This week, we proudly added FutureLearn's rich library of online courses to OpenCourser.
Based in the UK, FutureLearn offers 400+ new courses to our catalog taught by leading academic and non-university partners from the UK and abroad. Since the launch of their first course nearly four years ago, they've contributed significant innovations to online courses.
Continuous Innovation
One of the most exciting aspect of FutureLearn's courses is that they're designed from the ground up for an online audience. We've seen before universities creating online courses that are essentially uploads of previously recorded classroom lectures. FutureLearn challenges its partners to do better.
Across its library, you'll find instructors sharing new ideas and lessons through high quality videos and readings reinforced by interactive quizzes and challenges. You'll also find tools that set your expectations for what's coming ahead, helping you plan your learning activities a week in advance.
You'll also find that discussions that take place on FutureLearn are a bit different from what you've seen elsewhere. Discussions through online courses (or even in-classroom) might often feel forced or colorless.
FutureLearn is actively trying to change this by refining what it calls "social learning," allowing individuals to comment contextually (on a video lecture they just watched or an article they just read, for example). The idea is that conversations can flow more smoothly, rather than pile up in a mound of linearly sorted messages.
Upcoming Courses
Of course, a fancy course platform is nothing without its contents. We've highlighted some courses that are starting in the coming weeks that have piqued our interest. You can find more by searching "FutureLearn" on OpenCourser.
Unique Picks - New topics found no where else but on FutureLearn
- Antiquities Trafficking and Art Crime from University of Glasgow
- How to Survive on Mars: the Science Behind the Human Exploration of Mars from Monash University
- Hadrian's Wall: Life on the Roman Frontier from Newcastle University
- Introduction to Frisian from University of Groningen
- Environmental Justice from UEA
- Why We Post: the Anthropology of Social Media from UCL
- An Introduction to Japanese Subcultures from Keio University
Medicine & Health
- Caring for People with Psychosis and Schizophrenia from King's College London
- End-of-Life Care for People with Dementia from UEA
- Food as Medicine: Food, Exercise and the Gut from Monash University
- Genomic Medicine: Transforming Patient Care in Diabetes from University of Exeter
- Medicine and the Arts: Humanising Healthcare from University of Cape Town
- Why Do We Age? The Molecular Mechanisms of Ageing from University of Groningen
- Causes of Human Disease: Nutrition and Environment from University of Leeds
- Discovering Science: Medicinal Chemistry from University of Leeds
- Psychology and Mental Health: Beyond Nature and Nurture from University of Liverpool
Business
- Social Enterprise: Business Doing Good from Jindal Centre for Social Innovation & Entrepreneurship
- Intercultural Communication from Shanghai International Studies University
- Persuasive Communication: What Makes Messages Persuasive? from Purdue University
- Getting Started with Agile and Design Thinking from Darden School of Business, University of Virginia
- Make an Impact: Sustainability for Professionals from University of Bath
- The Secret Power of Brands from UEA
- Digital Leadership: Creating Value Through Technology from University of Reading
Programming & Computer Science
- Digital Accessibility: Enabling Participation in the Information Society from MOOCAP
- Managing Big Data with R and Hadoop from Partnership for Advanced Computing in Europe
- Game Design and Development: Video Game Character Design from Abertay University
- Introduction to Cyber Security from The Open University
- Internet of Things for Active Aging from Taipei Medical University
- Big Data and the Environment from Institute of Environmental Analytics
- Digital Transformation of Businesses and Services from Hardis
- Maps and the Geospatial Revolution from The Pennsylvania State University
