You can pick any number of units from the choices below, but they must add up to at least 100 study hours.
Once you have decided what units you want to study you can start working your way through them, or you can discuss your choices with your tutor at the start of your module in October 2021.
There are 28 introductory-level courses for you to choose from. Take a look below.
Introductory level:
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Social care in the community
Social care involves the challenge of supporting people who, for a variety of reasons, are unable to function without assistance or supervision. This free course, Social care in the community, focuses on one important area of social care, home care for older people.
Learn moreSocial care in the communityLevel: 1 Introductory
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The boundaries of care
In this free course, The boundaries of care, you will look at a number of situations which put a strain on the idea that caring is just 'being ordinary', including times when people are giving intimate care. In these special circumstances, since the normal rules do not apply, we have to develop a set of special rules to guide practice.
Learn moreThe boundaries of careLevel: 1 Introductory
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Understanding narratives in health care
What are the ways in which others (patients, relatives, practitioners) and you create and share meanings within health care? Narratives are the stories used by individuals to make sense of events. In this free course, Understanding narratives in health care, you are guided on how to identify narratives, those that might either support or undermine health care practice.
Learn moreUnderstanding narratives in health careLevel: 1 Introductory
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Starting with psychology
The most 'important and greatest puzzle' we face as humans is ourselves (Boring, 1950, p. 56). Humans are a puzzle, one that is complex, subtle and multi-layered, and it gets even more complicated as we evolve over time and change within different contexts. When answering the question 'what makes us who we are?' psychologists put forward a range of explanations about why people feel, think and behave the way they do. Just when psychologists seem to understand one bit of 'who we are' up pops some new evidence to show a different side! It is not easy to pin down all the many influences. This free course, Starting with psychology, makes a start.
Learn moreStarting with psychologyLevel: 1 Introductory
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Psychological research, obedience and ethics
In this free course, Psychological research, obedience and ethics, you will learn about the importance of ethics in research that is undertaken by psychologists. You will read about the famous study on obedience conducted by Stanley Milgram, and watch two psychologists talk about their research with meerkats and chimpanzees.
Learn morePsychological research, obedience and ethicsLevel: 1 Introductory
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The impact of technology on children's physical activity
This free course, The impact of technology on children's physical activity, explores the impact of technology on children’s physical activity levels. It examines the different types of technology that children have access to and the ways in which they engage with it. As part of this discussion this course looks at information from a range of different sources and evaluates this evidence to try and answer the question of whether technology is helping or hindering children’s physical activity levels.
Learn moreThe impact of technology on children's physical activityLevel: 1 Introductory
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Professional relationships with young people
In some people's eyes the development of relationships is a good end in itself, as it is in relationships that we express our humanity. Young people with few good-quality relationships in their lives often find that entering into informal relationships with adults who respect, accept, like and really listen to them is a new life experience. These relationships can offer the young people new perspectives on approaching, developing and managing quality relationships of their own. This free course, Professional relationships with young people, explores different approaches in developing relationships and working practices which can inform work with young people.
Learn moreProfessional relationships with young peopleLevel: 1 Introductory
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Introduction to child psychology
Childhood is a time of rapid growth and development, and studying these changes is endlessly stimulating. In this free course, Introduction to child psychology, you will be introduced to the discipline of child psychology and some of the key questions that guide the understanding of childhood. These questions include 'What influences children's development?' and 'How do psychologists study the physical and cognitive changes that occur during childhood?' As you work through this material, you will also gain a deeper understanding concerning how psychologists work with young children across a range of applied settings through activities and audio-visual materials.
Learn moreIntroduction to child psychologyLevel: 1 Introductory
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Exploring family health
How can families support healthy living and cope with illness? This free course, Exploring family health, will provide an understanding of what is meant by socialisation. You will recognise how a family can learn and support good and poor health behaviours alongside government interventions, such as the 5 A DAY strategy. Identification of people with Alzheimer's disease is steadily increasing and you will consider key features and research. Caring within a family will be considered through reading about Sheila who cares for her husband and son. Finally, the course will look at the plight of young carers, often hidden from view, and losing part of their childhood due to their caring responsibilities.
Learn moreExploring family healthLevel: 1 Introductory
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Active, healthy lifestyles
In this free course, Active, healthy lifestyles, which is aimed at teachers of Physical Education, we begin by looking at some of the common misconceptions relating to fitness and activity levels together with accepted definitions of these concepts. We consider how active young people should actually be, and discuss how PE teachers can ensure they are making an effective contribution to this area of public health.Please note, this course contains some Flash content that no longer works. We are currently working to update these instances.
Learn moreActive, healthy lifestylesLevel: 1 Introductory
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Introducing ageing
Everyone is ageing, whatever their current age, and we live in a world where many people are living much longer than previous generations. This is often seen as a problem. But is it? This free course, Introducing ageing, will help you to think about this issue by introducing you to some key ideas in studying later life.
Learn moreIntroducing ageingLevel: 1 Introductory
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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.
Learn moreLottery of birthLevel: 1 Introductory
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Childhood in the digital age
This free course, Childhood in the digital age, delves into the lives of children and discuss the potential benefits and limitations of technology in their lives.
Learn moreChildhood in the digital ageLevel: 1 Introductory
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An introduction to social work
Do you want to learn more about the social work role and develop your understanding of some of the theory associated with social work practice? This free course, An introduction to social work, begins by introducing key ideas, values, the social work process and the skills needed for social work practice. You will then move on to look at social work with individuals. Finally this OpenLearn course considers reflective practice.Please note: As part of a review of content, this course will shortly be updated. The new version of the course will be available on Wednesday 6 October 2021. If you want to complete this current version of the course, please do so by the date given.
Learn moreAn introduction to social workLevel: 1 Introductory
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Modern slavery
This free course, Modern slavery, is designed to develop an understanding of the international system of human rights protection in relation to modern slavery, but also encourage an appreciation of the influence of International Human Rights Law on the development of the domestic system of human rights protection.
Learn moreModern slaveryLevel: 1 Introductory
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Diversity and difference in communication
Interpersonal communication in health and social care services is by its nature diverse. As a consequence, achieving good or effective communication whether between service providers and service users, or among those working in a service means taking account of diversity, rather than assuming that every interaction will be the same. This free course, Diversity and difference in communication, explores the ways in which difference and diversity impact on the nature of communication in health and social care services.
Learn moreDiversity and difference in communicationLevel: 1 Introductory
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Human rights and law
Human rights now seem to take precedent over many areas of our lives, but where do these rights come from and how did they develop? This free course, Human rights and the law, looks at the impact of the European Convention on Human Rights and its influence on law in the UK and examines the Human Rights Act 1998.
Learn moreHuman rights and lawLevel: 1 Introductory
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Exploring sport coaching and psychology
This free course, Exploring sport coaching and psychology, investigates how scientific and management ideas contribute to success while also taking you on a journey through unique sporting case studies and insights that will change how you view and study sport. You will consider how the mind, the body, the environment and training techniques all contribute to optimum fitness.
Learn moreExploring sport coaching and psychologyLevel: 1 Introductory
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Forensic psychology
In this free course, Forensic psychology, you will discover how psychology can help obtain evidence from eyewitnesses in police investigations and prevent miscarriages of justice.
Learn moreForensic psychologyLevel: 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 have evolved. Key scientific approaches to studying autism are explained and illustrated, alongside substantial use of different personal perspectives. The course culminates with key topical issues such as autism in adulthood, and missed diagnosis in women. The course is suitable for all who need a clear, authoritative overview, and does not require prior knowledge of science or social science. It uses text, images and audio-visual media.
Learn moreUnderstanding autismLevel: 1 Introductory
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Understanding antibiotic resistance
Antibiotic resistance is a serious threat, compromising our ability to treat infections and increasing the risk of routine surgery. Resistant infections are increasing due to overuse of antibiotics and this has resulted in the emergence of 'superbugs' (bacteria resistant to multiple antibiotics). This free course, Understanding antibiotic resistance, provides the science background underlying antibiotic resistance. It will cover the following questions. What are antibiotics? Why do we need them? How do they work? What is antibiotic resistance? Why is it a problem? What can we do about it?
Learn moreUnderstanding antibiotic resistanceLevel: 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 have developed from ancient methods, and how scientists ensure that products are safe to drink. The course also looks at the biological effects of alcohol, and how it affects the human body.
Learn moreThe science of alcoholLevel: 1 Introductory
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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.
Learn moreThe science of nutrition and healthy eatingLevel: 1 Introductory
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Understanding mental capacity
This free course, Understanding mental capacity, covers the principles and criteria underpinning the assessment of mental capacity and decision making in the UK.
Learn moreUnderstanding mental capacityLevel: 1 Introductory
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