Product Overview: FutureLearn
FutureLearn is an online learning platform designed to provide a comprehensive and engaging educational experience through a variety of courses across diverse subjects. Here’s an overview of what the product does and its key features and functionality:
What FutureLearn Does
FutureLearn offers online courses created in collaboration with top universities and organizations worldwide. These courses are designed to help learners acquire new skills and knowledge in various fields, from business and technology to arts and humanities. The platform is built on principles of effective learning, incorporating social interaction, storytelling, and visible learning to enhance the educational experience.
Key Features and Functionality
Course Structure
- Courses are structured into weeks, each containing multiple activities and steps. This helps learners keep track of their progress and stay organized.
- Courses vary in length, typically ranging from two to ten weeks, allowing learners to choose the duration that suits them best.
Learning Materials
- Learners can engage with a mix of bite-sized videos, long- and short-form articles, audio content, and practical activities. This diverse range of materials caters to different learning styles.
- Many activities include quizzes to check understanding, providing feedback and hints without scoring, allowing unlimited attempts.
Social Learning
- FutureLearn emphasizes social learning by integrating a global classroom where learners can share ideas, ask questions, and discuss topics with peers and course educators. Learners can comment on articles, videos, and audio content, and follow other learners whose contributions they find valuable.
Visible Learning and Progress Tracking
- The platform uses a “To Do” list and a Progress page to make the learning process visible. Learners can see upcoming activities, track their completion, and receive notifications to guide their learning.
- Learners can mark each step as complete and track their assessment scores, giving them control over their learning pace.
Community Support
- FutureLearn harnesses the power of the community to provide support. Learners can share their knowledge, offer advice, and build their reputation within the community. This model is inspired by conversational frameworks for formal learning and visible learning principles.
Certification and Upgrades
- Learners can choose to learn for free, upgrade a course for additional features, or subscribe to the Unlimited plan. Upgrading allows access to all course tests and the opportunity to earn a digital and printed certificate upon completing 90% of the course steps and all assessments.
User Engagement
- The platform encourages user engagement through features like commenting, @ing, liking, bookmarking, and replying to comments. Learners can also follow other learners to filter discussions and learn together.
Overall Experience
FutureLearn offers a flexible, interactive, and community-driven learning environment. By combining high-quality educational content with social learning tools and visible progress tracking, the platform ensures that learners stay motivated and engaged throughout their courses. Whether you are looking to enhance your professional skills or explore new subjects, FutureLearn provides a comprehensive and supportive online learning experience.