You've been told to not socialise indoors, in an attempt to reduce the spread of COVID-19, but the weather is rubbish. What can you do instead? From writing a novel to stargazing, we've got plenty of things for you to take up while you're isolating. Take a look at the FREE tools and courses below and let's come out of this with more knowledge than ever!
Find out more about The Open University's Open Degree qualifications.
Get writing
Have you been itching to get your first novel started and haven't known where to begin? Well we know where - here! Start with Ten top tips for writing a novel. Then delve into the resources below:
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Start writing fiction: characters and stories
Learn more to access more details of Start writing fiction: characters and storiesStart writing fiction is a free course that helps you to get started with your own fiction writing, focusing on the central skill of creating characters.
Level: 1 Introductory
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Writing what you know
Learn more to access more details of Writing what you knowDo you want to improve your descriptive writing? This free course, Writing what you know, will help you to develop your perception of the world about you and enable you to see the familiar things in everyday life in a new light. You will also learn how authors use their own personal histories to form the basis of their work.
Level: 1 Introductory
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Creative writing and critical reading
Learn more to access more details of Creative writing and critical readingThis free course, Creative writing and critical reading, explores the importance of reading as part of a creative writer’s development at the postgraduate level. You will gain inspiration and ideas from examining other writers’ methods, as well as enhancing your critical reading skills. Examples will cover the genres of fiction, creative ...
Level: 3 Advanced
So you've written your novel, what now?
Find out how The Open University could help you on your literary adventure.
Learn a language
We may not be able to travel far at present but that doesn't stop us from going on a virtual language tour! Where in the world are you headed?
- Hafan: Exploring Welsh Language and Culture
- Beginners' Spanish: Food and Drink
- Intermediate German: The World of Work
- Beginners' Italian: Food and Drink
- Beginners' French: A Trip to Avignon
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Test your language skills: Spanish, French, Italian and German
How are your language skills? Heading off on a trip to Spain, France, Italy or Germany and want to know how you'd fare getting by? Find out with our virtual, interactive adventures and test your language skills on the way!
Take part now
to access more details of Test your language skills: Spanish, French, Italian and German
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How to learn a language
Learn about the concepts and skills required to learn languages successfully. This free course, How to learn a language, introduces the skills and strategies for language learning, setting realistic goals when learning languages and keeping motivated, practise speaking skills and vocabulary learning strategies. It will enable you to evaluate ...
Learn more
to access more details of How to learn a language
Level: 1 Introductory
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Intermediate Spanish: A trip across Latin America
In this free course you will embark on a journey off the
beaten track, to see the natural wonders of Latin America and some of its
people. Intermediate Spanish: A trip
across Latin America invites you to discover
how people in South and Central America have adapted to the different environments
which have created the conditions in which ...
Learn more
to access more details of Intermediate Spanish: A trip across Latin America
Level: 2 Intermediate
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Test your language skills: Spanish, French, Italian and German
Take part now to access more details of Test your language skills: Spanish, French, Italian and GermanHow are your language skills? Heading off on a trip to Spain, France, Italy or Germany and want to know how you'd fare getting by? Find out with our virtual, interactive adventures and test your language skills on the way!
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How to learn a language
Learn more to access more details of How to learn a languageLearn about the concepts and skills required to learn languages successfully. This free course, How to learn a language, introduces the skills and strategies for language learning, setting realistic goals when learning languages and keeping motivated, practise speaking skills and vocabulary learning strategies. It will enable you to evaluate ...
Level: 1 Introductory
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Intermediate Spanish: A trip across Latin America
Learn more to access more details of Intermediate Spanish: A trip across Latin AmericaIn this free course you will embark on a journey off the beaten track, to see the natural wonders of Latin America and some of its people. Intermediate Spanish: A trip across Latin America invites you to discover how people in South and Central America have adapted to the different environments which have created the conditions in which ...
Level: 2 Intermediate
Explore how you can dig a little deeper in languages with The OU.
Succeed in the workplace
Perhaps this time has made you revaluate your working life? Check out our badged course, and if you are returning to a in Science, Technology, Engineering or Maths (STEM), feast your eyes on our interactive toolkit. You can also check out our full collection of badged open courses on employability.
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Succeed in the workplace
Do you want to change jobs, are you just starting in the job market or may be returning after a break? If so, then this free course, Succeed in the workplace, is for you. It will help you explore career opportunities. You will also gain the skills to write strong CVs and application forms, and to handle different types of interviews. By the end ...
Learn more
to access more details of Succeed in the workplace
Level: 1 Introductory
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Returning to STEM
This free badged course, Returning to STEM, offers useful skills and solutions to help you get back into a career in science, technology, engineering or mathematics (STEM).
Learn more
to access more details of Returning to STEM
Level: 3 Advanced
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Succeed in the workplace
Learn more to access more details of Succeed in the workplaceDo you want to change jobs, are you just starting in the job market or may be returning after a break? If so, then this free course, Succeed in the workplace, is for you. It will help you explore career opportunities. You will also gain the skills to write strong CVs and application forms, and to handle different types of interviews. By the end ...
Level: 1 Introductory
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Returning to STEM
Learn more to access more details of Returning to STEMThis free badged course, Returning to STEM, offers useful skills and solutions to help you get back into a career in science, technology, engineering or mathematics (STEM).
Level: 3 Advanced
Choose health
Quarantine is bound to have an impact on our physical and mental health. Maybe you'd like to use this as an opportunity to go on health kick, or maybe you want to concentrate on your mental health and wellbeing instead - we've got you covered with our free courses and articles.
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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...
Learn more
to access more details of The science of alcohol
Level: 1 Introductory
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Exploring health: is your lifestyle really to blame?
This free course, Exploring health: is your lifestyle really to blame?, explores the extent to which a person's 'lifestyle' impacts on their health and wellbeing. It also examines how non-lifestyle related factors – in particular social, economic,
cultural and political dimensions – influence a person's health.
Learn more
to access more details of Exploring health: is your lifestyle really to blame?
Level: 2 Intermediate
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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 ...
Learn more
to access more details of The science of nutrition and healthy eating
Level: 1 Introductory
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Five reasons why you should care about mindfulness
Mindfulness is about focusing on the present moment, whilst at the same time accepting your feelings, thoughts, and body’s sensations. But why does mindfulness matter?
Read now
to access more details of Five reasons why you should care about mindfulness
Level: 1 Introductory
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Exercise and mental health
Each year thousands of pounds are spent on medications to treat conditions such as anxiety and depression. These medications often have negative side effects. Exercise is an alternative treatment that is low cost and has few side effects. In this free course, Exercise and mental health, we will look at the links between exercise and improved ...
Learn more
to access more details of Exercise and mental health
Level: 2 Intermediate
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Exploring issues in women's health
This free course, Exploring issues in women's health, will introduce social model approaches to health and wellbeing, which take as their starting point not the scientific context of the body, but the social context in which women live. The focus
is on women and the impact of social and cultural factors on women's health. The course touches...
Learn more
to access more details of Exploring issues in women's health
Level: 2 Intermediate
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The science of alcohol
Learn more to access more details of The science of alcoholAlcohol 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...
Level: 1 Introductory
-
Exploring health: is your lifestyle really to blame?
Learn more to access more details of Exploring health: is your lifestyle really to blame?This free course, Exploring health: is your lifestyle really to blame?, explores the extent to which a person's 'lifestyle' impacts on their health and wellbeing. It also examines how non-lifestyle related factors – in particular social, economic, cultural and political dimensions – influence a person's health.
Level: 2 Intermediate
-
The science of nutrition and healthy eating
Learn more to access more details of The science of nutrition and healthy eatingThis 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 ...
Level: 1 Introductory
-
Five reasons why you should care about mindfulness
Read now to access more details of Five reasons why you should care about mindfulnessMindfulness is about focusing on the present moment, whilst at the same time accepting your feelings, thoughts, and body’s sensations. But why does mindfulness matter?
Level: 1 Introductory
-
Exercise and mental health
Learn more to access more details of Exercise and mental healthEach year thousands of pounds are spent on medications to treat conditions such as anxiety and depression. These medications often have negative side effects. Exercise is an alternative treatment that is low cost and has few side effects. In this free course, Exercise and mental health, we will look at the links between exercise and improved ...
Level: 2 Intermediate
-
Exploring issues in women's health
Learn more to access more details of Exploring issues in women's healthThis free course, Exploring issues in women's health, will introduce social model approaches to health and wellbeing, which take as their starting point not the scientific context of the body, but the social context in which women live. The focus is on women and the impact of social and cultural factors on women's health. The course touches...
Level: 2 Intermediate
- Make sure you check out our Mind, Body, Media hub for a collection of free resources from Open University academics to ensure the wellbeing of you and your family.
You can also get healthy by taking up more exercise; it doesn't have to be strenuous - a bit of a stretch every day or some gentle yoga. Take a look at the boxes below for some inspiration and learn about the importance of recovery and rest before and after exercise.
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Recovery strategies in sport and exercise
The ability to recover quickly from an intensive training session or match can be extremely advantageous to sports performers. Sport and fitness participants are increasingly using strategies such as ice baths and compression clothing to enhance their recovery from intensive exercise, but how effective are these strategies? Do they really speed ...
Learn more
to access more details of Recovery strategies in sport and exercise
Level: 2 Intermediate
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Training for endurance in sport and fitness
In this free course you will explore an important aspect of strength and conditioning which refers to the physical preparation of athletes: endurance. You will look at the physiological factors that underpin endurance and assess how endurance can be developed
relative to performance in a range of sports.
Learn more
to access more details of Training for endurance in sport and fitness
Level: 2 Intermediate
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Recovery strategies in sport and exercise
Learn more to access more details of Recovery strategies in sport and exerciseThe ability to recover quickly from an intensive training session or match can be extremely advantageous to sports performers. Sport and fitness participants are increasingly using strategies such as ice baths and compression clothing to enhance their recovery from intensive exercise, but how effective are these strategies? Do they really speed ...
Level: 2 Intermediate
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Training for endurance in sport and fitness
Learn more to access more details of Training for endurance in sport and fitnessIn this free course you will explore an important aspect of strength and conditioning which refers to the physical preparation of athletes: endurance. You will look at the physiological factors that underpin endurance and assess how endurance can be developed relative to performance in a range of sports.
Level: 2 Intermediate
Look at the stars!
You might be confined to a small living space, so why not look to our enormous universe and indulge in some amateur astronomy? These courses will help you figure out what to do:
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Astronomy with an online telescope
This free course shows you how to navigate the night sky, and introduces
the wide variety of objects it contains. You will develop a hands-on
understanding of telescopic observations using the Open University’s own
robotic telescope facility COAST sited on the island of Tenerife.
Supported by your own measurements we illustrate how stars...
Learn more
to access more details of Astronomy with an online telescope
Level: 1 Introductory
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In the night sky: Orion
In this free course, In the night sky: Orion, you will explore the night sky, discover how stars formed and find out about exoplanets, all through the constellation of Orion.
Learn more
to access more details of In the night sky: Orion
Level: 1 Introductory
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Galaxies, stars and planets
This free course, Galaxies, stars and planets, is a general introduction, including scale of the universe from the very large to the very small; orbits and gravity; the Solar System; the Sun and other stars; galaxies and the composition of astronomical objects.
Learn more
to access more details of Galaxies, stars and planets
Level: 1 Introductory
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Astronomy with an online telescope
Learn more to access more details of Astronomy with an online telescopeThis free course shows you how to navigate the night sky, and introduces the wide variety of objects it contains. You will develop a hands-on understanding of telescopic observations using the Open University’s own robotic telescope facility COAST sited on the island of Tenerife. Supported by your own measurements we illustrate how stars...
Level: 1 Introductory
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In the night sky: Orion
Learn more to access more details of In the night sky: OrionIn this free course, In the night sky: Orion, you will explore the night sky, discover how stars formed and find out about exoplanets, all through the constellation of Orion.
Level: 1 Introductory
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Galaxies, stars and planets
Learn more to access more details of Galaxies, stars and planetsThis free course, Galaxies, stars and planets, is a general introduction, including scale of the universe from the very large to the very small; orbits and gravity; the Solar System; the Sun and other stars; galaxies and the composition of astronomical objects.
Level: 1 Introductory
Get motivated!
Whether you want to mentally motivate yourself for working from home or you've set yourself a squat challenge, we have something to give you that oomph:
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Motivation and factors affecting motivation
Learn more to access more details of Motivation and factors affecting motivationThis free course explores the term 'motivation' and factors affecting motivation. This includes looking at the most influential theories of motivation that contribute to understanding the causes of motivation. The motivation of sports people and people working in sport and fitness environments are used to help understand the theories presented.
Level: 1 Introductory
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Want to achieve your goal? Try our Personal Best tool
Take part now to access more details of Want to achieve your goal? Try our Personal Best toolHave you got a goal? Whether it is to exercise more, lose a few pounds, or write a novel, our Personal Best App will help you get there.
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Chasing Perfection: How do athletes become champions?
Watch now to access more details of Chasing Perfection: How do athletes become champions?In this collection of eight videos sporting legends including Michael Johnson, AP McCoy, Dame Sarah Storey and more outline the techniques used to take gold several times.
Level: 1 Introductory
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