Student and Faculty Access to MARS
Please access MARS through your online classroom. If your class is supported by MARS, you can find complete instructions on how to access and use MARS by going to the Table of Contents → Virtual Lab Environment.
About MARS and Virtual Learning Environments
MARS (Multi-Dimensional Applied Relevant System) is UMGC’s name for the entire eco-system of Learning Environments (VLEs) which will be made available for students throughout the institution. Individual VLEs within MARS could be separate platforms, each occupying its own niche, serving a specific function, and supporting a particular class; MARS is the collective name for the entire ecosystem of VLEs at UMGC.
Training for difficult and highly sensitive positions, especially ones where mistakes could be costly, can be facilitated by using simulated environments. Astronauts preparing for missions in space spend long hours working in specially developed simulators designed to mimic the conditions of an actual space flight while eliminating the risk of dire consequences from any operational errors as they train.
The field of cybersecurity is another such area. The training necessary for preventing, detecting, and responding to real-world cyber threats requires hands-on, practical experience in a realistic, live environment within a secure VLE platform.
Future MARS Missions
While MARS has been initially developed and deployed to support graduate cyber programs, future additions to it will include VLEs which support programs within the School of Integrative and Professional Studies, the School of Business, and other programs within the School of Cybersecurity & Information Technology.
Providing a virtual world where students in all disciplines can learn how to navigate the landscape of the real world in their chosen areas of studies is one of the ways UMGC puts students first and why we’re a global leader in innovative online education.
Awards
The use of MARS as a virtual learning environment has earned University of Maryland Global Campus (UMGC) a gold award at the 2023 1EdTech Learning Impact Conference. UMGC was recognized at the June 5-8 conference in Anaheim, California, for its implementation of an immersive learning platform in an educational setting.