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Future Learn

For discussions related to education and educational institutions.
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Dave B
Posts: 17809
Joined: May 17th, 2010, 9:15 pm

Future Learn

#1 Post by Dave B » March 4th, 2014, 9:33 pm

Anyone else found Future Learn free mini uni courses yet?

Looks interesting, I have signed up for the "Kitchen Chemistry" course and may even have a go at "Getting a Grip on Mathematical Symbolism" if I feel brave enough :wink:
"Look forward; yesterday was a lesson, if you did not learn from it you wasted it."
Me, 2015

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Ninny
Posts: 545
Joined: December 13th, 2007, 12:03 pm

Re: Future Learn

#2 Post by Ninny » March 5th, 2014, 8:14 am

I've signed up for Kitchen Chemistry too! Already done one FutureLearn course and now in the middle of a Coursera chemistry course, which has been mindblowingly excellent. So many free courses available now!

Nick
Posts: 11027
Joined: July 4th, 2007, 10:10 am

Re: Future Learn

#3 Post by Nick » March 5th, 2014, 11:54 am

I heard about this on the radio the other day. I think it's excellent, but it seems to be making the universities squirm. (Which IMO is, on the whole, a good thing).

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Dave B
Posts: 17809
Joined: May 17th, 2010, 9:15 pm

Re: Future Learn

#4 Post by Dave B » March 5th, 2014, 2:45 pm

The duration of the courstake on a full time courses makes them not a lot more than a taster I think - a chance to see if the subject grabs you enough to take on a full one. Or as a prep for doing so maybe.

Apart from being a chance for the likes of us to do a bit of brain work it could be a good recruiting gimmick! I have not read the whole blurb yet to see if you get brownie points towards a degree course.
"Look forward; yesterday was a lesson, if you did not learn from it you wasted it."
Me, 2015

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Ninny
Posts: 545
Joined: December 13th, 2007, 12:03 pm

Re: Future Learn

#5 Post by Ninny » March 6th, 2014, 8:42 am

Recruiting, up to a point. But the chemistry course I am doing at the moment is pretty intense and very hard work, so whatever their motives I am getting a huge amount out of it. And there's no chance of my signing up to do a course at Duke!

coffee
Posts: 1594
Joined: June 2nd, 2009, 4:53 pm

Re: Future Learn

#6 Post by coffee » March 6th, 2014, 9:31 am

Thanks Dave, it could become very useful for me in the future.

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Dave B
Posts: 17809
Joined: May 17th, 2010, 9:15 pm

Re: Future Learn

#7 Post by Dave B » March 6th, 2014, 9:48 am

Ninny wrote:Recruiting, up to a point. But the chemistry course I am doing at the moment is pretty intense and very hard work, so whatever their motives I am getting a huge amount out of it. And there's no chance of my signing up to do a course at Duke!
Well, sounds like a good way to sift the merely interested from the dedicated! And, swings and roundabouts - if only a small % of adult takers-up on the courses can or do actually go on to do the real thing then they may be getting quality learners. And quality learners may lead to quality graduates, more kudos and better funding.

Don't forget that unis have to be commercial enterprises these days and thus have to resort to commercial strategies. Unless there are papers to be moderated these courses can't cost a great deal for individual unis to actually run.
"Look forward; yesterday was a lesson, if you did not learn from it you wasted it."
Me, 2015

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Alan H
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Joined: July 3rd, 2007, 10:26 pm

Re: Future Learn

#8 Post by Alan H » October 8th, 2014, 6:50 pm

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