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Languages
Beginners’ Chinese: a taster course
Learn about Mandarin Chinese as a tool for communication and gain insights into Chinese society and culture. This free course, Beginners’ Chinese: a taster course, provides a brief introduction to the Chinese language, its scripts and sounds, and how words are formed. You will hear short conversations where people greet each other and introduce ...
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Science, Maths & Technology
Data analysis: hypothesis testing
Making decisions about the world based on data requires a process that bridges the gap between unstructured data and the decision. Statistical hypothesis testing helps decision-making by formulating beliefs about the world, including people, organisations or other objects, and formally testing these beliefs. In this free course, you will ...
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Science, Maths & Technology
Data analysis: visualisations in Excel
Evidence comes in the form of qualitative or quantitative data about the world around you. It is not always obvious, however, how to structure, aggregate, analyse or interpret the data to help you make decisions. In this free course, you will look at how to use data to make decisions in a systematic way using Microsoft Excel. Microsoft Excel ...
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Money & Business
Diversity and inclusion in the workplace
Do you feel concerned about a lack of diversity in your workplace? Is this something you want to address? Perhaps you’d like to feel more informed on a personal level before taking it further organisationally? This free course introduces you to the benefits and complexities of developing and supporting a diverse and inclusive workforce. It ...
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Science, Maths & Technology
The gut microbiome: balancing the body
This free course introduces the composition and functions of the human gut microbiome and explores how the gut microbiome interacts with different parts of the body. It explores how the gut microbiome can be altered by factors related to the human host (such as genetics, age, and the menopause) and through lifestyle factors (such as diet, ...
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Science, Maths & Technology
Understanding dyslexia
Dyslexia is a neurodivergent condition affecting over 10% of the population. It is often linked to reading and writing challenges, but also gives rise to strengths like creativity and problem-solving. Each individual experiences dyslexia differently. Despite its prevalence, it remains under-recognised globally. With proper understanding and ...
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Science, Maths & Technology
Introduction to Planetary Protection
As we explore the Solar System, it is important that we do not accidentally contaminate untouched and unspoilt extraterrestrial environments in any way. In this free course you will learn about ‘Planetary Protection’ and why it is critical for our future exploration and use of space. This course has been developed with support from the ...
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Education & Development
Making social media work in Higher Education
This free course explores the potential of social media as a space that can be used in higher education/University to enhance educational experiences. It examines how students can take advantage of platforms such as Facebook, Twitter and Whatsapp to engage and connect with other fellow students and their lecturers. While, also examining the ...
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Education & Development
Building confidence in using online forums
Learn about the benefits of online learning forums, with strategies for participating more fully.
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Languages
Advanced German: Fragen der Identität
Identity – your own and that of others – is the focus of this free course, Advanced German: Fragen der Identität. You will hear German speakers from different backgrounds talk about their regional and national identities, and you will consider what it is that makes us who we are. You will evaluate and summarise information from a variety of ...
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Money & Business
Human Resource Management and EDI
Human Resource Management and EDI is a free course provided by OpenLearn, based on adapted material from B810. This course will highlight why equality, diversity and inclusion (EDI) are key for the practice of Human Resource Management (HRM) today. This includes the promotion of the following dimensions in the workplace: fairness and equity, ...
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Health, Sports & Psychology
Supporting university students with a mental health condition
There is an increasing prevalence of university students who need mental health support and university staff benefit from training on this topic. This course explores this phenomenon, drawing on an Open University study on how staff (tutors) can support students with a mental health condition, and considers both what staff and institutions can ...
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Science, Maths & Technology
Understanding systems thinking in practice (STiP)
With media and political attention given to systemic failure, systems thinking is increasingly advocated as an alternative way of managing human interventions associated with socio-economic and environmental development. So what is systems thinking? Why might systems approaches provide better support for strategic planning? Moreover, how might ...
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Science, Maths & Technology
Algorithmic Design
This free course, Algorithmic design, explores the creative potential of designing with algorithms. This is part of the new BDes Design qualification at The Open University. Learn to think algorithmically and tweak code to create your own wallpaper patterns and be part of contemporary design practices. Through hands-on graphical experimentation ...
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Health, Sports & Psychology
An introduction to digital simulation in healthcare
Simulation provides a safe space for learning and improvement, leading to better-prepared healthcare professionals and safer patient care environments. This free course will help you develop an understanding of digital simulation and how it can enhance learning and clinical practice, not only through simulation but also through debriefing. ...
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Education & Development
Becoming an ethical researcher
This free course, Becoming an ethical researcher, explores the ethics of planning, carrying out and reporting research which involves human participants. It will sensitise you to issues that a researcher should consider to support ethical and well-justified decision-making. A wide variety of research scenarios will be used to stimulate ...
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Education & Development
Supporting babies and toddlers
The first two years of a child’s life are a time of incredible change and development. This free course helps practitioners to understand these changes and explore how they can support babies and toddlers in early childhood settings. This course draws on research and expertise from early childhood academics at The Open University and ...
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Society, Politics & Law
Introducing International Relations
In this free course you will be introduced to the subject of International Relations (IR). You will learn how IR seeks to analyse vital global problems and the key actors and issues involved. In the course you will explore two contemporary case studies: the competition between great powers like the USA and China for access to Africa’s resources;...