FutureLearn and Coursera: Possibilities of Communication

Abstract

The purpose of this chapter is to analyse, comparatively, the possibilities that are offered to learners by these two platforms. One of the main aspects is that learners find themselves in an international environment, since they are among students from all over the world. Here we can clearly notice the advantages of English as a lingua franca, which unites such a diverse community of learners around a topic of common interest. For both platforms, audio and video materials are available, together with the possibility of students and teachers interacting on the forums, for Coursera, or in the below the video discussions, for FutueLearn. Collaborative learning is also encouraged, as some courses can ask students to use Padlet to work together or other such sites. The sense of community is built by rapport with the teachers they appears on video, through common tasks, and through peer to peer discussions.