Free courses

Produced by The Open University, a world leader in open and distance learning, all OpenLearn courses are free to study. We offer nearly 1000 free courses across 9 different subject areas. Our courses are available to start right away.

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Grid List Results: 199 items
Prices, location and spread free course icon level 1: introductory icon

Science, Maths & Technology

Prices, location and spread

The free course, Prices, location and spread, explores aspects of the question Are people getting better or worse off? It covers statistical measures characterising the location of a batch of data (the median and the mean), and looks further at weighted means and at the interquartile range as a measure of spread (variability). Boxplots and ...

Free course
18 hrs
Earthquakes free course icon level 1: introductory icon

Science, Maths & Technology

Earthquakes

Earthquakes shake the ground surface, can cause buildings to collapse, disrupt transport and services, and can cause fires. They can trigger landslides and tsunami in short, earthquakes can be very destructive. In this free course, Earthquakes, you will look at why, where and what happens when they occur and also at how earthquakes are assessed...

Free course
8 hrs
Teaching mathematics free course icon level 2: intermediate icon Badge icon

Education & Development

Teaching mathematics

This free course, Teaching mathematics, has been designed for non-specialist mathematics teachers of 8 to 14 year olds, teaching assistants, home schoolers and parents and draws on the established provision of mathematics education at the Open University. It can also be used as Continuing Professional Development by individuals or groups ...

Free course
24 hrs
Modelling and estimation free course icon level 2: intermediate icon

Science, Maths & Technology

Modelling and estimation

This free course is concerned with modelling and estimation and looks in particular at the binomial distribution. Section 1 starts by defining probability, introduces relevant notation and briefly discusses basic properties of probabilities. The section concludes by considering some of the general features of and ideas about modelling discrete ...

Free course
16 hrs
Minerals and the crystalline state free course icon level 2: intermediate icon

Science, Maths & Technology

Minerals and the crystalline state

Rocks are made of minerals and, as minerals are natural crystals, the geological world is mostly a crystalline world. This free course, Minerals and the crystalline state, introduces the study of minerals and crystal structures, using online text and interactive activities, including questions and answers, video clips, slidecasts and a Digital Kit.

Free course
10 hrs
What are waves? free course icon level 1: introductory icon

Science, Maths & Technology

What are waves?

This free course, What are waves? explains what waves are. It describes different types of wave as well as their properties. You can listen to the song of a humpback whale and learn about the process of echolocation which is used by dolphins to locate their food. You will also conduct your own online research into how bats use echolocation to ...

Free course
3 hrs
Geological processes in the British Isles free course icon level 2: intermediate icon

Science, Maths & Technology

Geological processes in the British Isles

The landscape of the British Isles has undergone dramatic changes during the history of the Earth, from shallow sea to desert to the familiar terrain of the 21st century. In this free course, Geological processes in the British Isles, you will explore the processes that have shaped the British landscape over time, gaining insight into the ...

Free course
9 hrs
Starting with maths: Patterns and formulas free course icon level 1: introductory icon

Science, Maths & Technology

Starting with maths: Patterns and formulas

Patterns occur everywhere in art, nature, science and especially mathematics. Being able to recognise, describe and use these patterns is an important skill that helps you to tackle a wide variety of different problems. This free course, Starting with maths: Patterns and formulas, explores some of these patterns, from ancient number patterns ...

Free course
5 hrs
Everyday maths 1 free course icon

Science, Maths & Technology

Everyday maths 1

This free course, Everyday maths 1, is designed to bring your learning to life, inspiring you to improve your current maths skills or helping you to remember any areas that you may have forgotten. Working through the examples and interactive activities in this course will help you to, among other things, run a household or make progress in your ...

Free course
48 hrs
Using a scientific calculator free course icon level 1: introductory icon

Science, Maths & Technology

Using a scientific calculator

Do you have a Casio fx-83 ES scientific calculator (or a compatible model) and want to learn how to use it? This free course, Using a scientific calculator, will help you to understand how to use the different facilities and functions and discover what a powerful tool this calculator can be!

Free course
10 hrs
Point estimation free course icon level 2: intermediate icon

Science, Maths & Technology

Point estimation

This free course looks at point estimation, that is, the estimation of the value of the parameter of a statistical model by a single number, a point estimate for the parameter. Section 1 develops some aspects of maximum likelihood estimation. In particular, you will find out how to obtain the maximum likelihood estimator of an unknown parameter,...

Free course
10 hrs
Migration free course icon level 2: intermediate icon

Science, Maths & Technology

Migration

Migration is a free course looking at the migrations of animals, with special reference to birds, and also introducing the themes of movement, selection and homeostasis.

Free course
8 hrs