All our free courses
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Science, Maths & Technology
People-centred designing
Designed products surround us all and range from bus tickets to buildings. This free course, People-centred designing, focuses firmly on usability and the increasingly important phenomenon of people-centred design. It aims to inform consumers of design (i.e., all of us) about this crucial characteristic of design. In addition to stimulating ...
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History & The Arts
History of reading: An introduction to reading in the past
This free course, History of reading: An introduction to reading in the past, consists of a series of essays, drawn from material contained in the Reading Experience Database, that illustrate different aspects of reading in Britain during the period from 1450 to 1945. These essays are designed for you as the reader to dip in and dip out, ...
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Nature & Environment
Studying mammals: Food for thought
Who were our ancestors? How are apes and humans related? And where does the extinct Homo erectus fit into the puzzle? In this free course, Studying mammals: Food for thought, we will examine culture, tool use and social structure in both apes and humans to gain an understanding of where we come from and why we behave as we do. This is the tenth ...
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Nature & Environment
Studying mammals: The social climbers
Monkeys have long fascinated us because of their similarities to the human race. In this free course, Studying mammals: The social climbers, you will find out about some of the characteristics that make them so like us: their physiology, complex social interactions, large brains and intelligence. This is the ninth course in the Studying mammals ...
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Nature & Environment
Studying mammals: Life in the trees
David Attenborough looks at life in the trees: examining how species have evolved to cope with arboreal living. In this free course, Studying mammals: Life in the trees, you will learn how lemurs, anteaters, bears and many others have developed different methods to help movement and survival.
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Nature & Environment
Studying mammals: The opportunists
Many mammals are food specialists, with complex adaptations that gear them toward a particular food source. So how do the omnivores survive and prosper without these fancy evolutionary features? This free course, Studying mammals: The opportunists, examines the physiology, diet and strategies of some of these opportunistic feeders. It is the ...
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Nature & Environment
Studying mammals: Meat eaters
The powerful and majestic carnivores are the focus of many television documentaries. In this free course, Studying mammals: Meat eaters, we will delve into the lives of these fearsome hunters and explore their physical adaptations and social behaviour. This is the fifth course in the Studying mammals series.
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Nature & Environment
Studying mammals: Plant predators
From the mouse-deer to the elephant, plant eaters come in all shapes and sizes. But how do they manage to flourish on a salad diet? In this free course, Studying mammals: Plant predators, we will examine the special features that allow them to extract their nutrients from leaves, and see how some plants protect themselves from these predators. ...
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Nature & Environment
Studying mammals: Chisellers
Ever wondered why rats, mice and squirrels seem to reproduce at such an alarming rate? Rodents are among the most successful of all the mammal groups. In this free course, Studying mammals: Chisellers, you will learn more about some of the evolutionary features that make these creatures so plentiful. This is the third course in the Studying ...
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Nature & Environment
Evolution through natural selection
In this free course, Evolution through natural selection, we describe the theory of evolution by natural selection as proposed by Charles Darwin in his book, first published in 1859, On the Origin of Species by Means of Natural Selection, or The Preservation of Favoured Races in the Struggle for Life. We will look at natural selection as Darwin ...
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level 3: advanced icon
Science, Maths & Technology
An introduction to software development
Software development is the practice of organising the design and construction of software, the beating heart of much technology fundamental to our personal and professional life. This free introductory course, An introduction to software development, discusses the engineering nature of software development, its challenges and some ...
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level 3: advanced icon
Money & Business
Project management: the start of the project journey
This course introduces projects, what they are, how they come about, responses to problems and planning. It explores the role of key players including the project manager, feasibility studies, decision making and project life cycles.
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Science, Maths & Technology
Working with charts, graphs and tables
When you come across information represented in charts, graphs and tables, you'll need to know how to interpret this information. This free course, Working with charts, graphs and tables, will help you to develop the skills you need to do this. For further study, there's another course titled 'More working with charts, graphs and tables' which ...
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Education & Development
Datblygu strategaethau astudio effeithiol
Gall dod i wybod sut rydych yn dysgu eich helpu i ddatblygu technegau astudio sy'n gweddu i'ch anghenion a'r dasg dan sylw. Bydd gwella eich strategaethau astudio yn arbed amser i chi, yn ysgafnhau eich baich gwaith ac yn helpu i wella ansawdd eich gwaith. Yn yr uned hon byddwch yn dysgu technegau ac yn datblygu sgiliau a fydd yn eich helpu ...
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Languages
Мови в дії
Кожному з нас у нашому робочому житті все частіше потрібно співпрацювати з людьми, що належать до інших культур або з тими, чия рідна мова є для нас іноземною. Або нам, можливо, доведеться поїхати в іншу країну та працювати у ролі іноземця самим. Цей безкоштовний курс «Мови у робочому житті» дасть змогу зрозуміти відмінності між культурами та ...
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Languages
Cànan nan Gàidheal (Gaelic language)
’S e dùthaich ioma-chànanach a tha ann an Alba an-diugh. Tha a’ Ghàidhlig, Albais agus Beurla, còmhla ri cànain Eòrpach agus eile a tha nise san dùthaich, uile a’ toirt buaidh air mar a tha sluagh Alba a’ bruidhinn ri chèile agus ris a’ chòrr dhen t-saoghal. Chaidh an t-aonad seo - a tha ri fhaotainn an Gàidhlig agus am Beurla - a ...
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Languages
Gaelic in modern Scotland
Modern Scotland is a multi-lingual country. Gaelic, Scots and English, along with newer introductions from Europe and beyond, all influence the way Scotland's people now speak to each other and to the rest of the world. Created with the positive encouragement of Bòrd na Gàidhlig and with support from BBC Alba, this free course, Gaelic in modern ...
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Money & Business
Rural entrepreneurship in Wales
What are the important issues to consider when starting up or running a small business in a rural environment? This free course, Rural entrepreneurship in Wales, will introduce you to some concepts and models that will help you work out what you want to do with your business idea and to consider the impact of living in a rural location.