How to Get the Most out of Online Learning

Whether you’re learning online for the first time, or you’re new to FutureLearn, the following tips will help you get the most out of your course.

Travelling through the course

Each course is broken up into weeks, and within each week there are a number of steps. You’re on a step right now. Select the navigational arrows to travel onto the next step, or back to the previous step.

Each step will provide you with some clear instructions and ask you to contribute in some way. You might be asked to find an article about a particular topic, post your thoughts on a specific debate or provide some comments on discussion question. Read through others’ posts to build on what you’ve learnt.

Just a note: FutureLearn is set to Greenwich Mean Time (GMT), however we at the CQUniversity are based in Australian Eastern Standard Time (AEST). We recommend you use a time zone converter to check this against your local time (you can also change your FutureLearn time zone settings via your FutureLearn profile).

Social learning

The social nature of FutureLearn means you have access to diverse perspectives, opinions and knowledge – make sure you take advantage of them. If you’re new to this kind of thing, review these tips on social learning.

• Strike up a conversation with another learner if you feel someone has made an interesting point.
• If you found a post particularly helpful or insightful, give it a like. This will help your peers find it.
• Follow any learners who are making regular, interesting contributions.

Netiquette

• Be kind and constructive when replying to your peers.
• Respect differences of opinion and competing points of view.
• Report any comments that are offensive.
• Follow the FutureLearn Code of Conduct.

What to do if you see something offensive

Simply press the flag button if you see any offensive content (such as a comment or profile) posted by another learner. The content will then be reviewed by FutureLearn’s moderators who help to maintain a positive learning environment.

Remember, move forward at your own pace

Each step will give you the opportunity to mark it off as complete. If you feel like you need to come back to a step and revise the content, or you haven’t quite finished what is asked of you, you can leave this unchecked until you are ready.

Let’s get talking

Is this your first time learning online or through FutureLearn? If you’ve learnt online before, what has your experience been like? Share your thoughts in the comment below.