FutureLearn – MOOCS for all

None of us are ever really through with learning. Even though some may leave school early, and others might feel Higher Education really isn’t for them. It’s a fact of whatever this “life” is that we’re all living, that information never becomes that definitive word “obsolete”.

The internet is now a major learning resource, and is home to many informative articles such as the one below. The following loosely explores the educative function of the internet, through looking at FutureLearn; one of many websites which provides Massive Online Open Courses (MOOCs). A MOOC is defined as “a course of study made available over the Internet without charge to a very large number of people: ‘anyone who decides to take a MOOC simply logs on to the website and signs up’ ” (Oxford Dictionaries:Language Matters*). Please see a MOOCs illustration here.

Given the above, it might not be surprising that FutureLearn is essentially a vast knowledge-base where new ideas are found in abundance. Indeed, a browse through its course catalogue will testify to this.

I personally like FutureLearn courses for many reasons, though a couple stand out…

At it’s essence FutureLearn offers users the chance to gain the building blocks to develop further insight into a topic of interest. Indeed I myself am interested in marketing and branding. I therefore took two FutureLearn courses, in order to further my knowledge in these areas. In addition FutureLearn is also a useful tool, with which one can possess a greater understanding of topics that may be useful for work.

Something else… participants who sign up to FutureLearn courses before these are “closed” by the facilitators, have a year to complete them. This means one can fit courses around other commitments. In addition, the online nature of learning material on FutureLearn means that this organisation often repeats courses for those who may have missed them the first time round. Speaking personally I can say that this has been a particularly beneficial feature. Indeed I have learnt a great deal from all the courses I’ve worked through. I feel I would not have learnt quite as much, had some of these not been repeated.

FutureLearn is a highly interactive website. During the weeks that the courses are initially running, each one is “started” by FutureLearn at a particular time, participants work through these at the same time as each other. In addition they also have access to mentors. Participants are able to leave messages for these above groups. This is a great way of checking an understanding of topics, as well as gaining help and clarity. Further, students can provide advice themselves. On a closing note, interaction also results from the requirements of the exercise. What I mean by this is that students are sometimes asked about their opinions, in response to a given article, as part of the course tasks.

Lastly I also like the satisfaction, and sense of achievement, I feel after I have completed a FutureLearn course. Part of the sense of fulfillment comes from the fact that the material on the courses, provided by departments in Universities across the UK, is of a good quality. In addition the FutureLearn material, which is written in a way that aims to be accessible and approachable to learners from various backgrounds, covers topics in thorough detail. The above all ultimately means that participants on FutureLearn courses can come away knowing more than they did when they started. So students can prove this new knowledge, and also so they can feel proud of their accomplishments, a “Certificate of Completion” can be obtained from FutureLearn once a course has been finished.

If I could issue a word of warning about FutureLearn, it would only be a small one to say that it is easy to be too enthusiastic and “click-happy” when signing up for courses. Indeed if you’re not careful you may find you’ve signed up to too many. Whilst this is undoubtedly not a bad thing in itself, and to the contrary is actually really good, it does mean you may not have time to complete all the courses you’ve chosen. – Though having said this completing courses on FutureLearn is by no means obligatory. If needed you can stop a course at anytime, no questions asked-.

In conclusion each person who does a FutureLearn course, may do so for their own reasons. If you feel you would like to do something new that will develop your knowledge, then a FutureLearn course is certainly worth doing. You can register and sign up to courses any time you wish, if and when it suits. Or you can follow FutureLearn on Facebook and Twitter, to hear about news and receive various other updates from them.

By A

Sources:
*Oxford Dictionaries: Language Matters – http://www.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/english/MOOC – accessed 11.7.2015

Photos:
1.Online Test = Open CHEAT!:Cheating Cheaters and the Cheaters Who Love Them (Photos of my IDS team members by Travis Begay for our Cheatability presentation) – Mr Stein – Taken on March 18th 2008 – https://www.flickr.com/photos/5tein/2348649408/ -accessed 12.7.2015

2. Global Open Educational Resources Logo.svg – by Jonathansmello (own work), uploaded by AnonMoos – created on February 22nd 2012 – https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Open_educational_resources#/media/File:Global_Open_Educational_Resources_Logo.svg – accessed 12.7.2015

3. Path Path Path – by hockadilly – Taken on May 21st 2011 – https://www.flickr.com/photos/hockadilly/5744624394/ – accessed 12.7.2015

4. Colorful worlds…just about to explode !! – by AlmaArte Photography – Taken on August 12th 2012 – https://www.flickr.com/photos/almaarte_photography/7816346874/ – accessed 12.7.2015

5. IMG_4338 (Tom Lee Yamaha Music Course Certificate Concert) – by Dennis Wong – Taken on March 22nd 2008 – https://www.flickr.com/photos/denniswong/2406135310/ – accessed 12.7.2015