The 15th FutureLearn Academic Network meeting took place on 28th February at the University of Exeter. Professor Lisa Harris organised the event. Despite the snow and the strike, there was a more than reasonable turnout. There was representation from several FutureLearn partners including University of Glasgow, Shanghai Jiaotong University, University of Aberdeen, University of Bristol and University of Bath. There was also quite a sizeable audience following the event online. This led to lively conversations on Twitter.
FLAN themes: GDPR and integrating MOOC content on campus
A rich and varied set of speakers delivered presentations. Discussions revolved around two main themes:
- The GDPR
- Integrating MOOCs in on-campus modules.
These presentations were streamed and recorded in a Panopto video that is still available.
Nigel Smith, the FutureLearn head of content, started the event. He explained how the new General Data Protection Regulation affects the way we deal with FutureLearn data about learners. This led to a discussion about how we can adapt our practices to be compliant with the new law.
Nigel was not the only one representing FutureLearn. A group of partnership managers, researchers, analysts, and UX leads ran a workshop on the latest developments in the FutureLearn platform toolkit. It was aiming not only to showcase the new tools but to collect suggestions from partners.
MOOC integration in modules
The presentations about MOOC integration in modules led to engaging conversations about the best approach for using MOOCs on campus. Bristol, Exeter, Aberdeen, Bath, and Southampton are some of the universities exploring the use of MOOCs internally.
Southampton presented how a curriculum innovation module uses the Learning in the Network Age MOOC. Manuel Leon Urrutia and Nic Fair showcased the results:
In short, #ExeterFLAN was a fruitful event. Interesting discussions took place and new connections were made in the ever-growing FLAN network.