This course is just one of a series about ‘learning online’. You can sign up to the other courses in this series through the Going to University collection.

You are probably used to learning online on a daily basis, including turning to your phone for information rather than referring to books. More formal 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, it needs different skills. This course will help you to develop those skills, showing you how to learn and communicate effectively in an online environment.

Note for students

This course is part of a collection from the University of Leeds which have been specifically designed for those studying at school or college. All of the courses will help to enrich and extend your knowledge in a specific topic and develop your transferable skills. These courses will help you with making decisions about which subject to study at university and will give you examples and evidence when developing your university application.

Throughout the course you will join a community of online learners, providing an opportunity for interactive learning with other students both in the UK and internationally.

Each course is designed to complement your existing studies and aims to:

provide evidence for UCAS applications and prepare you for university
help you to gain new skills, think critically and learn independently
encourage online / social learning
develop collaboration and analytical skills
embed current research into your online learning

For information about degrees available at the University of Leeds, please visit our course finder website.

Note for teachers

Aimed at prospective Undergraduate students both in the UK and internationally, our online courses provide a ‘taster’ of Undergraduate study at the University of Leeds.

Our courses benefit from being shaped by the latest research from the University of Leeds and are presented by leading academics who are actively engaged in pioneering research. They will inspire your students to think critically and develop their knowledge and analytical skills.

The course can be used as a wider classroom or enrichment resource or can be used independently by students to discover more about the subject area. Each course provides flexible study and benefits from online discussions with other learners.

If you would like to know more about this course or the range of courses from the University of Leeds designed specifically for schools and colleges, please visit our teachers’ pages for further information and resources.

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Skip to 0 minutes and 9 seconds The internet provides the opportunity to learn on-the-go– looking up facts and figures on your phone or using how-to videos to learn practical skills. Learning online also plays an important part when learning new skills in the workplace or studying at university. To learn effectively online, you need to develop specific skills. This course will help you understand the importance of defining your learning journey and organising your time and learning environment so that you can learn effectively. The activities will also help you communicate with other learners in an online environment. They’ll demonstrate how you can adapt from working with others in the classroom to collaborating online.

Skip to 0 minutes and 49 seconds This course provides an excellent foundation and will ensure you get the most out of the other courses provided specifically for schools and colleges by the University of Leeds.

Skip to 1 minute and 1 second Sign up now for the next course.

When would you like to start?

Start straight away and join a global classroom of learners. If the course hasn’t started yet you’ll see the future date listed below.

Available now

Learning on this course

On every step of the course you can meet other learners, share your ideas and join in with active discussions in the comments.

Who is the course for?

No previous knowledge or experience of learning online is required, just an interest in becoming an effective online learner and communicator.

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.

Learning on FutureLearn

Your learning, your rules

Courses are split into weeks, activities, and steps to help you keep track of your learning
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

Want to know more about learning on FutureLearn? Using FutureLearn