Make Change Happen from FutureLearn

Week 1 - What kind of change are we talking about, understanding change, changemakers and their stories, and different forms of change. Week 2 - Understanding the context of change, looking at what context is, and the change you would like to see. Week 3 - Taking a power and systems approach, defining power, the tools for analysing power, and understanding systems. Week 4 - The power of collective action, working in partnership with others, and what drives a changemaker. Week 5 - Spheres of influence, understanding influence, and where the power lies. Week 6 - Developing strong stories for change, influencing strategies, and developing messages. Week 7 - Taking action to make change happen, strategy and tactics, developing your action plan, and the steps to implement your plan. Week 8 - Tackling challenges and taking your next steps, reflecting on change, overcoming challenges, and staying inspired and focused. Most FutureLearn courses run multiple times. Every run of a course has a set start date but you can join it and work through it after it starts. Find out more This course is aimed at activists and change agents with a personal or professional interest in how change happens, and who want to be more effective at delivering change for good. You can use the hashtag #FLMakeChange to talk about this course on social media.

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Reviews summary

Frameworks and inspiration for social change

According to students, this course is a highly valuable resource for understanding and initiating social change. Learners find the content comprehensive, covering various aspects from theory and context to collective action and influence. Many describe it as inspiring and empowering, providing a strong foundation and practical tools to approach complex problems. While some appreciate the depth of the theoretical frameworks and expertise from The Open University and Oxfam, a few reviewers, particularly those with prior experience, felt it could offer more practical, step-by-step guides or advanced strategies for direct implementation. Overall, it seems well-structured and suitable for both newcomers and those looking to deepen their understanding of how to make change happen effectively.

Benefits from expertise of publishers like Oxfam and OU.

"The frameworks provided were excellent and clearly based on real-world experience and academic rigor."

"The expertise from Oxfam and The Open University shines through, offering credible insights."

"I found the theoretical background on power and systems particularly insightful and well-explained."

"Relies on strong theoretical models and case studies from experienced organizations."

Provides tools and frameworks applicable to real issues.

"I found the tools and strategies discussed immediately applicable to the change initiatives I'm involved in."

"The course really helped me translate abstract ideas about change into practical steps for my own projects."

"It provides frameworks you can actually use to analyze situations and plan your actions effectively."

"Learned practical approaches for developing action plans and influencing strategies."

Motivates learners to initiate and sustain change efforts.

"This course was truly inspiring and gave me the confidence to believe I can make a difference."

"It's an empowering course that not only explains the concepts but also motivates you to take action."

"I finished feeling much more capable and inspired to tackle the challenges in making change happen."

"The course instilled a sense of hope and equipped me with valuable perspectives."

Covers theory, context, power, collective action, and influence.

"The course covers a wide range of topics essential to understanding how change happens in the real world."

"I really appreciated how comprehensive the content was, from understanding systems to developing strategies."

"It provided a solid foundation covering theory, context, and the practicalities of collective action and influence."

"Learned about understanding change, context, power dynamics, and crafting effective strategies."

May be basic for experienced change agents.

"As someone with years of experience in activism, some of the content felt a bit basic for me."

"Good for beginners, but if you're already familiar with community organizing, parts might be a review."

"While well-made, I found myself already knowing some of the core concepts from prior work."

"Might be too introductory if you are already deeply involved in change-making efforts."

Some desire more step-by-step how-to guides.

"While the theory is great, I wished there were more step-by-step guides on *how* to actually do some of the actions."

"Could have benefited from more practical examples or detailed case studies on implementing tactics."

"Felt it was stronger on the 'why' and 'what' of change, maybe less so on the specific 'how-to' steps."

"Would appreciate more hands-on guidance for planning and executing specific types of interventions."

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Learners who complete Make Change Happen will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:

Make Change Happen

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Frameworks and inspiration for social change

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