The document discusses social learning on the online learning platform FutureLearn. It describes FutureLearn's incorporation of the Open University's expertise in distance and social learning, including direct learning from others, knowledge sharing, vicarious learning, implicit learning, conversational learning, and orchestrated collaboration. It also provides statistics on FutureLearn's learners, courses, and partnerships with universities.

1. Social learning
KATE SANDARS: NOVEMBER 2014

3. Digital radio – the future

4. Cross Platform

7. Page 7

8. A SPECTRUM OF OPINION
Experts are polarised
SCEPTICS EVANGELISTS
Doubts about MOOCs
Online MOOC courses
are too continue
big to work,
says Stanford to rise
head
THE FINANCIAL TIMES
MOOCs
could be
Why MOOCs are
Government is
considering using
transforming the face of
revolutionary
MOOCs higher in education
classrooms
THE WIRED GUARDIAN
UK
The end of and the future of
education
THE UBYSSEY
CHRONICLE OF HIGHER
EDUCATION
HUFFINGTON POST

10. PARTNERS
We’re proud to count 26 of the UK’s leading universities amongst our partners

11. PARTNERS
University
of Oslo
Shanghai Jiao
Tong University
Sungkyunkwan
University
Trinity College
Dublin
Yonsei
University
The University
of Auckland
University of Cape
Town
Fudan
University
University
of Groningen
Monash
University
10 world class international universities also create courses on FutureLearn

12. DESIGNED FOR MOBILE, TABLET & DESKTOP
FutureLearn is designed for the learner to enjoy the experience wherever he/she is
12

14. Nearly
700,000
FutureLearn sign-ups
Nearly
1.5m
course sign-ups
LEARNERS

15. PAGE 15
INTERNATIONAL TRAFFIC
United Kingdom
United States
China
Ireland
Spain
India
Australia
Canada
Brazil
Russia
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
Int’l:
58%
UK:
42%

17. FIRST COURSE FROM THE BRITISH COUNCIL IS OUR MOST POPULAR TO
DATE
Exploring English: Language and Culture attracting learners from all over the world
70000
60000
50000
40000
30000
20000
10000
0
5/30/…
6/6/14
6/13/…
6/20/…
6/27/…
7/4/14
7/11/…
7/18/…
7/25/…
8/1/14
8/8/14
8/15/…
8/22/…
8/29/…
Enrolments
Over
120,000
Learners enrolled
17%
12%
12%
10% 10%
7%
9%
10%
7%
6% Russia
Spain
United Kingdom
Italy
Brazil
India
Egypt
Indonesia
Colombia
Vietnam

18. DEMOGRAPHICS
25%
20%
15%
10%
5%
Gender Age in Years
Male:
41%
Female:
59%
18 or younger 18-25 26-35 36-45 46-55 56-65 Over 65

19. Educational background Employment status
SOCIOECONOMIC STATUS
Have you taken
an online course before?
Not
available
for work
13%
In full-time
education
11%
Looking for
work 8%
Working
part time
19%
Working
full time
49%
More than
degree:
29%
Degree level:
49%
High school
or less:
24%
No:
56%
Yes:
44%

26. READY, STEADY, COOKE!
RichardIII_medievalfood is from the first run of England in the time of King Richard III

28. KITCHEN CHEMISTRY
Twitter activity

32. SOCIAL LEARNING
FutureLearn incorporates OU expertise in distance and social learning in its design
Direct learning from others
E.g. Learner posts questions
and gets answers
Knowledge sharing
Learners pass on ideas and
information to others
Vicarious learning
Learner is aware of learning activity
of others (e.g. notes)
Implicit learning
Learner engages with others to
develop shared representations.
Conversational learning
Learner engages in sustained
dialogue with others
Orchestrated collaboration
Mentor guides a group towards exploration of
difference or shared understanding
Shared knowledge building
Learner develops knowledge with others
through dialogue and interaction
Zone of proximal development
Learner learns through interaction and
conversation with a more knowledgeable other
MASSIVE
OPEN
SOCIAL
LEARNING
A pedagogy
for FutureLearn

35. 9000 comments

37. STIMULATE INNOVATION
The new approach to online learning is building support for teaching innovation
“It is a pleasure to be
teaching on this course. It is
by far and away one of the
most lively, stimulating and
refreshing experiences of
my teaching career.”
EDUCATOR, CORPUS LINGUISTICS
SOURCE: Courses, FutureLearn

38. PARTNERSHIPS
The BBC is co-developing its first four courses with partner universities
BBC

39. OPPORTUNITIES TO IMPROVE LEARNING
Use your analytics tools to see what works in online course design
• Videos are only watched for about 5 minutes
• Make Week 1 really compelling so learners want more
• Monday morning emails are read by many learners
• Educators need to be visible in the discussions
• Provide learners with course plan, use visual cues for
navigation, and the week with a summary
• Use quizzes to aid mastery & include scored tests

40. 12PM 12PM 12PM 12PM 12PM 12PM 12PM
THU
R
MON TUES WED SAT
FRI SUN
BUILT FOR ANY TIME LEARNING
Learning for people’s lives
While desktop users still make up
the majority of our learners, tablet
usage increases in the evenings,
and mobile access remains
constant through the day.
Time
Visits
Desktop Tablet Mobile
The importance of responsive design

41. OPPORTUNITIES TO IMPROVE LEARNING
Take the time to analyse course performance to help improve future versions

42. 100% Joiners
37%
Someone who signed up for the course.
84%
Active
Learners
Learners who marked
steps as complete
45%
Returning
Learners
Learners who marked
steps as complete in
more than one week
22%
Fully
Participating
Learners
Learners who marked
the majority of steps as
complete including all of
the assessments
Learners who make comments
53%
Learners
Joiners who
viewed at least
one step of the
course
42

43. LEARNERS’ QUOTES
Feedback from our learners has been overwhelmingly positive
Many, MANY thanks for this
opportunity to learn things
for free (I squandered my
early education opportunities
and now can't afford it!).
As a 71 year-old mother who has
spent 20 years trying to help a 35
year-old man struggling with
heroin dependency, I have found
this course very helpful and
inspiring. I intend to join the other
mothers who have written their
stories in the hope of reducing
the stigma attached to addiction.
This magnificent course has
greatly expanded my knowledge
in the field of management, as
well as psychology, goals and
understanding people.
Dina, Russia, on the Managing People course Lorna, South Africa
Thank you all for an incredible journey of discovery.
An absolutely great course.
Susan, London, on the
‘Medicines Adherence’ course Stuart, USA, on the Archaeology of Portus course

45. Thank you!
linkedin.com/in/katesandars