Online learning is likely to be important for you in the future, either at university or in the workplace. Learning online is different to learning in the classroom as it requires different skills. This course will help you to develop those skills, showing you how to learn and communicate effectively in an online environment.

This course is just one of a series about ‘learning online’, which introduces you to the essential skills and tools you need to study effectively online.

Unable to play video. Please enable JavaScript or consider upgrading your browser.

Download video: standard or HD

What topics will you cover?

Learning environments: an introduction to VLEs and MOOCs
The learning journey and the differences between classroom-based and online learning
Techniques for learning effectively online
Using discussions to aid online learning
Collaborating online: using wikis and other collaborative tools

When would you like to start?

Start straight away and learn at your own pace. If the course hasn’t started yet you’ll see the future date listed below.

Available now
24 Jan 2022

Learning on this course

You can take this self-guided course and learn at your own pace. On every step of the course you can meet other learners, share your ideas and join in with active discussions in the comments.

What will you achieve?

By the end of the course, you‘ll be able to...

Assess your current level of confidence with learning online.
Explore the online learning that is available via search engines, video channels and social media.
Explore more formal online learning environments such as VLEs and contribute to the discussion regarding your experiences.
Explore MOOCs, and identify the importance of the learning journey and defining personal learning goals.
Reflect on the factors which help you to learn effectively online.
Identify the implications of not using online communications effectively.
Assess your knowledge of learning by video using short quizzes.
Explore online profiles and understand how to make the most of learning discussion forums.
Explore the value of working collaboratively with others online by contributing to online discussions.
Explore tools such as wikis, pinboards and reports to collaborate online.
Assess your post-course confidence with learning online by participating in the test which concludes the course.

Who is the course for?

This course is part of the Going to University collection which has been specifically designed for students at schools and colleges. They provide a taster of undergraduate study at the University of Leeds and help students to decide which subject to study at university.

Completion of the courses will also enhance students’ university applications.

The courses can also be used as a teachers’ classroom enrichment resource.

Courses in this collection are also great for people that want an introduction in the specific subjects discussed in each course.

Who will you learn with?

Neil Morris

Dean of Digital Education and Professor of Educational Technology at the University of Leeds. For more information see: https://essl.leeds.ac.uk/education/staff/156/professor-neil-morris

Carol Elston

My role is Head of Digital Education at the University of Leeds. I work with a team of 50 and our remit is to to develop innovative online courses.

Who developed the course?

University of Leeds

As one of the UK’s largest research-based universities, the University of Leeds is a member of the prestigious Russell Group and a centre of excellence for teaching.

		Recommended
Ways to learn	Upgrade this course	Unlimited	Basic access
Choose the best way to learn for you!	$49	$23.33/month Billed at $279.99 for a year	Free
	Unlock your expertise	Endless possibilities!	Try before you upgrade
Access to this course	tick	tick	Limited to 4 weeks
Access to ALL eligible short courses with additional benefits, for a year	cross	tick	cross
Discuss your learning in comments	tick	tick	tick
Certificate when you're eligible	Printed and digital	Digital only	cross
	Join and Upgrade

Ways to learn

Buy Unlimited to access this course and hundreds of other short courses for a year or Upgrade just this course for extra benefits. Or, join with basic access.

Unlimited

$23.33/month

Billed at $279.99 for a year

Endless possibilities!

Access to this course
Access to ALL eligible short courses with additional benefits, for a year
Discuss your learning in comments
Digital certificate when you're eligible

Upgrade this course

$49

Unlock your expertise

All of the above* for this course only, plus a printed certificate when you’re eligible

Join and Upgrade

*Excludes access to all eligible short courses with additional benefits for a year

Basic access

Free

Try before you buy

Limited access to course content for 4 weeks

Find out more about certificates, Upgrades or Unlimited.

Learning on FutureLearn

Your learning, your rules

Courses are split into weeks, activities, and steps, but you can complete them as quickly or slowly as you like
Learn through a mix of bite-sized videos, long- and short-form articles, audio, and practical activities
Stay motivated by using the Progress page to keep track of your step completion and assessment scores

Join a global classroom

Experience the power of social learning, and get inspired by an international network of learners
Share ideas with your peers and course educators on every step of the course
Join the conversation by reading, @ing, liking, bookmarking, and replying to comments from others

Map your progress

As you work through the course, use notifications and the Progress page to guide your learning
Whenever you’re ready, mark each step as complete, you’re in control
Complete 90% of course steps and all of the assessments to earn your certificate

Want to know more about learning on FutureLearn? Using FutureLearn