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With thousands of free learning resources across OpenLearn – from quick quizzes and interactive games to full-length online courses – it can be hard to know where to begin. That’s where our Top 10s come in.
These lists give you a real-time snapshot of what’s most popular right now on OpenLearn. Think of them as your shortcut to the hottest topics and most in-demand courses, chosen not by us but by the learners already exploring them.
Whether you want to dip into a bite-sized activity or commit to something bigger, the Top 10s are a great place to start.
Top 10 articles, hubs, interactives and videos
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Why Do Historians Disagree?
Hindsight is, supposedly, perfect - and yet history is a deeply controversial subject. John Shaw examines why historians are prone to disagreements about the past
Read now1
Level: 1 Introductory
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British Science Week
Celebrate all things science with British Science Week! We've got free courses, games, animations and more...
Read now2
Level: 1 Introductory
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How can honour killings be stopped?
Earlier today, the House of Commons heard a ten-minute rule bill presented by Nusrat Ghani to tackle so-called honour killings. The police have said that it will take community action to eradicate the crime. But communities still need to be supported by the legal system, argues Dr Hannana Siddiqui.
Read now3
Level: 1 Introductory
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DIY: Generate your own electricity
Do you want to make your own electricity? Here's a step-by-step guide to making your own generator.
Read now4
Level: 1 Introductory
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‘Shut up and play’: a brief history of athlete activism
Despite many sports organisers and fans maintaining a belief that sport and politics do not mix, sport has consistently proven itself as a breeding ground for activism and protest. The argument that sport and politics should be kept separate is perhaps most prevalent when it comes to athletes expressing their political views. This article ...
Read now5
Level: 1 Introductory
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Understanding the role of art historians in a changing world
Over the last few decades, the discipline of Art History has been transformed in a variety of ways, drawing on broader intellectual debates, including gender, racial and social equality. But what might the future bring? Dr Samuel Shaw from The Open University speaks to experts from the Paul Mellon Centre for Studies in British Art and looks at ...
Watch now6
Level: 1 Introductory
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The healing power of nature writing
Writing about the natural world and environment can work wonders for our wellbeing – this article explains how.
Read now7
Level: 1 Introductory
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PhotoFit Me
Would you make a good eyewitness? Photofit Me explores how we remember faces and challenges you to construct the face of a culprit or to recreate the face of a celebrity or even a friend! Test yourself with our interactive and see how good your face recognition abilities are.
Take part now8
Level: 1 Introductory
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What is technology?
It might seem a straightforward question, but technology is about more than gadgets and gizmos. Andy Lane explains what it means to different people.
Read now9
Level: 1 Introductory
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Sperm counts
How much sperm does a man make? Would you explode if you don't release your sperm? Explore the male reproductive system in this article and video.
Read now10
Level: 1 Introductory
Top 10 courses
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What is politics?
This free course, What is politics?, introduces you to the world of politics. It is dedicated primarily to answering the question of what politics is. Although the question might seem rather simple, it elicits various, often contradictory responses. As you will realise, in politics as in much of the humanities and social sciences definitive ...
Learn more1
Level: 2 Intermediate
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Making sense of art history
You can prepare for this free course, Making sense of art history, by looking around you. It's likely that wherever you are you'll be able to see some images. It's also likely that many of these will be intended to have some sort of effect on you. In the course itself you will be exploring the power of images via a study of contemporary art ...
Learn more2
Level: 1 Introductory
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Introducing music research
Introducing music research provides you with insights into the wide variety of possibilities for studying music at postgraduate level. In this free course you will explore diverse musical topics through four themes: inclusions and exclusions, practice, technology, and community. You will encounter music from different times, places and genres ...
Learn more3
Level: 3 Advanced
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What do historians do?
What do historians do? In this free course you will explore some of the ways that historians work to develop our understanding of the past. You will learn about three aspects of the historian’s craft through three topic areas: landscapes, infant health and criminal justice. Through the activities in the course, you will experience a wide range ...
Learn more4
Level: 3 Advanced
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Exploring learning disabilities: supporting belonging
This course takes the real-life cases of a number of different people to explore what it is like to have the label ‘learning disability’. The course also considers how it feels to support someone with a learning disability, as a family member, a friend, an advocate or a paid worker. Through these human stories the course considers the ...
Learn more5
Level: 1 Introductory
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Introduction to bookkeeping and accounting
Learn about the essential numerical skills required for accounting and bookkeeping. This free course, Introduction to bookkeeping and accounting, explains the fundamental rules of double-entry bookkeeping and how they are used to produce the balance sheet and the profit and loss account.
Learn more6
Level: 1 Introductory
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Introduction to music theory 1: form
In this free course, you will learn how to identify musical form through close engagement with recorded of music, and studying examples of folk, popular, and classical music from several world traditions. You will explore a number of methods of representing form, including alphabetical designations (e.g., AABA), genre-specific terminology (e.g.,...
Learn more7
Level: 1 Introductory
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Understanding autism
Learn about autism, one of the most challenging long-term conditions of the century. This free course, Understanding autism, introduces the autism spectrum, how it is experienced by individuals and families, and why it has become a global concern. The course explains how understanding of the autism spectrum and approaches to diagnosis and care ...
Learn more8
Level: 1 Introductory
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An introduction to music theory
Gain an understanding of the basic building blocks of musical theory and notation. This free course, An introduction to music theory, will introduce you to music staves, clefs, rhythmic and pitch values, rhythmic metre and time signatures. This OpenLearn course provides an introduction to music theory pitched at a level equivalent to Grades 1–3 ...
Learn more9
Level: 1 Introductory
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The science of alcohol
Alcohol plays a considerable part in the daily lives of humanity and has done for thousands of years. This free course, The science of alcohol, looks at the science behind the processes of brewing, distilling and vinification, and how many of our beverages are made. A historical aspect is also covered showing how the modern production techniques...
Learn more10
Level: 1 Introductory
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