Image Courtesy: bit.ly/1eUlDf6 In this digital era, connecting to a browser, logging in an online university’s official website, registering for a course and taking classes thereafter do not complete the process of online learning. There is something more that FutureLearn has to offer. It’s one of UK’s biggest online providers that have launched a project partnering with 26 universities alongside course providers to offer high quality courses absolute free.
Among the university partners, there will be Leeds, Nottingham, Bristol, Sheffield, Reading, Southampton and also the Open University. In fact, the study materials will be provided by three reputed British institutions to all those who will be taking up these courses.
Now, what’s good is that Futurelearn brings more vibrant learning experiences for new age learners. For instance,
· Students can now socially interact with each other which will let them bring new ideas and concepts towards making career developments.
· People here will grab the opportunity to create discussions on their study materials. Even if one gets stuck with a question or two, one will be able to solve queries through discussion forums.
· Those who will be having tablets, smartphones and desktop computers will find it quite easier to access the Futurelearn courses.
· One will be able to enjoy high-quality user experience, no matter what the screen size stands.
The website on FutureLearn will be opening as an open beta that will run till the beginning of 2014. Students here will be able to sign up for a plethora of courses that will offered by the university partners under FutureLearn and students here will keep receiving constant feedback from their instructors.
In the United Kingdom, where FutureLearn is the first of its kind, Massive Open Online Courses are not new. According to an online media that deals with MOOCs, almost 500 initiatives have been taken all over the world. In fact, the investment in this area has grown significantly in the past few years.
As per resources, Harvard University and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology have invested over 60 million dollars towards the growth and development of the MOOC movement. Closer Home School on the other hand that serve Japanese students with more than 130 online courses, recorded over 40,000 registered users. Out of them, the majority was office workers who were in their late 20s and early 30s.
Now the question is, “How FutureLearn will help online learners upgrade with time?”
· Learning online free of cost – Students at Futurelearn can choose high quality courses online absolutely free on topics ranging from Arts and Humanities to Science and Technology, from Business and Management to Body and Mind.
· Learning chronologically – The online courses here are designed in such a manner that individuals will be able to manage their personal and professional duties as per their convenience.
· Learning from experts – Instructors from UK universities would be guiding students by making them participate in quizzes and letting them access videos and articles. Debates and discussions on various topics are also included.
· Learning from one another – Students here would grab the opportunity to study courses that will be designed to stimulate debate and provoke questions. This would help both students and instructors easily communicate with each other.
So, it’s crystal clear that developments in regard to online education will get stronger with time which would consequently give rise to more enriched learning experiences. Believe it or not, the experiences would be far better and polished than those received in drab classrooms.
Source: bit.ly/1au2YRd
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