• University of Leeds

Learning Online: Communicating and Collaborating

Become an effective online learner and develop your online communication skills when working with others.

68,635 enrolled on this course

Learning Online: Communicating and Collaborating

68,635 enrolled on this course

  • 2 weeks

  • 2 hours per week

  • Digital certificate when eligible

  • Introductory level

Find out more about how to join this course

  • Duration

    2 weeks
  • Weekly study

    2 hours
  • 100% online

    How it works
  • Unlimited subscription

    $244.99 for a whole yearLearn more

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.

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Syllabus

  • Week 1

    How to communicate and share online

    • Welcome

      Before you get started, take some time to introduce yourself and meet your fellow learners from around the world.

    • The importance of online communication and collaboration

      In this activity, you’ll reflect on why is it important to share and collaborate as part of online learning.

    • Discussing your work online

      In this activity, you will explore the key elements of communicating effectively online, particularly in a learning context.

    • How can you share your work online?

      In this activity, you will explore key tools for sharing work online, and reflect on the importance of considering copyright when doing so.

    • Summary

      To close this week, you are introduced to some of the options for studying at the University of Leeds. You also look forward to next week.

  • Week 2

    How to collaborate online

    • About week 2

      About Week 2

      This week, you’ll focus in more detail on how to collaborate with others online in a shared project.

    • Activity one

      Working collaboratively online

      In this activity, explore how working collaboratively online is different to offline, and how this can have key benefits and challenges.

    • Tools for collaboration

      In this activity, you will explore different types of tools you can use in online collaborative working.

    • Supportive collaborative feedback

      In this activity, you will explore the key importance of providing constructive feedback and practice this by giving feedback to another learner.

    • Summary

      End of course summary

      Having reached the end of this course, you can test your understanding and then look forward to the next course in the series, or further courses from the University of Leeds.

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.

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

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.

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Ways to learn

Choose the best way to learn for you!

Subscribe & save

$244.99 for a whole year

Automatically renews

Develop skills to further your career

  • Access to this course
  • Access to 1,000+ courses
  • Learn at your own pace
  • Discuss your learning in comments
  • Digital certificate when you're eligible

Cancel for free anytime

Buy this course

$54/one-off payment

Fulfill your current learning need

  • Access to this course
  • Learn at your own pace
  • Discuss your learning in comments
  • Printed and digital certificate when you’re eligible

Limited access

Free

Sample the course materials

  • Access expires 19 Feb 2025

Find out more about certificates, Unlimited or buying a course (Upgrades)

Sale price available until 3 March 2025 at 23:59 (UTC). T&Cs apply.

Find out more about certificates, Unlimited or buying a course (Upgrades)

Sale price available until 3 March 2025 at 23:59 (UTC). T&Cs apply.

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
  • Complete 90% of course steps and all of the assessments to earn your certificate

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