Dive Brief:
- Computer science course CS50 has become one of Harvard's most popular, taught in Sanders Theatre and boasting 700 students and 102 staffers that include teaching fellows, graders and multimedia producers.
- Professor David Malan is credited with illustrating the everyday relevance of coding to students not initially interested in the subject.
- The class has even spawned a Brazilian spin-off, merchandise like "I took CS50 T-shirts," fairs and hackathons, and even a blooper reel of additional material from recorded lectures.
Dive Insight:
The success of CS50 is astounding, and is also being looked at as a sign of the times for the Ivy League institution. Looking to catch up with MIT and Stanford, Harvard is embracing the teaching of practical skills and is building a North Allston campus that the new Harvard School of Engineering and Applied Sciences will call home. It's no secret that two of the tech world's biggest names, Bill Gates and Mark Zuckerberg, are also two of the world's most famous Harvard dropouts, so perhaps this shift in focus could also help ensure that the school graduates the next Gates or Zuckerberg.