Online courses directory (801)

This free online course Introduction to Visual Basic will present you with the skills and knowledge allowing you to successfully write code using the visual basics program. The course begins by introducing you to Visual Studio and takes a step-by-step approach to ensure you create your first visual basic program with ease.<br /><br />You will learn about the correct way to install visual basic to get the most out of your program. You will also learn about the key features of visual basics that you will use to create functioning applications.<br /><br />The course will then present you with information to help you begin writing your code. You will study about code files, solutions, data types, variables, and other functions of visual basics that are necessary to know in order to successfully create an application for your end users. The course will complete by informing you about the If, Then, and Else statements, and how each statement can be used in your code to create different functions for the end user.<br /><br />This Alison course is video-based which will be beneficial to you in order for you to see first-hand how visual basic works and how to write your own code. <br />

The free online course Public Relations: Optimize Systems Theory and Stakeholder Management Practices guides you in a step-by-step manner through the organizational principles, stakeholder prioritization, and research practices of modern public relations. <br /><br />This course begins by walking you through the organizational theory surrounding public relations. In particular this free course will look at organizational factors and structures, two areas vital in helping you to achieve excellent PR. The course also helps you to explore two of the main approaches used in PR today; the Systems Theory Approach, and the Stakeholder Management Approach.<br /><br />You will be introduced to methods that will help you to identify and prioritize stakeholders and publics, as well as helping you learn how to manage different stakeholders. To help you understand more about stakeholders and publics the Situational Theory of Publics, and the Contingency Approach to PR Strategy will also be discussed in detail. Finally, you will be walked through a case study that is aimed at helping you understand the real life applications and benefits of effective stakeholder management. <br /><br />You will learn about the importance of research in public relations, and its impact on your PR strategy. To do so you will explore the importance, purpose and forms of research. You will then build on this knowledge by learning about the different types of research.<br /><br />This free online course will be of great interest to you if you work in the area of PR and communications, and would like to learn more about effective PR. It will also be of interest to learners who would like to learn more about the organizational and research theory that drives PR, while simultaneously learning how to manage the stakeholders in your organization. <br /><br />This free Public Relations course will also be of interest to you if you would like to learn more about the optimization of PR within the modern business environment.

In the free online course Building A Successful E-Business learn how using computer and internet technology can facilitate a business of any size to successfully build an online e-business. The many benefits of conducting e-business are explained include expanding a business’s customer base, lowering costs and competing with other businesses. <br /><br />The course begins by introducing you to the practice of e-business. You will learn about different forms of e-business and when they are used. You will learn how to assess a business’s needs and indicate if a business is ready for e-business. You will learn different ways in which conducting e-business can be beneficial. <br /><br />Next, you will learn about the variety of issues that need to be addressed once a company has decided to conduct e-business. You will be introduced to a range of services that are available for businesses in order to deal with these issues and conduct e-business successfully. You will learn the importance of creating a web presence for your business and the steps and options involved in doing so. <br /><br />Finally, you will be introduced to the practices of online marketing and e-commerce. You will learn about different forms of online advertising and why a business should consider employing them. You will learn about the importance of using social media to market your business to current and potential customers in the modern world. You will learn about all the areas that need to be considered when integrating your web system with your business. You will learn about a variety of options available to a business when conducting e-commerce.<br /><br />This free course will be of great interest to business professionals in small-to-medium businesses, entrepreneurs, and anyone who wants to start using computer and internet technology to conduct business and reach customers in order to stay up-to-date in the modern digital world. <br />

This free online course Communication Skills - Group Work and Networking will help you to understand the most effective way to work in a group, including theories on group dynamics. The course will look at how you deal with conflict, and how you network. <br /><br />First, you will be introduced to the basics of building and maintaining relationships. Theories surrounding group dynamics will be examined in detail, including group structures and different types of group. You will also look at the different factors which can affect groups. <br /><br />You will also examine the important aspects of conflicts, including conflicts within groups. You will look at verbal and nonverbal communication strategies, as well as looking at conflict handling styles. Networking is a vital part of today’s society, and this course will walk you through networking in relation to social media. <br /><br />This course will be of interest to professionals who are required to communicate as part of their job, either to customers or colleagues. It will also be of interest to anyone who is hoping to enhance their daily lives through improving their group and networking skills.

The free online course Diploma in Physical Fitness provides you with the knowledge and skills to develop and maintain your physical fitness and core strength, and remain injury-free while doing so. The course begins by introducing you to the basics of exercise physiology – the branch of science which studies how the body responds and adapts to physical exercise. You will then study the cardiovascular system, examining how it functions and supplies oxygen-rich blood to the active skeletal muscles during exercise. The course then introduces you to three forms of physical activity that will help you develop physical fitness and core strength: running, swimming and strength training. You will gain an understanding of how to use each form of exercise to develop overall strength and fitness. You will also learn about precautions to take in order to remain injury free while exercising. You will examine the importance of warming up, stretching, using the correct equipment and proper technique. The course then introduces three other forms of physical activity that can be used to develop muscular strength, speed and power: flexibility techniques, calisthenics and plyometrics. After separately studying each form of physical activity, you gain an understanding of the effect that each can have on the body. You will then examine sample exercises and stretches, helping you to develop a program to improve strength, flexibility and fitness using various stretches, calisthenics and plyometrics. The course then concludes by covering how to train safely in extreme environments and avoid injury. You will learn about training techniques for three different environments: extreme heat, extreme cold and high altitude. You will learn the necessary precautions that must be taken in order to ensure that you train safely in each environment. Finally, you will examine the most common injuries experienced by those who engage in regular physical activity and learn how to identify, prevent and treat them. This free diploma course will be of great interest to professionals who work in the health and fitness industry, individuals who may be interested in pursuing a career in the health and fitness, or any individual who would like to improve their physical fitness and strength.

In this free online course Python Programming - Working with Lists and Files you will learn about creating and modifying lists, creating files and saving data to those files. You will also learn about reading data form files along with what csv files are and getting data from them.<br /><br />The course begins by introducing you to lists. You will learn about creating lists, both empty lists and lists with values in them. You will learn about how to add data to your lists, updating and deleting items on your list, and searching through your lists.<br /><br />Next, you will learn how to create a file with your code, and how to write data to your file. You will learn how to close the file after your code is finished using it. You will also learn what csv files are, and the process of opening and reading data from files. You will learn about importing the csv library to help with reading data from csv files, and about taking the data from your csv file and putting it in a list.<br /><br />This free Alison course will be of great interest to those learners who wish to get started in programming and improve their ability to write programs using the Python programming language.<br /><br />Perquisites: Your will need to have completed the previous courses on programming with Python: 'Programming Concepts with Python', 'Python Programming - Working with Numbers, Dates and Time' and 'Python Programming Working with Complex Decisions and Events'.

In the free online course Software Testing - Testing Levels and Object-Oriented Program Testing you will be introduced to testing levels above unit testing, to system testing and its categories and types, and to testing Object-Orientated programs (OO programs) and how it differs from testing procedural programs.<br /><br />The course begins by introducing you to testing levels above unit testing, starting with integration testing. The course describes different approaches for integration testing and how they work. You will learn about system testing and what its objective is, and about the different types of system performance testing. You will also learn about performance tests, and about regression testing and when it is used.<br /><br />Next, you will be introduced to testing Object-Orientated programs. You will learn how OO programming was supposed to make testing easier, and why some testing methods for procedural programs will not work with OO programs. The course describes features of OO programming such as inheritance and polymorphism, and why you need to test your program differently using them. You will also learn about different integration testing strategies for testing your OO programs.<br /><br />This free Alison course will be of great interest to programmers who would like to learn more about testing levels, and testing strategies for object-orientated programs. <br />

This free online course Introduction to Occupational Hygiene presents you with the history of occupational hygiene and the importance of understanding how to control health risks. The increase in industrial activity in developing countries means that there are more people exposed worldwide and technological advancements present new hazards in the workplace. This course introduces you to the skills and knowledge necessary to become aware of the health risks surrounding your workplace environment.<br /><br />The course begins by explaining occupational hygiene. You will learn about major milestones that occurred in the history of occupational hygiene and the importance of occupational hygiene. The course then introduces you to human physiology and industrial diseases. You will study different organs of the body and how each can be affected by chemical and physical hazards.<br /><br />The course will then introduce you to the fundamentals of toxicology and hazardous substances. In this section, you will learn about how different processes that occur in the workplace can contribute to health issues. You will also learn how to gather information to assess health risks in the workplace.<br /><br />This course will be of great interest to professionals working in occupational hygiene, health and safety, and workplace safety. It will also be of interest to all learners who are interested in a career in occupational hygiene or related areas.<br />

The free online course Social Media Strategy for Small Businesses introduces you to the key techniques for integrating social media platforms into your e-commerce website to drive customer awareness of your brand and increase sales.<br /><br />The course begins by describing the need for a dynamic web presence. You will learn about the different elements of a dynamic website and the different steps of research and planning for a dynamic website. You will be introduced to the different areas to consider when creating a website and learn how to identify key interactive elements that can be added to a website. <br /><br />Next you will learn about the key concepts relevant to social media and the considerations that need to be made for engaging with social media. You will learn about the different types of social media and their benefits and the different ways for preparing and sharing social media content. You will learn how to meaningfully measure social media engagement using platforms such as Twitter, Facebook, blogs, LinkedIn, YouTube and their useful features.<br /><br />The free course will be of great interest to professionals working in the areas of marketing, social media and branding. It will also be of interest to learners who would like to learn more about how effective social media can drive e-commerce.

The free online course Media Studies - Print and Publishing Media guides you through the basic types of print media and discusses the pros and cons of each media type. The course also looks at the challenges facing each type of media, and the impact which the emergence of the internet has had upon them. <br /><br />This course begins by developing an understanding of books. In particular you will look at the history of books, before examining their impact on culture. You will also look at the difference between different book formats, and publishing trends. Finally, you will look at the impact which technology has had upon books<br /><br />Next, you will be introduced to newspapers, and their development. In order to achieve this, you will look at their history, and journalistic styles which have been popular. You will also gain insight into the control which newspapers have over your access to information, and their impact upon popular culture. You will also examine popular trends and online journalism. <br /><br />Finally, you will examine the place which magazines hold within history. You will examine their impact on culture and access to information, while also learning about major publications. The information provided regarding the specialization of magazines and the impact of the internet will help you to better understand today’s magazine industry.<br /><br />This free online course will be of great interest to professionals working in the areas of media or culture, and would like to learn more about the field. It will also be of interest to learners would like to learn more about the print media and journalism. <br />

The free online course Diploma in Sustainable Business provides a broad overview of the core concepts of sustainability. It highlights some of the benefits, opportunities and challenges associated with sustainable business practices. It also discusses many real-world business examples of sustainability in action. <br /><br />The course begins by introducing you to the concept of sustainability and sustainable business and explaining why running a sustainable business is a popular and beneficial venture. You will learn about the Triple Bottom Line; a business’s contribution to social justice, environmental quality, and economic prosperity and how it is addressed by the sustainable business. You will learn the science behind business sustainability. You will learn how sustainability involves having an understanding of the relationship between business, humanity, and nature. You will also learn about Earth’s history and ecology and the importance of healthy ecosystems to human society. You will learn why a sustainable business should consider the impact of their actions on the earth’s key resources. <br /><br />Next, you will be introduced to the concept of accountability in business and learn why accountability is essential in running a sustainable business. You will learn how businesses use sustainability reporting in order to communicate and be accountable for their actions. You will learn about how sustainable businesses deal with human resource issues. You will learn about the relationship between finance and running a sustainable business. <br /><br />The course continues by introducing you to the process of entrepreneurship and how entrepreneurs can run sustainable businesses whilst undertaking sustainable practices. You will learn the importance of innovation when running a sustainable business. You will learn about the sustainable fuelling company Simply Green Biofuels and follow its journey from the beginning, learning about challenges it faced and success it achieved. Through this you will gain a stronger understanding how sustainability can be linked with entrepreneurship and how sustainability entrepreneurship can be a successful and worthwhile venture.<br /><br />Finally, you will be introduced to the practice of sustainable business marketing. You will learn that ways in which a business creates a strong sustainability marketing strategy in order to be successful. You will be introduced to the marketing mix and how it can be based on sustainability principles for an effective sustainable marketing approach. You will learn the importance of market segmentation in order to tailor marketing efforts to consumers that are best aligned as potential buyers or customers of a product or service. You will learn about the various market barriers and business risks that need to be considered when marketing sustainable products and services.<br /><br />This free Diploma in Sustainable Business will be of great interest to business professionals, marketers, and eco-entrepreneurs who would like to know what is involved in running a sustainable business and how this can benefit the economy, society, and the environment.

Functions and Calculus is one of the strands of the new Project Maths Course in the Irish curriculum. Functions provides an essential link between Algebra and Number and introduces the students to applications of calculus in the real world. Use of differentiation to find the slope of a tangent to a curve at a specified point is introduced. This is then extended to the study of increasing and decreasing functions. Functions and Differentiation are used in real life to help us understand rates of increase and decrease. For example, students will solve problems involving the maximum speed reached by a car and the highest point reached by a firework or rocket. Finally, the concept of numerical integration is introduced through the use of the ‘Trapezoidal Rule’ to find areas under specific curves. It is an interesting topic that is very accessible to all students.

Functions and Calculus is one of the strands of the new Project Maths Course in the Irish curriculum. Functions provides an essential link between Algebra and Number and introduces the students to applications of calculus in the real world. Use of differentiation to find the slope of a tangent to a curve at a specified point is introduced. This is then extended to the study of increasing and decreasing functions. Functions and Differentiation are used in real life to help us understand rates of increase and decrease. For example, students will solve problems involving the maximum speed reached by a car and the highest point reached by a firework or rocket. Finally, the concept of numerical integration is introduced through the use of the ‘Trapezoidal Rule’ to find areas under specific curves. It is an interesting topic that is very accessible to all students.<br />

Introduction to Supply Chain Management is a free online course that explains what supply chain management is and how it can be a key component in organizational success. Modern businesses and organisations competing in a global business environment require excellence in supply chain management. The course explains how the term supply chain is used to represent all the individual firms, their personnel and the physical infrastructure required to create and transport products to customers. The student will learn how each interconnected member in a supply chain may move materials or information or money in response to customers' demands. This free online course will be of great interest to all professionals who work in the areas of operations management, logistics, procurement and information technology, and to all learners who are interested in developing a career in the area of supply chain management.<br />

Understanding Drainage and Water Distribution Systems is a free online course which is designed for anyone who wants to get a better understanding of the drain, waste, vent, and water distribution systems. Within a building, these systems are installed and maintained by plumbers. A thorough understanding of how they work is, therefore, a crucial requirement of a plumber's job. This free online course - the fourth and the last in the series of plumbing courses – completes the list of introductory courses on plumbing. The first section of this course covers the major components of a drainage system. It also explains the basic drainage fittings and traps that are used by plumbers. The second section of the course discusses the water distribution systems. From outlining the water supply sources for private and municipal systems to explaining the water purification process, this section introduces the learner to how water is sourced and supplied to the public. This course will be of great interest to all professionals who want to understand how drainage and water distribution systems work. It will also be of interest to all learners who have completed the previous courses on plumbing, and would like to complete the series in order to gain a comprehensive understanding of a modern-day plumber's job. <br />

Introduction to Job Search Skills is a free online course which is designed for anyone who is beginning or is actively involved in a job search. The course covers different scenarios from students looking for internships or entering the workforce for the first time, to experienced professionals re-entering the workforce, changing industry/role or relocating. This course breaks down each scenario and describes what you should do to ensure that you secure your ideal job. You will also be introduced to the Six Step Method which is a structure with six steps anyone can use to identify the types of jobs they’d like, position themselves for these jobs, figure out what employers are looking for, develop relationships with prospective employers, stay connected throughout the decision-making process and fix any problems that might arise, and complete their search. This course will be of great interest to anyone who is actively looking for employment or considering a career change. It will also be of great interest to all professionals in the areas of career coaching and career guidance counselling.<br />

In this free online Diploma in Basic Chinese Language Studies course you will learn the basics of written and spoken Mandarin Chinese. Modern China is playing an increasingly influential role in the world's political, financial and economic spheres, and with Mandarin Chinese being spoken by over one billion people within China and the Chinese diaspora it makes learning Chinese, even the basics, increasingly important. The course starts with a brief overview of the language, its dialects and a brief look at pronunciation through the use of Pinyin. You will also learn about the formation of the written Chinese characters and the formation of words. For learners whose native languages use the Roman or Latin alphabets it is critical that you become familiar with Pinyin which is used to transcribe Chinese sounds into the Roman or Latin alphabets you are accustomed to. You will learn how to greet people and introduce yourself, say what you do and where you are from. You will also learn how to talk about your family and friends as well as you hobbies and interests. Practicalities such as using public transport and asking directions are covered along with ordering food in a café or restaurant, asking for information when shopping and checking into and out of a hotel. Words and phrases are presented via audio, Chinese script, Pinyin and English to facilitate learning. The content is also broken down into key terms and vocabulary. The video clips are accompanied by a transcript and translation with key cultural and grammatical points being highlighted and explained. This free online Diploma in Basic Chinese Language Studies course will be of great interest to anybody wanting to travel to China, either as a tourist or in a professional capacity, business people who have regular contact with Chinese colleagues and for any learner who has an interest in speaking or reading Chinese.<br />

Human Nutrition - Introduction to Macronutrients is a free online course providing an in-depth look into the three energy-yielding macronutrients - carbohydrates, proteins and lipids. Our bodies require us to consume macronutrients on a daily basis to maintain numerous bodily functions such as growth and providing energy to carry out activities. In this free course, the learner will be introduced to the three energy-yielding macronutrients carbohydrates, proteins and lipids. The course covers the nature and roles of these primary macronutrients from the various types of carbohydrates to the importance and functions of lipids. This free course will be of great interest to all learners who want to understand and gain knowledge on macronutrients or any professional working in the areas of healthcare and health promotion and who would like to learn more about macronutrients. <br />

The Diploma in Plumbing Studies is a free online course which is designed for anyone who wants to learn about modern-day plumbing. Plumbers are responsible for installing safe and efficient plumbing systems, which reduces the spread of diseases and improves sanitation. In order to do this, a sound understanding of plumbing pipes, tools, and materials; knowledge of the trade and the current practices it promotes is an essential requirement. Divided into two sections, the first section of the course begins with an introduction to plumbing, where a brief history of plumbing from the ancient to the modern times is discussed. This is followed by topics such as safety practices, hazard communication, plumbing tools, and drawings. The second section of the course looks into the materials that are used to make plumbing pipes and fixtures. It discusses the features and the advantages as well as the disadvantages of using materials such as plastic, cast iron, carbon steel. This section also covers the topics on drainage systems and water distribution systems. This free online Diploma course will be of great interest to professionals who want to learn about plumbing. Learners who are interested in knowing how plumbing systems work and the advancements made in the trade will also benefit from the information provided in the course. <br />

Introduction to Spanish is a free online language course that will take you through the basics of saying hello and goodbye, please and thanks, introducing yourself as well as how to count and use dates. You will also learn about the Spanish alphabet and pronunciation and gain a basic understanding of Spanish grammar and verbs. Additional examples are accessible within the course as well as more information on grammar, verbs and vocabulary. Words and phrases are presented as text, with both Spanish and English visible to aid learning. Audio is also used throughout the course and in the assessment. You will also learn how to type Spanish accented letters on your computer. This free online Spanish language course will be of great interest to anybody wanting to travel to Spain, either as a tourist or for business, business people who have regular contact with Spanish colleagues and for any learner who has an interest in speaking or reading Spanish.<br />