Syracuse University is partnering with an inter-state college and two leading technology companies to offer an online educational series with a curriculum based on computing operations.

The School of Information Studies, Marist College, the Linux Foundation and IBM are teaming up to present a three-part massive open online course series done online on enterprise computing.

The courses will be taught separately by each institution with the Marist College course beginning in May and the Linux Foundation course starting in August, according to an April 9 iSchool press release. The iSchool course, titled “Enterprise Computing Strategies,” begins September 2.

The iSchool course is free and self-paced with no prerequisites, according to the press release. Those who successfully complete the course will earn a certificate of completion from the iSchool and IBM.

Enrollment in the course is not limited and is open to anyone interested in mainframe and enterprise computing, said Vicky Williams, the iSchool’s director of online education.

The iSchool’s partnership with Marist College, Linux Foundation and IBM is the first of its kind, Williams said. It presented a unique opportunity to host a MOOC series between two schools and two leaders in computing industry, she said.

Williams said the partnership formed after iSchool faculty members and programs directors were recognized last fall with an award from IBM for their work in curricula development and modern enterprise computing.

Two of those faculty members were Susan Dischiave and her husband David Dischiave. Susan Dischiave, an assistant professor and director of the undergraduate information management and technology program, and David Dischiave, an associate professor and director of the global enterprise technology and systems and information science programs, will be instructing the course.

David Dischiave said in an email that he and Susan were grateful for the opportunity and look forward to what the partnership will bring.

“It is quite a compliment to be selected as a partner in this MOOC initiative,” he said. “We believe this is the first time three institutions have collaborated to provide a trilogy of technology-oriented MOOCs. There is strength in numbers and this partnership extends our reputation and reach beyond what we could have done by ourselves.”

David Dischiave said they hope that students who complete the course will appreciate the computing skills they learn, especially since those strategies can have benefits such as reducing labor and making their organization’s information more secure.

“The Enterprise Computing Strategies MOOC is an opportunity for us to engage with students from other universities and industry professionals, making our virtual classroom a rich and rewarding experience for students but for us as well,” he said. “Not only do we teach but we learn as well, which is exciting for us.”

SU librarian Steven Hoover will be taking the iSchool MOOC in the fall. Hoover said in an email that he is looking forward to the course and having the Dischiaves as instructors.

“I’d like to learn everything that I can about enterprise computing, so this is a great opportunity,” he said. “The Dischiaves are great teachers, so I’m absolutely certain the class will be fun and highly valuable.”

Hoover said he is currently taking David Dischiave’s enterprise technologies course and that played a part in him wanting to take the MOOC.

“I’m looking forward to learning about different perspectives on enterprise computing, from people working in industry or from backgrounds outside of information management such as business or computer science, it is an exciting prospect,” he said.

David Dischiave said most people think of computers as entertainment appliances, essentially commodities, but it’s necessary for students to understand what a computer is capable of.

Said Dischiave: “There is an entire class of computing that is invisible to the general public, but it is important for college students to be prepared to deal with them when they enter the workplace.”

Published on April 17, 2014 at 2:00 am

Contact Justin: jmatting@syr.edu | @jmattingly306