What future for education?

Grow your skills with Coursera Plus for $239/year (usually $399). Save now.

What future for education?

Name: What future for education?
Rating: 4.758118701007839 (893 reviews)

Instructor: Dr Clare Brooks

65,834 already enrolled

Included with

Learn more

6 modules

Gain insight into a topic and learn the fundamentals.

893 reviews

2 weeks to complete

at 10 hours a week

Flexible schedule

Learn at your own pace

98%

Most learners liked this course

6 modules

Gain insight into a topic and learn the fundamentals.

893 reviews

2 weeks to complete

at 10 hours a week

Flexible schedule

Learn at your own pace

98%

Most learners liked this course

Skills you'll gain

Details to know

Shareable certificate

Add to your LinkedIn profile

Taught in English

See how employees at top companies are mastering in-demand skills

Learn more about Coursera for Business

logos of Petrobras, TATA, Danone, Capgemini, P&G and L'Oreal

There are 6 modules in this course

Through this course you will start to critically examine your own ideas about education, teaching and learning. The critique will be developed through engagement with theories and ideas developed through educational research. You will be encouraged to use these ideas to challenge or support your own ideas about education.

Each week we will focus on one key question, using video lectures, key readings and challenges to explore some commonplace notions about education. With the guidance of the course team, you will be asked to use these ideas to critically reflect on your own understandings and experience. By the end of the course, you will have developed a personal response to the main question: what is your preferred future for education?

This week we focus on the important question of "how do we learn?". One of our aims this week is to demonstrate the learning approach of this course as well as to get you to think about how you have learnt in the past, and to question some of your own assumptions about learning.

What's included

7 videos7 readings1 peer review

7 videos Total 51 minutes

Clare's introduction to What future for education? 4 minutes
Lecture 1 How do we learn? 12 minutes
Lecture 2 How do we learn? cont'd 8 minutes
Lecture 3 How do we learn? cont'd 10 minutes
Lecture 4 How do we learn? optional extra 4 minutes
Lecture 5 How do we learn? optional cont'd 7 minutes
Lecture 6 How do we learn? optional cont'd 6 minutes

7 readings Total 70 minutes

Syllabus 10 minutes
Grading 10 minutes
Glossary of Terms 10 minutes
How do we learn? (about week 1) 10 minutes
This week's readings (and lectures) 10 minutes
Let's discuss... 10 minutes
Reflections 10 minutes

1 peer review Total 120 minutes

Journal entry for Week 1 120 minutes

In this second week of the course we focus on the tricky issue of intelligence. In the resources this week, we explore what we mean by intelligence and how it can affect learning and educational success.

What's included

4 videos4 readings1 peer review

4 videos Total 37 minutes

Lecture 1 What is intelligence? 10 minutes
Lecture 2 What is intelligence cont'd 6 minutes
Lecture 3 What is intelligence cont'd 8 minutes
Lecture 4 What is intelligence cont'd 13 minutes

4 readings Total 40 minutes

What is intelligence and does it matter? (about week 2) 10 minutes
This week's readings 10 minutes
Let's discuss... 10 minutes
Reflections 10 minutes

1 peer review Total 120 minutes

Journal Entry for Week 2 120 minutes

In the third week of this course, we turn our attention from learning to teaching. In the resources this week we explore our images of "good" teachers and consider where these images come from.

What's included

6 videos4 readings1 peer review

6 videos Total 53 minutes

Lecture 1 What makes a good teacher? 7 minutes
Lecture 2 What makes a good teacher? cont'd 10 minutes
Lecture 3 What makes a good teacher? cont'd 8 minutes
Lecture 4 What makes a good teacher? cont'd 11 minutes
Lecture 5 What makes a good teacher? cont'd 9 minutes
Lecture 6 What makes a good teacher? cont'd 8 minutes

4 readings Total 40 minutes

What makes a good teacher? (about week 3) 10 minutes
This week's readings 10 minutes
Let's discuss... 10 minutes
Reflections 10 minutes

1 peer review Total 120 minutes

Journal entry for Week 3 120 minutes

In this fourth week, we turn our attention from individual classrooms and the relationship between learning and teaching, and focus on schools as organisations

What's included

3 videos4 readings1 peer review

3 videos Total 19 minutes

Lecture 1 What makes a good school? 8 minutes
Lecture 2 What makes a good school? cont'd 4 minutes
Lecture 3 What makes a good school? cont'd 7 minutes

4 readings Total 40 minutes

Can schools make a difference? (about week 4) 10 minutes
This week's readings 10 minutes
Let's discuss... 10 minutes
Reflections 10 minutes

1 peer review Total 120 minutes

Journal entry for Week 4 120 minutes

In this penultimate week of the course we expand our discussion still further and consider the role education plays in our societies.

What's included

6 videos4 readings1 peer review

6 videos Total 46 minutes

Lecture 1 What are governments' priorities for education? 8 minutes
Lecture 2 What are governments' priorities for education? cont'd 8 minutes
Lecture 3 What are governments' priorities for education? cont'd 6 minutes
Lecture 4 What are governments' priorities for education? cont'd 6 minutes
Lecture 5 What are governments' priorities for education? cont'd 7 minutes
Lecture 6 What are governments' priorities for education? cont'd 11 minutes

4 readings Total 40 minutes

Why do governments fund education? (about week 5) 10 minutes
This week's readings 10 minutes
Let's discuss... 10 minutes
Reflections 10 minutes

1 peer review Total 120 minutes

Journal entry for Week 5 120 minutes

In this final week of the course, we return to the question that started it all off: what future for education? The content is a little different this week, but the structure should be familiar to you.

What's included

1 video4 readings1 peer review

Instructor

Instructor ratings

(199 ratings)

Dr Clare Brooks

University of London

1 Course 65,834 learners

Offered by

University of London

UCL Institute of Education

Explore more from Education

Vanderbilt University
The Future of Education with AI: Exploring Perspectives
Course
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
New Learning: Principles and Patterns of Pedagogy
Course
Indian Institute for Human Settlements
Reimagining Education for Equity
Course
University of Michigan
Envisioning Educational Transformation
Course

Why people choose Coursera for their career

Felipe M.

Learner since 2018

"To be able to take courses at my own pace and rhythm has been an amazing experience. I can learn whenever it fits my schedule and mood."

Jennifer J.

Learner since 2020

"I directly applied the concepts and skills I learned from my courses to an exciting new project at work."

Larry W.

Learner since 2021

"When I need courses on topics that my university doesn't offer, Coursera is one of the best places to go."

Chaitanya A.

"Learning isn't just about being better at your job: it's so much more than that. Coursera allows me to learn without limits."

Learner reviews

5 stars
82.95%
4 stars
13.34%
3 stars
1.90%
2 stars
0.67%
1 star
1.12%

Showing 3 of 893

Reviewed on Sep 20, 2015

Great course! I enjoyed it very much. I feel like it is slightly more directed at teachers and those who have a career in education, rather than individuals interested in the topic.

Reviewed on Feb 27, 2019

I loved every moment of this course! It's quite informative and inspiring. I am personally looking forward to more Acheivment in education!!! Thank you UCL!

Reviewed on Feb 27, 2020

It is a very good way of enhancing our skills in dealing with the use of technology. Engaging in this course open my eyes in all issues in aspect of education. I've learned a lot. Thank You!

View more reviews

Open new doors with Coursera Plus

Unlimited access to 10,000+ world-class courses, hands-on projects, and job-ready certificate programs - all included in your subscription

Learn more

Advance your career with an online degree

Earn a degree from world-class universities - 100% online

Explore degrees

Join over 3,400 global companies that choose Coursera for Business

Upskill your employees to excel in the digital economy

Learn more

Frequently asked questions

To access the course materials, assignments and to earn a Certificate, you will need to purchase the Certificate experience when you enroll in a course. You can try a Free Trial instead, or apply for Financial Aid. The course may offer 'Full Course, No Certificate' instead. This option lets you see all course materials, submit required assessments, and get a final grade. This also means that you will not be able to purchase a Certificate experience.

When you purchase a Certificate you get access to all course materials, including graded assignments. Upon completing the course, your electronic Certificate will be added to your Accomplishments page - from there, you can print your Certificate or add it to your LinkedIn profile.

Yes. In select learning programs, you can apply for financial aid or a scholarship if you can’t afford the enrollment fee. If fin aid or scholarship is available for your learning program selection, you’ll find a link to apply on the description page.