All our free courses
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Science, Maths & Technology
What is the genome made of?
Genomes are composed of DNA, and a knowledge of the structure of DNA is essential to understand how it can function as hereditary material. DNA is remarkable, breathtakingly simple in its structure yet capable of directing all the living processes in a cell, the production of new cells and the development of a fertilized egg to an individual ...
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Education & Development
Creativity, community and ICT
What do you think being creative means? This free course, Creativity, community and ICT, engages with the debates surrounding the term 'creativity' and explores ways in which ICT creates new opportunities for creativity and collaborative working. The course would be of interest to teachers, parents and carers, and can be studied on an individual...
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Education & Development
Geography in education: exploring a definition
This free course, Geography in education: exploring a definition, is aimed at geography teachers, or those with an interest in studying or teaching geography. It looks at the contribution that geography can make in the education of young people and the characteristics and purpose of geography as a subject.
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level 2: intermediate icon
Science, Maths & Technology
Minerals and the crystalline state
Rocks are made of minerals and, as minerals are natural crystals, the geological world is mostly a crystalline world. This free course, Minerals and the crystalline state, introduces the study of minerals and crystal structures, using online text and interactive activities, including questions and answers, video clips, slidecasts and a Digital Kit.
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level 2: intermediate icon
Nature & Environment
Energy resources: solar energy
Energy from sources other than fossil and nuclear fuels is to a large extent free of the concerns about environmental effects and renewability that characterize those two sources. Each alternative source supplies energy continually, whether or not we use it, and most have their origins in energy generated outside the Earth, yet the potential of ...
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Science, Maths & Technology
Earthquakes
Earthquakes shake the ground surface, can cause buildings to collapse, disrupt transport and services, and can cause fires. They can trigger landslides and tsunami in short, earthquakes can be very destructive. In this free course, Earthquakes, you will look at why, where and what happens when they occur and also at how earthquakes are assessed...
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Nature & Environment
Surface water
Water is arguably the most important physical resource as it is the one that is essential to human survival. Understanding the global water cycle and how we use water is essential to planning a sustainable source of water for the future. In the UK there are areas where water supplies are limited, as shown by recent droughts. Globally, there are ...
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Science, Maths & Technology
Biofuels
This free course, Biofuels, investigates what is meant by a biofuel and covers the advantages of using biofuels compared with fossil fuels. The different types of biofuel are explored, with particular emphasis on transport biofuels. Finally, the issue of whether biofuels are the complete answer to our future energy needs is considered.
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Science, Maths & Technology
Seeing the light
This free course, Seeing the light, will teach you about how the Sun affects your home, both in terms of light and warmth and the energy it generates. You will learn about how it can affect your health and well-being, and how different climates design their homes differently to maximise the benefits of the Sun.
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History & The Arts
Welsh history and its sources
This course is a teaching and learning resource for anyone interested in Welsh history. It contains study materials, links to some of the most important institutions that contribute to our understanding of the history of Wales, and a pool of resources that can help you understand Welsh history and the way it is studied. Included in the material ...
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Education & Development
Understanding society: families
In this free course, Understanding society: families, you will explore how different families have different ideas about how work in the home should be divided. You will also investigate the diversity of families. We will see how any discussion of the division of labour has to recognise that families differ in terms of shape and size.
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Science, Maths & Technology
Starting with maths: Patterns and formulas
Patterns occur everywhere in art, nature, science and especially mathematics. Being able to recognise, describe and use these patterns is an important skill that helps you to tackle a wide variety of different problems. This free course, Starting with maths: Patterns and formulas, explores some of these patterns, from ancient number patterns ...
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Health, Sports & Psychology
Exploring sport online: Athletes and efficient hearts
We all know that the heart is very important but what exactly does the heart do? Why is the blood so important? What functions do the lungs perform? In this free course, Exploring sport online: Athletes and efficient hearts, we will try to provide at least a basic understanding so we can answer these questions and begin to understand why knowing...
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level 2: intermediate icon
Education & Development
Careers education and guidance (Chinese)
本免费课程是“职业生涯教育与指导”课程的中文翻译版本，英文原版也在本网站中提供。 This free course is the Chinese version of Careers education and guidance which is also available in English.
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Education & Development
A global dimension to science education in schools
Is your science teaching very western-oriented? This free course, A global dimension to science education in schools, is aimed at those teachers who would like to give a more global feeling to their teaching. You will learn how to source scientific articles with a greater emphasis on science and technology beyond the western world and experience...
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Education & Development
Enhancing pupil learning on museum visits
Museums give children experiences above and beyond the everyday experiences that enrich and build upon classroom teaching and learning. Taking pupils to a museum, or bringing museum artefacts into school, instantly changes the dynamics of the usual learning environment. It gives you as a teacher the opportunity to start afresh with each child, ...
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Education & Development
Why teach art?
What value does art have in the school curriculum? The answer is provided by this free course, Why teach art? Aimed primarily at colleagues teaching art in schools, it explores the justification for including art in the school curriculum together with some of the current criticisms commonly heard.
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level 3: advanced icon
Digital & Computing
Network security
Encryption of files and firewalls are just some of the security measures that can be used in security. This free course, Network security, which assumes you have a substantial knowledge of computing, helps to explain the intricacies of the continually changing area of network security by studying the main issues involved in achieving a ...