All content

Hundreds of educational interactives, games, quizzes, videos and podcasts, plus 1000s of articles written by academic experts and guest contributors.

Grid List Results: 1074 items
Navigating Black Irish identity in the music of Phil Lynott article icon

Health, Sports & Psychology

Navigating Black Irish identity in the music of Phil Lynott

Lauren O’Hagan explores the music of Phil Lynott and how his lyrics helped him make sense of his dual identity as Black and Irish.

Article
5 mins
Introduction to music theory 2: pitch and notation free course icon level 1: introductory icon

History & The Arts

Introduction to music theory 2: pitch and notation

In this free course, you will explore the concept of musical pitch by working with examples of folk, popular, and classical music from several world traditions. You will learn how pitch is represented using staff notation and other forms of illustration. You will also practise reading and writing pitch using staff notation, and learn to perform ...

Free course
8 hrs
Banning the bomb: a global history of activism against nuclear weapons free course icon level 1: introductory icon

History & The Arts

Banning the bomb: a global history of activism against nuclear weapons

In this free course you will learn about the global anti-nuclear movement that has worked for decades to prevent the use of nuclear weapons, with the ultimate aim of abolishing them altogether. You will see how opposition to nuclear weapons has been an important cause on every continent. Beginning in 1945, this course will equip you with ...

Free course
6 hrs
Understanding the role of art historians in a changing world video icon

History & The Arts

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 ...

Video
10 mins
Quiz: Which Brontë sister wrote it? activity icon

History & The Arts

Quiz: Which Brontë sister wrote it?

Charlotte, Emily and Anne Brontë had very different writing styles but can you tell their writing apart from the other?

Activity
10 mins
Etifeddiaeth melin draed carchardai oes Fictoria video icon

History & The Arts

Etifeddiaeth melin draed carchardai oes Fictoria

Mae'r Athro Rosalind Crone yn archwilio hanes tywyll y felin draed gosbol ac yn gofyn pa wersi y gallwn eu dysgu ar gyfer carchardai heddiw.

Video
8 mins
The legacy of the Victorian prison treadmill video icon

History & The Arts

The legacy of the Victorian prison treadmill

Professor Rosalind Crone examines the dark history of the penal treadmill and asks what lessons we can learn for prisons today.

Video
8 mins
How does the media impact politics? article icon

Society, Politics & Law

How does the media impact politics?

What is the media's relationship to politics and society? This short film explores the link between media and politics in more detail.

Article
5 mins
England’s Historic Battlefields: the Wars of the Roses video icon

History & The Arts

England’s Historic Battlefields: the Wars of the Roses

We cannot be sure exactly where some of the battles of the Wars of the Roses took place – so how are they identified, preserved and remembered? This article and associated film finds out.

Video
10 mins
Introducing music research free course icon level 3: advanced icon

History & The Arts

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 ...

Free course
12 hrs
Crime fiction: past, present and future – a discussion between Bill Alder and Simon Brett OBE video icon

Health, Sports & Psychology

Crime fiction: past, present and future – a discussion between Bill Alder and Simon Brett OBE

Crime fiction is the most popular literary genre in Europe today. Watch a discussion between The Open University’s Bill Alder and distinguished crime fiction author Simon Brett OBE on the past, present and future of crime fiction.

Video
30 mins
Crime fiction article icon

Languages

Crime fiction

Explore the world of crime fiction with The Open University, a world leader in distance learning. Discover free courses, articles, video and audio resources, and interactive activities, free to study and available to start right away.

Article
5 mins