NewsletterProduced by The Open University, a world leader in open and distance learning, all OpenLearn courses are free to study. We offer nearly 1000 free courses across 8 different subject areas. Our courses are available to start right away.
A growing selection of our courses offer a free Open University digital badge. Badges demonstrate your interest in a subject, a commitment to your career or provide evidence of continuing professional development.
Got a few spare minutes? Brush up on your knowledge with our range of free bite-size courses and activities.
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Health, Sports & Psychology
Young people’s wellbeing
What do we mean by 'wellbeing' for young people? How is it shaped by social differences and inequalities, and how can we improve young people's mental and physical health? This free course, Young people's wellbeing, will examine the range of factors affecting young people's wellbeing, such as obesity, binge drinking, depression and behavioural problems.
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Health, Sports & Psychology
What happens to you when you read?
This free course, What happens to you when you read? explores our relationship with books and the ways in which engaging with fiction in particular can change readers. Research shows that as well as providing us with a form of entertainment, the activity of reading can bring benefits to our wellbeing in challenging times. People have experienced and explored these benefits throughout history. As you work your way through this course, you will have the chance to participate in both reading and writing activities and experience for yourself what happens to you when you read.
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Health, Sports & Psychology
Why use literature reviews in health and social care?
Why use literature reviews in health and social care? is a free course which introduces and explains how literature reviews can support evidence-based practice in health and social care. A literature review can offer a systematic way in which to sift through information to produce relevant existing knowledge and discern knowledge gaps. This short course explores different examples of the use of literature reviews that have informed policy and practice; social work with older people, cessation of cigarette smoking in pregnant women and use of mindfulness therapy with respect to older people with dementia and their carers.
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Health, Sports & Psychology
Challenging ideas in mental health
Take a new and different look at mental health. This free course, Challenging ideas in mental health, invites you to think differently about life's dilemmas by taking account of the views of all concerned, especially people experiencing mental distress. It explores ideas and practice in mental health, and will appeal to a wide range of people.
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Health, Sports & Psychology
The caring manager in health and social care
In this free course, The caring manager in health and social care, particular attention will be paid to stress and change, the relationship between stress and organisational change, and the ways in which management can lead with a caring face in the context of ongoing organisational change in health and social care.
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Health, Sports & Psychology
What do we mean by digital health and social care?
This free course, What do we mean by digital health and social care?, will focus on digital health and social care technologies. It will explore the different types of technologies that exist in health and social care and the advantages and disadvantages associated with each of them. It will also focus on policies and digital innovations in different parts of the UK.
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Health, Sports & Psychology
Accessibility and inclusion in digital health
In this free course, Accessibility and inclusion in digital health, you will consider some of the ways that people can access digital health in the UK and how they are able to take more control over their physical and mental health.
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Health, Sports & Psychology
Social media and networks in health and social care
The focus of this free course, Social media and networks in health and social care, will be on the concept of internet safety and the possible advantages and disadvantages the internet offers in terms of health and social care. It will also explore the ethical and professional issues associated with online social networks when working in health and social care settings.
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Health, Sports & Psychology
Innovation in health and social care practice
This free course, Innovation in health and social care practice, focuses on how digital technology and innovation changes the expectations and job roles for health and social care practitioners. You will learn about what these expectations might be on practitioners and also about common responses and criticisms that may ----- from transforming practice through technology.
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Health, Sports & Psychology
Digital innovation in social care and social work
This free course, Digital innovation in social care and social work, explores how digital technology has made a difference, both to the social care sector and people living in their own communities. You will also learn about how incorporating technology in the home and in community settings has a range of benefits to people's wellbeing and ability to maintain independence in their community setting.
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Health, Sports & Psychology
Innovation in health and social care: social and historical
This free course, Innovation in health and social care: social and historical, focuses on digital technologies and innovations in health and social care and explores the types of innovations that are available and the impact this has on the individuals using them. You will also gain an insight into the potential advantages and disadvantages of these innovations.
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Health, Sports & Psychology
Understanding ADHD
This free course, Understanding Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), explores the experience of ADHD from the perspective of those who are diagnosed with the condition, and those who care for them. It covers the contribution of scientific research to understanding ADHD, with a focus on assessing the effectiveness and mechanism of action of treatments and therapies.