Online courses directory (801)

This free online course Introduction to Bing SEO will help you to gain an insight into how search engines break down and rank webpages. The course will look at the different factors which influence how search engines view your site, and its contents. <br /><br />First, you will be introduced to the basics of search engine optimisation. You will learn about the different terms and factors relevant to the area of SEO. You will be introduced to the importance of keywords, and how they can influence your websites ranking. You will also examine how to establish a list of effective keywords to optimise your websites ranking. <br /><br />Finally, you will look at the influence which content can have upon how your website performs in search engine searches. In particular, you will study how to incorporate keywords into your content. You will also examine SEO techniques which can improve your page’s performance, and techniques which can damage your page’s performance. You will also be introduced to Bing’s Ad Partners. <br /><br />This course will be of interest to anyone who wishes to learn more about search engine optimisation in order to improve their website’s results. It will also be of interest to anyone looking to increase their knowledge of how search results are generated. <br /><br />

This free online course Introduction to Bots will help you to understand the concept of bots and their uses in business. The course will also look at the different types of bots which can be implemented, and the tools that are available to help build them.<br /><br />First, you will be introduced to bots and the reasons for their rising popularity. You will learn how bots can enhance existing websites and apps, and the importance of bots to automating online messaging and conversation services. You will be introduced to the concepts of the Microsoft Bot Framework and LUIS. You will also be walked through the code necessary for the backend of the bots. <br /><br />Finally, you will look at how to effectively create a bot through coding a conversation. You will study how to use the Microsoft Bot Framework, in particular you will look at how to label intents and entities in the Bot Framework. You will also examine the strengths and limitations of bots and their uses.<br /><br />This course will be of interest to anyone who wishes to learn more about the new and upcoming field of bots and bot tools. It will also be of interest to anyone looking to increase their knowledge of how bots can enhance their websites. <br />

Business and travel English language skills are in great demand around the world as more and more businesses and organisations conduct their international business operations through the medium of the English language. In this free online business and travel English language course you will be introduced to conversational vocabulary and dialogues that will help you learn English language skills in the areas of business and travel. You will listen to dialogues about job interviews and how to ask and answer interview questions in English. You will also learn important and useful vocabulary when making business telephone calls. You will learn about the importance of small talk when initiating and forming business relationships and how to differentiate between colloquial and formal English. You will also learn how to reserve a hotel room, book a table in a restaurant and use different modes of transport when travelling. This free online English language course will be of great interest to all business professionals who would like to improve their English language skills in the areas of business and travel, and to all learners who would like to become more confident when communicating in English.<br />

If you are a student wanting to learn C programming, or an adult learner simply researching C programming courses, this free introductory course is for you.<br /><br />The C programming language is one of the most popular and widely used programming languages. It is a general-purpose programming language and there are very few computer systems in existence that are not set up for its use (i.e. where a C compiler does not exist).<br /><br />This C programming tutorial and course introduces you to the basics of programming in C. You will learn how programming languages work with data, what program flow is, and how to use functions, methods and routines. You will also get step-by-step instructions on how to create simple C programs and how to run them all while you learn C programming. <br />

The free online course Introduction to C# Programming presents the basics of programming in C# using the Visual Studio Express from Microsoft. The course begins by showing you how to download and install Visual Studio Express, which is a free software package available from Microsoft, in a step-by-step manner. You will then be guided around and shown the features and functions of the Visual Express Integrated Development Environment (IDE). The .NET Framework is the software framework developed by Microsoft that runs primarily on Microsoft Windows and you will be shown how C# can be used to create .NET applications. You will learn how to correctly format code in C# and how to use the IDE to review C# code for errors. You will learn how programs written for .NET Framework execute in a software environment known as Common Language Runtime (CLR) and how the CLR provides services such as security, memory management, and exception handling. Finally, you will learn how to declare variables and assign values in C#, and how to create branches with the if .. else ... then decision statement and the conditional operator. This free course on C# Programming will be of great interest to all learners who would like to learn more about C# programming and how to use Visual Studio Express for programming software applications.<br />

The free online course Introduction to Caregiving is designed to expand your knowledge and understanding of the skills needed to work in the caregiving profession. As people get older, their abilities to perform the everyday tasks that many of us take for granted diminish. Carers need to be available to provide those individuals with the help and assistance that they require to live as independently as possible. This course will help you develop the fundamental skills used by carers during their day-to-day duties. The course begins by discussing the fundamental roles and responsibilities of a carer. You will learn about the basic legal and ethical issues of providing care and develop an understanding of the importance of confidentiality in the caregiving process. You will then learn about the skills necessary to ensure that you can communicate effectively with all members of the care service team. You will learn how to communicate respectfully with all clients that you may encounter as a carer, including clients who are wheelchair bound, visually impaired and mentally impaired. Finally, you will learn about the job management skills that carers require to perform their duties efficiently and effectively. This free course will be of great interest to any learner considering pursuing a qualification that would allow them to enter the caregiving industry. The course will be of great interest to all professionals working in the caregiving profession and who wish to ensure that that their skills are kept to the highest standard possible. This free course will also be of great interest to any learner considering pursuing a qualification that would allow them to enter the caregiving industry. <br />

Carpentry is an age-old trade yet today there is a still a high demand worldwide for skilled carpenters. Continuously evolving to incorporate newer and improved building materials and tools, the trade offers a carpenter many opportunities for professional growth. A modern-day carpenter's work goes well beyond working on residential projects. Today, the commercial and construction sectors have opened up a whole new area that requires trained and skilled carpenters. This free online course will introduce the learner to the flourishing trade of carpentry. The course explains the different types of building materials, fasteners, adhesives, and tools (hand and power tools) used by carpenters, especially those working in the construction industry. The course also outlines the safety guidelines and procedures, and will introduce the learner to some general terms associated with the trade. This course will be of great interest to construction professionals who want to learn about modern carpentry practices and procedures. It will also be of interest to all learners who would like to develop a career in carpentry. <br />

Cash accounting is a very important basic accounting concept and anybody who works with accounts should have a thorough knowledge and understanding of it. Cash accounting is a method of managing revenue and expenditure to track outgoings and incomings to a business or organisation - receipts are recorded during the period they are received, and the expenses in the period in which they are actually paid. In this free online accounting course, you will be introduced to the practises and procedures of how cash accounting is done with income statements, cash flow statements and balance sheets. You will also learn how balance sheets have a relationship with the income statement that reflects actual revenue earned in a period of time. This accounting course will be of great interest to any professional who is involved with basic accounting practises in a business or organisation and who wants to learn more about cash accounting methods, and to any learner who would like a better knowledge and understanding of how cash transactions are managed within businesses.<br />

Cell physiology is the branch of science that studies the structure and function of individual cells. Our increasing knowledge and understanding of cellular mechanisms and processes have led to great advances in all areas of biology and medicine. In this free online physiology course you will be introduced to the main topics in cell physiology such as the major components of a typical animal cell. You will learn about the mechanisms behind cell growth and multiplication, about the movement of substances into and out of cells, how energy is processed within the cell, and how and why cells maintain an electrical charge across their membranes called membrane potentials. This free online cell physiology course will be of great interest to all healthcare professionals who would like to learn more about the structure and function of cells, and to all students of biology and medicine who would like a greater knowledge and understanding of the mechanisms and processes involved in cell physiology.<br />

The free online course Introduction to Change Management will introduce you to the whole area of change management and how it is being used to guide and transition individuals, groups and organizations to a new desired future state using a structured approach. Modern businesses are continuously facing the need to change - It could be departments within an organization or the entire business itself that needs to change, so managing and adapting to organizational change is an essential ability required in the workplace today. The course begins by examining a wide range of organizational structures that exist within modern businesses. By studying these structures in depth, you will gain a greater understanding of how complex a process implementing change within a business is. The course then continues to discuss a variety of factors that cause organizations to change and reasons that employees resist such changes. By studying these factors, you will gain an insight of the fears that workers encounter when new changes are being introduced. You will develop skills that will help you understand these worries, and your own change management skills. Next, you will learn about the importance of communication and good leadership in the process of change management. You will develop the skills needed to help employees cope through periods of change, and ultimately help them understand the benefits of change. This free course will be of great interest to professionals working in an industry that is currently experiencing, or will soon be experiencing change. The course will also be of interest to small business owners who wish to learn more about ensuring that their businesses can successfully transition through periods of change. <br />

<p>In this free online course you will learn what cloud computing is, how it works, and both the pros and cons of this system. </p><br /> <p>In the term 'cloud computing' the word 'cloud' is a metaphor for the Internet. By using cloud computing, you can gain access at any time through any device, via the Internet, to data and files which you have uploaded, or to software applications which you need to use for personal or professional use. </p><br /> <p>With the phrase ‘cloud computing’ being used more and more in business today, it is important for any professional to understand what it is all about. This course is an ideal way to learn more about it and what services it offers to individuals and businesses alike. </p>

Advances in medicine are occurring all the time and medical and scientific research continues to reveal both how the human body functions normally and what happens during a diseased state. This free online medical course discusses some of the most common medical conditions and is an overview for the average lay person who wishes to find out more about these medical conditions. The course examines topics such as cancer, meningitis and how our endocrine system works. It also reviews aspects of diabetes, spinal injuries and much more. The course gives an insight into how the body works and how medical professionals diagnose ailments or injuries. This course will be of great interest to all learners who would like to know more about the basic physiology of human body, and about common medical conditions.<br />

This free online course Introduction to Communication Skills will guide you through the basic rules which governs the communication in your everyday life. The course will look at how you interact with those around you, and help you to be more effective communicator. <br /><br />First, you will be introduced to the basics of communication. Concepts such as communication channels, interpretation, and barriers will be explained to you. You will also explore the basics of body language, and the context’s which affects your communications. <br /><br />You will also examine the important aspects of conversation. Listening is an important skill, and you will be walked through effective listening. You will also be shown techniques to help improve your listening ability and concentration. Speaking is also a vital part of conversation and the course will show you how to speak considerately and politely. The importance of silence within conversation is discussed, as is the importance of culture, context, and body language. <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 communication skills.

Introduction to Community Development is the first in a series of free online courses that will introduce you to the concept of community development, what you need to do to get a community group started and how to organise a community group to take action. Using community health as a springboard for understanding community development, you will learn about the values, concepts and practices commonly found in the community development sector. You will learn how to define the community and its characteristics, and identify an issue to be actioned within the community. You will look at the various roles within a community group and the strategies it can use to further its objectives. You will learn about creating a team that can identify issues within the community group, from ensuring inclusive participation to dealing with conflict within the group. You will also learn about the practical aspects of governance, liability and structure of the community group. You will learn about tools that can be used to analyse the community, such as community asset mapping and the community characteristic checklist. You will also get an overview of the types of collaboration that may be possible with other organisations found in the community development sector. This course will be of great interest to professionals or volunteers working in community development and with community organisations. It will also be of interest to learners who would like to know more about community development and its role in changing and improving local communities.<br />

In this free online course Introduction to Computer Network Security you will learn about security in your computer network. You will learn about the core principles of security and physical security. You will learn about the different authentication process your system. You will learn about user rights and permissions. You will learn about tracking users in the system. You will learn about creating proper passwords and common attacks used by hacker to get your passwords.<br /><br />The course begins by introducing you to the core principles of computer network security. You will learn about privilege levels and what the attack surfaces involve. You will learn about social engineering and people gaining access to system through that. The course teaches you about the four parts of risk management, and about physical security as the first line of defence. You will also learn about the different layers of physical security.<br /><br />Next, the course reviews authentication. You will learn about the different methods of authentication, setting rights and permissions for users. You will also learn about sharing folders and files. You will learn about tracking user with auditing and about encrypting your data.<br /><br />Finally, the course reviews issues around password security. You will learn about common password attacks, what a keylogger and sniffers are, and how to create complex passwords that increase security. You will learn about setting up an account lockout for when a user incorrectly attempts to login to your system.<br /><br />This course would be of great interest to IT specialists, computing students, computer network engineers and those who wish to learn more about network and computer security.

Computer science is a diverse topic encompassing computer technology, hardware, software, security, communications, programming, algorithms, functions, and storage. By studying it you will learn how computer science impacts on our daily lives. In this free online computer science course you will start by reviewing bits and binary code, including how they are transmitted and stored, and go all the way to computer algorithms which help solve complex problems in an efficient and cost-effective manner. You will also review various computer systems and architecture such as Linux, Windows, and Mac operating systems. This free online computer science course will be of great interest to IT professionals who would like to review the diverse range of topics found in computer science. It will also be useful to learners interested in a career in IT and computing who would like an introduction to the topic.<br />

The free online course Introduction to Conflict Management and Negotiation introduces you to the different types of conflict that can occur in your work and personal life, reasons why conflict can arise, and various conflict-handling styles to help you effectively manage conflict. This course will also present you with the knowledge and skills necessary to have successful negotiations including how to avoid common mistakes in negotiation.<br /><br />The course begins by explaining what conflict is. You will learn about the various types of conflict that can occur and the level of conflict that is most effective for high performance. You will study potential root causes of conflict arising within a workplace and the positive and negative outcomes of this conflict. You will then learn multiple ways on how to resolve organizational conflict and the most common styles people have for handling conflict. This section concludes by explaining how an awareness of our emotions and thoughts are important for the success of managing conflict and the key to keeping disagreements healthy. <br /><br />The course then introduces you to the five stages of negotiation. You will study a detailed description of each stage including examples highlighting the relevance of each stage. You will learn about negotiation strategies as well as how to avoid common mistakes that could negatively impact the result of your negotiation. From here, you will learn about third-party negotiations and alternative dispute resolutions recognising when it is time to enlist a third-party negotiator. You will then learn about ethics and negotiations. This section will explain how you can effectively negotiate with people from around the world and different cultures without insulting cultural traditions. To conclude this section of the course, you will learn about tips for negotiating success and also steps you can take to negotiate for a higher salary.<br /><br />This course will be of great interest to professionals working in the areas of conflict management, negotiations and human resources. It will also be of great interest to all learners who would like to learn more about the various types of conflict that can occur and the negotiation skills that can be used to manage conflict.

Contracts are agreements entered into by two parties with the intention of creating a legal obligation and contracts in law are very important and serious documents. Yet many individuals or business owners do not fully understand the implications of signing a contract or breaching a contract. This free online course reviews the elements which make up a contract and reviews a scenario about how a contract can be breached if one or more of the parties involved do not fulfil their part of the agreement. Resolving broken contracts in the form of damages is also discussed. This course will be of interest to business professionals who, for example, work with third party suppliers for goods or services on a contract basis. It will also be of interest to the average lay person who wishes to clearly understand the implications of having a written contract should they wish to enter into a legal agreement with another party.<br />

In this free online English grammar course provided by ALISON, the basics of conversational English are covered, such as what you might say when you meet people for the first time and how to talk to people and make new friends.<br /><br />This online English grammar course allows you to practice simple conversational techniques that will give you confidence when meeting and greeting people using the English language as well as reviewing basic auxiliary verbs, main verbs, adjectives and open questions.<br /><br />It is ideal for those who want to improve their basic conversational English and will help learners on their way to becoming more confident when communicating. Learn English grammar online with ALISON's free online course.<br />

With the wide-spread use of the Internet copyright has become a very important issue for publishers of books, music, software, films, television programmes and many other industries. This free online course is an introduction to copyright law as practised in the United States, however, the principles and concepts will be of interest to legal professionals in other jurisdictions. The course reviews the structure of copyright under federal law, the basics of legal research and legal citations. It examines copyright and its applications in the music and broadcasting industries, and looks at legal cases involving examples such as Napster, Grokster and peer-to-peer file sharing services. It also reviews software licensing, and the General Public License and free software. This course will be of great interest to legal and business professionals who would like to learn more about copyright law and how it is practised in the United States, and to students who are pursuing a career in the legal professions and would like to learn more about this very important legal topic.<br />