional design.

What are J-WEL Exchanges/Workshops?

Sustaining and Charter members—and in some cases affiliate members and non members—have the opportunity to attend J-WEL Exchanges and Workshops, deeper dive collaborations where members focus on specific topics and outcomes working alongside MIT faculty and staff.  Exchanges and Workshops include hands-on intensive event in which participants may design curriculum and content, change pedagogy and instruction, build new programs, adapt deliver, and alter organization structure. Exchanges and Workshops are outcome-driven and characterized by substantial connections to MIT.

Can J-WEL arrange meetings and engagements with MIT faculty and programs for my organization?

While the J-WEL staff is happy to make inquiries with MIT faculty and other programs on behalf of our members, we cannot guarantee any meetings or outcomes. Our primary framework for connecting members to the MIT community is through our programmatic offerings, including J-WEL Weeks, J-WEL Exchanges and Workshops. These offerings are designed to be our members’ opportunity for sustained engagement with the faculty and programs at MIT best positioned to address educational opportunities and challenges.

Can I advertise or promote my organization’s membership in J-WEL?

The use of the MIT name and MIT logos—including the MIT J-WEL name and logo—is strictly controlled by the MIT Technology Licensing Office (TLO). J-WEL members may be permitted to issue a press release announcing their membership, but any such announcement must be approved in advance by the TLO. Any other use of the MIT name or branding requires the advanced approval of the TLO, and approval is in no way implied or guaranteed as a benefit of membership.


Site Content

How is content selected for the J-WEL library?

Public and member-exclusive content for the J-WEL website is largely generated through J-WEL activities such as J-WEL Weeks and webinars; drawn from activities of MIT Open Learning, including MITx, MITx MicroMasters, MIT xPro, MIT OpenCourseWare, and on-campus events such as xTalks; and drawn from activities of the wider MIT community. We also include materials from other sources of reputable, information on evidence-based educational research and practice in the public collection on our site.

How can I use content in the J-WEL library?

The use of content on our site is governed by our Terms of Service, and the use of content to which we link is governed by the terms posted on the site to which we have linked.

Can I suggest content for the J-WEL library?

Non-MIT content is included to meet the needs of our J-WEL membership and selected by our staff, and we do not accept unsolicited suggestions for content in our library.

 

Technical

How do I get help in using the J-WEL website?

You can get help in using the J-WEL website either by visiting the Help & Feedback group or by using the Contact Us form on the site.

How do I register on the J-WEL platform?

Anyone is welcome to access the public content on the J-WEL site. Registration on the site is limited to staff of J-WEL member organizations and members of the MIT community involved in J-WEL activities. If you are a staff member at a J-WEL member organization, please contact your organization’s liaison with J-WEL for more information; MIT community members may inquire about site access by submitting a message via our site Contact Us form.