Produced 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.
Health, Sports & Psychology
Perspectives on social work: Individual stories
In this series of four interviews you will watch a service user, a carer, a social worker and a social work manager talking about their different experiences. The interviews will illustrate the importance of listening to people’s stories, the importance of relationship in social work practice, and the importance of the context in which social work practice takes place. You will consider questions about the interviews, and will reflect on the implications for practice of what the individuals have to say.
Health, Sports & Psychology
Cyflwyniad i waith cymdeithasol yng Nghymru
Mae parchu hunaniaeth pob person yn un o werthoedd canolog gwaith cymdeithasol ond, fel y mae'r term yn awgrymu, mae gwaith cymdeithasol yn golygu mwy na safbwyntiau unigol: mae hefyd yn digwydd o fewn cyd-destun cymdeithasol. Mae cymdeithas, demograffi, daearyddiaeth, deddfwriaeth genedlaethol, polisi cenedlaethol ac iaith oll yn chwarae rhan bwysig, ym mywydau defnyddwyr gwasanaethau a gofalwyr ac ymarfer gweithwyr cymdeithasol. Bydd y cwrs hwn yn eich cyflwyno i bwysigrwydd cydnabod bod ymarfer gwaith cymdeithasol yn digwydd mewn cyd-destun. Yn benodol, byddwch yn dysgu beth mae hyn yn ei olygu ar gyfer gwaith cymdeithasol yng Nghymru - yn y cyd-destun Cymreig.
Health, Sports & Psychology
Storïau unigol: safbwyntiau ar waith cymdeithasol
Yn y gyfres hon o bedwar cyfweliad, byddwch yn gwylio defnyddiwr gwasanaeth, gofalwr, gweithiwr cymdeithasol a rheolwr gwaith cymdeithasol yn siarad am eu profiadau gwahanol. Bydd y cyfweliadau'n dangos pwysigrwydd gwrando ar storïau pobl, pwysigrwydd cydberthnasau mewn ymarfer gwaith cymdeithasol a phwysigrwydd cyd-destun yr ymarfer gwaith cymdeithasol. Byddwch yn ystyried cwestiynau am y cyfweliadau ac yn myfyrio ar oblygiadau'r hyn sydd gan yr unigolion i'w ddweud ar gyfer ymarfer.
Health, Sports & Psychology
Lottery of birth
This free course, Lottery of birth, will look at both the big picture of the ‘lottery of birth’ and the smaller, human stories. You will examine the inequalities of birth, particularly being born rich or poor and being born female or male.
Health, Sports & Psychology
Beth amdana i? Cwrs datblygiad personol ar gyfer gofalwyr yng Nghymru
Cwrs datblygiad personol ar gyfer gofalwyr yng Nghymru yw hwn. Bydd yn eich helpu i nodi a myfyrio ar eich profiadau, eich diddordebau a'ch sgiliau a'ch dyheadau ar gyfer y dyfodol. Byddwch hefyd yn cael y cyfle i ddatblygu cynllun gweithredu personol i'w roi ar waith ar ôl i'r cwrs ddod i ben. Mae'r cwrs, a ddatblygwyd gan Y Brifysgol Agored yng Nghymru ac Ymddiriedolaeth Gofalwyr Cymru, yn cynnwys astudiaethau achos gan ofalwyr go iawn sy'n rhannu eu profiadau a'u myfyrdodau.
Health, Sports & Psychology
What about me? A personal development course for carers in Wales
This is a personal development course for carers in Wales. It will help you to identify and reflect on your experiences, interests, skills and your future aspirations. You will also have the opportunity to develop a personal action plan to take forward beyond the course. Developed by The Open University in Wales and Carers Trust Wales, it is embedded with case studies from real carers sharing their experiences and reflections.
Health, Sports & Psychology
Coping in isolation: Time to Think
During this pandemic, millions worldwide face prolonged periods of social isolation. What can you learn about coping today from Open University graduates who studied while imprisoned in the Maze and Long Kesh prison during the years of conflict in and about Northern Ireland? In this free course, two graduates, David and Michael, reflect on the lockdown under COVID-19, living with uncertainty and on their study experiences while imprisoned in the 1970s and 1980s, and offer ways to adjust to the current pressures facing people across the globe.
Health, Sports & Psychology
The science of nutrition and healthy eating
This free course, The science of nutrition and healthy eating, looks at the science behind nutrition, covering aspects of biology, chemistry and physics as well as giving some insight into healthier eating. Reading food labels, choosing healthier foods, hydrating appropriately and understanding how we taste food will allow you to be more informed about the choices you make about the food you eat.
Health, Sports & Psychology
Introducing public health
This free course, Introducing public health, presents some key elements of public health and health promotion. It considers the scope and focus of public health and how it is subject to change and located within the wider global context.
Health, Sports & Psychology
Introducing social work: a starter kit
This free course, Introducing social work: a starter kit, provides a glimpse into some of the things that social workers do and looks at why and how social work is done. The course is designed for people who might be interested in and curious about social work practice. It will also be a useful initial resource for those who may be thinking about entering the social work profession at some point in the future.
Health, Sports & Psychology
Making sense of ourselves
This free course, Making sense of ourselves, introduces you to well-known psychological topics by asking and answering everyday questions, such as Why don’t we like one another? Why would I hang around with you? Do you see what I see? What’s the point of childhood? You’ll learn how psychologists can go about addressing these questions using different research tools and approaches.
Health, Sports & Psychology
Supporting and developing resilience in social work
What does it take to become a resilient practitioner in social work? This free course, Supporting and developing resilience in social work, will guide you through some important concepts. An understanding of ‘emotional resilience’ and ‘professional leadership’ will help to guide you through taking a positive approach to problems that ----- in social work practice. You will also be introduced to some ideas about leadership in social work practice.