Online courses directory (801)

HTML 5 is the latest version of the HyperText Mark-Up Language. HTML is the language of choice for structuring and presenting content for the World Wide Web. In this free online course you will learn about the latest features of HTML 5 including Geolocation, video, Web worker, canvas/SVG, app cache and database. This course will be of great interest to professionals in the areas of Web design and development and to learners who want to gain a greater knowledge and understanding of HTML 5.<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 />

In this free online course Introduction to Operating Systems you will learn about operating systems and the role they play in a computer system. <br /><br />The course begins by introducing you to Operating Systems (OS) and their function. You will learn about where an OS occurs in the layers of a computer system. You will learn about different operating system types, about hardware addresses and the three types of addresses you can use. You will be introduced to the concept of hardware abstraction and the advantages of abstraction. You will also learn about an OS as a resource manager and what it involves. <br /><br />Next, you will be introduced to processes and system calls, and how they access the kernel for user processes. You will learn about an Operating System Structure, the modules of the structure and about two different types of OS structures. You will learn about the Central Processing Unit (CPU) and how it is considered the most critical resource in the computer system. You will learn how the CPU is shared between different applications. You will learn about multiprogramming and multitasking and how these methods work differently to sharing a single CPU.<br /><br />This free Alison course will be of great interest to any computer science and engineering students or any learner who wishes to learn more about operating systems.<br /><br />Perquisites: The learner will need a understanding of C programming and a good understanding of computer organisation and architecture. <br />

In the free online course Introduction to Operating Systems Processes you will learn a how processes work in an operating system. You will learn about creating a process and the relationships between processes.<br /><br />The course begins by introducing you to processes in a computer system. You will learn what a process is and about the user space and kernel space. You will learn about how a process in stored in RAM and about the metadata the kernel keeps about each process. You will learn about how the operating system creates a process and about the fork system call for cloning processes. <br /><br />Next, you will learn about the parent-child relationship between cloned processes. You will learn about exiting a process and the different ways to do it. You will learn about how processes are created in the xv6 operating system and what happens when a process is terminated in a xv6 system. You will learn about an ELF executable what it is and contains.<br /><br />This course will be of great interest to computer science and engineering students who would like to learn more about operating system processes.<br /><br />Perquisites: Learner will need to have completed the previous courses in 'Introduction to Operating systems' and 'Introduction to Memory Management'.

There is an old saying that the two certainties in life are death and taxes. In this free online course aspects of personal taxation and corporate taxation are reviewed with an emphasis on the US taxation system. In this course you will learn how to calculate tax rates on personal income and what the difference between tax deductions and tax credits is. You will also learn about estate tax and how it is calculated and how to calculate both federal and state taxes. You will also learn how the taxation system affects limited liability corporations. This course will be of great interest to all learners who would like more information about how the taxation system can affect both the private individual and corporations and businesses. <br />

PHP is a widely used programming language which works on the principal of server side scripting to produce dynamic Web pages. It can be easily integrated with HTML and SQL to produce these dynamic web pages, and is often used to process the contents of a Web page form as it is more secure and reliable than JavaScript. This free online PHP programming course gives an overview of how PHP programming works in the Web environment and you will learn what certain commands and lines of code infer within a .php file and review the resultant effect on client side machines. MySQL is an open-source relational database management system which uses structured query language requests for working with data. You will learn how PHP can be combined with MySQL to create a very powerful online database engine. This free online PHP programming course will be of great interest to IT and Web development professionals who would like to learn more about using PHP and MySQL to integrate database functions into Websites, and to learners who would like to learn more about the functionality of PHP and MySQL.<br />

Access to water supply and basic sanitation systems is an essential human need. In order for our society to function efficiently and in a safe environment, it is important that these basic needs are met. Plumbers and professionals working in the plumbing industry help us to achieve this goal. A modern-day plumber's job is wide in scope: plumbers lay down pipes for the distribution of water and disposal of wastewater; design, repair, and maintain the drain, waste, and vent systems; install fixtures, and also work with gas pipelines. This free online course will introduce the learner to the plumbing profession. The course looks into the history of plumbing from the ancient to the modern times. It also highlights the importance of safety procedures in the profession. Under plumbing safety, the course covers personal protective equipment, hazard communication, and the safety guidelines that a plumber should follow when working in trenches and confined spaces. This course, the first in the series on plumbing, will be of great interest to construction professionals who want to learn what plumbing is and the skills that are needed to advance in this specialized field. It will also be of interest to all learners who want to enter this trade and need an understanding of the profession, its terminologies, and the associated health and safety facts.<br />

Introduction to Plumbing Pipes and Fixtures is a free online vocational course designed for anyone wanting to learn more about plumbing. This course is the third in the series of plumbing courses. While the first two introduced the learner to the trade and plumbing tools and drawings, this course goes a step further. For a building to be considered habitable, it has to be connected to the main water and gas supply systems, and have appropriate provisions for handling waste water. The installation of long-lasting plumbing pipes ensures that these basic requirements are met. In this free online course, various materials such as plastic, copper, cast iron, carbon steel, and CSST that are used to make pipes and fixtures are discussed. Besides this, the course covers the terms associated with plumbing pipes, the differences between fittings and valves, the tests carried out on plumbing and gas pipes to ensure they are leak-proof, and the basic principles of sanitation and safety. This course will be of great interest to construction professionals who want to deepen their existing knowledge on plumbing: identify the properties as well as the advantages and the disadvantages of working with different piping materials. It will also be of interest to all learners who want to learn about the different types of pipes and fixtures that are in use today.<br />

The plumbing profession places both physical and intellectual demands on plumbers. While the physical aspects of the job such as using tools to install and maintain plumbing systems are clearly visible, the intellectual requirements of the trade are skills that are used in the background. Performing basic math calculations and reading plumbing drawings are examples of such intellectual tasks. This free online course in plumbing introduces the learner to the wide array of tools used by plumbers in the trade. These tools range from measuring and layout tools to those used for leveling, cutting, and assembling pipes and fittings. The course also covers topics on basic math and plumbing drawings, which include basic math skills essential for plumbers to calculate pipe measurements, and how to read construction drawings, how to identify the components that make up these drawings and the types of plumbing drawings a professional in this field will have to read and interpret. This course will be of great interest to all professionals who want a deeper knowledge and understanding of plumbing tools and drawings. It will also be of interest to those learners who have completed the first course on plumbing and would like to build upon that knowledge by doing the next course in the series.<br />

Computer programming skills are now becoming part of basic education as these skills are increasingly of vital importance for future job and career prospects. This free online course introduces you to the core components of programming using the Python programming language which is one of the most popular programming languages worldwide. The course shows you how to use the free open-source PyScripter IDE for Python to write basic programs using concepts such as functions, variables, If Else statements, For loops, While loops, iterative and recursive programs and algorithms such as the Insertion Sort algorithm. This course will be of great interest to all learners who would like to gain a thorough knowledge and understanding of the basic components of computer programming using the Python language – and might be a gentle introduction to programming for those who think they might have a longer term interest in the subject area. <br />

The free online course Introduction to Public Relations guides you in a step-by-step manner through the foundation of theory, practices and real-life applications in modern public relations.<br /><br />The course begins by walking you through a public relations case study, designed to get you thinking about the role of PR and the real life applications of the field. You will then look at the field of public relations in broader terms, in order to determine the definition of ‘public relations’ or ‘PR’. The function of public relations in the modern world will also be explored.<br /><br />You will also look at the historical origins of public relations in the Unites States, and the resulting PR models which emerged. These include Grunig &amp; Hunt’s “4 Models” of public relation practice; the Press Agentry Model, the Public Information Model, the Symmetrical and Asymmetrical Models. You will see how these models apply to modern PR, and how the PR function has split into several sub functions over the years; such as the corporate and agency sub functions.<br /><br />You will discuss strategic PR and its role in the modern business world. You will learn more about the role of PR managers within organizations; such as their roles in company strategy, and their advisory roles.<br /><br />This free online course will be of great interest to professionals who work in the area of PR and communications and who would like to learn more about the different functions and sub functions of PR, the theoretical models that have shaped the field, and the strategical role of PR managers within an organization. It will also be of interest to learners who would like to learn more about the role of PR within the modern business environment.<br />

Quality management is an integral part of the functioning of many businesses and organisations, both small and large, around the world. Of all quality management system regimes, the ISO 9000 family of standards is probably the most widely implemented worldwide. This free online course will introduce the learner to the whole area of quality management, standards such as ISO 9000 and its specifications and costs. The course explains Total Quality Management tools and why external benchmarking is used. The course also reviews service quality management and introduces Six Sigma quality. This course will be of great interest to all quality management professionals who would like to learn more about the application of quality management within an organisation, and to all learners who are interested in developing a career in the area of quality management.<br />

In this free online course Introduction to R for Data Science you will be introduced to the R programing language for data statistical computing. You will learn about the different types of R, and how to set up and installing the R language.<br /><br />The course begins by introducing you to R programming, what it is used for and a little of its history. You will learn how to install and setup RStudio and MS R Open for programing R yourself. You will learn about the data structures and types in the R language and how they work.<br /><br />Next, you will be introduced to Enzo Unified which is a service platform for making data access easier. You will learn about running Enzo unified inside SQL management studio. The course shows you the adaptors or abstracted APIs that can be added to or already is part of Enzo Unified. You will learn about accessing tweets from twitter and posting them, and about sending text messages to your phone.<br /><br />This free Alison course will be of great interest to professionals working in the areas of data science and data analysis and who want to learn more about using R for statistical computing.<br /><br />Prerequisites: The learner will need some knowledge of programming languages and an understanding of using SQL Server management studio.

The free online course Introduction to Risk Management is designed to expand your knowledge and understanding of managing risk. Risk management has become a central aspect of modern business operations and is used to identify, assess, and prioritize risks within a business. Resources can then be applied to minimize and control the impact those risks will have on business operations. Modern businesses need competent people to manage risks and because of this risk management experts are now in high demand. The course begins by emphasizing how ambiguous a term &quot;risk&quot; is. By presenting a wide range of definitions of the term, and a variety of scenarios that pose risk, the course will help you understand risk from a wide variety of perspectives. The course then presents and defines a range of terms commonly used by risk professionals. Next, you will learn about the manner in which risk is managed by risk professionals. By discussing the variety of methods used by professionals to mitigate risk, the course emphasizes how unique a field risk management is. The course also presents a variety of case studies based on real life events that posed significant risk, helping you to equate the theory of risk management with real life scenarios. This free course will be of great interest to professionals working in the area of risk management or those who wish to gain an insight into the industry. The course will also be of interest to small business owners who wish to learn more about mitigating the risks that they face on a daily basis.<br />

The free online course Introduction to Sales Management provides information on the key skills involved in selling. While using the traditional selling tenets as its foundation, the course adapts the concepts to the rapidly changing world of business, including the use of Twitter, LinkedIn, Facebook, blogs, wikis, and other interactive ways of connecting with customers. The course introduces the role of sales in everyday life and how selling is also vital in all aspects of business. You will learn about how selling plays a role in your purchase decision about the products and services that you buy (and concepts and causes that you believe in). You will also gain an understanding about how Internet-based tools such as forums, social networks like Facebook, MySpace, and Twitter, along with Web sites, live chat, and other interactive features allow customers to participate in the sales process no matter what they are buying. Defining your personal brand to create a framework for the way you sell yourself to get the job you want is also covered. Next, you will learn about which personal characteristics and talents are best suited to sales, which industries or sales positions you might work in, and how you can be successful in the profession. You will gain an understanding of the differences between business-to-business, business-to-consumer, Personal selling and direct selling. You will also learn about how to craft your résumé and cover letter in a way that tells prospective employers what your personal brand has to offer, in a concise and compelling way, through the use of objectives, headings and bullet points. Finally, you are introduced to the methods of relationship selling and how making a personal connection with the customer is vital. You will learn about customer relationship management tools and how they are used to organise all of a customer’s interactions as well as adaptive selling, which allows you to truly listen, understand the customer’s needs and adapt your conversation and presentation accordingly. You will also gain an understanding of networking which is an important part of the business world and an even more vital part of sales, and how building strong relationships with customers is an excellent way to build your network. The course will be ideal for sales professionals or entrepreneurs or anyone with an interest in sales and customer satisfaction. This course will also be of great interest to existing sales personnel who are looking to up-skill their capabilities and for entrepreneurs or business professionals who are new to a sales or customer relationship role. <br />

The free online course Introduction to Service Management introduces the topic of managing business services, how to make business services more effective and efficient, and how to improve customer relationship management. The course begins by introducing you to the topic of service management and the elements of service management such as how best to serve customers in the modern business environment, what the product service systems are, what the service act comprises of, and how to ensure seamless service to customers both within and outside an organisation. Few services are totally intangible as they often contain elements with tangible properties - these services are said to be intangible-dominant. You will learn how business services are those that market offerings which are intangible-dominant, and the course introduces you to important service dimensions: Intangibility, Heterogeneity, Inseparability and Perishability. You will also learn about marketing methods and strategies used to overcome intangibility. Finally, you will learn about developing a service blueprint, how to fail proof a service and why services should be redesigned. This course will be of great interest to all business service professionals and business owners that offer services to customers and who would like to learn more about managing and improving business services.<br />

Almost two thirds of modern economies are driven by various service industries so it is of vital importance that quality management practices and procedures be applied to these service industries. This is known as service quality and any business with high service quality will meet customer needs while remaining economically competitive. In this free online course you will learn what service quality means and how it can be applied within service industries. You will learn more about the practices and procedures that can be used to improve customer satisfaction. Finally, there is a case study of a credit union that reviewed its customer service and how it implemented changes that greatly improved its service quality. This course will be of great interest to all quality management professionals who would like to learn more about service quality within service industries. It will also be of great interest to all learners who are interested in a career in quality management.<br />

Any person with a bank account, credit card or bank loan will come across aspects of simple interest and compound interest. However, many people have difficulty in distinguishing between the two types of interest and how they should be calculated. In this free online course you will learn why simple interest is called simple interest, how simple interest is used in daily life and how it is calculated. Compound interest, as the name implies, is a little more complicated but this course explains the concept clearly and covers the methods used for calculating compound interest. This course will be of great interest to all learners who are intimidated by financial concepts such as simple interest and compound interest, and would like to study a course that explains these concepts in a step-by-step and easy to follow manner.<br />

The free online course Introduction to Sociology and Social Life is the first in a series of four courses that describes in detail the concepts of societies and cultures, and the types of processes that produce them. The course introduces you to sociology by giving an overview of the three main theories - Structural-Functionalism, Conflict Theory and Symbolic Interactionism. It then covers the history of how sociology evolved from from its founding by Auguste Comte in the nineteenth century right through to the modern theorists. The course reviews social inequality, its causes and impacts, the way people are socialized and how different cultural socialization can cause social division. It also reviews why groups form and how they function. You will learn more about culture and how it is defined, its mores and norms, what differentiates cultures and what is common to all cultures. You will also learn how population and the environment are linked and the impact this can have on society. This course will be of great interest to professionals working in areas as diverse as medicine, politics, law, urban organization and marketing, and any learner who would like to know more about how cultures and societies evolve and change.<br />

In the free online course Introduction to Software Testing you will learn about the principles of testing software and the methodologies involved in testing. <br /><br />The course begins by introducing you to the principles behind testing software and why you should test software. You will learn about the process involved in testing and when to begin testing in the software development life cycle. The course will introduce you to the verification and validation processes of testing, and you will learn about the different testing levels and what they test.<br /><br />Next, the course teaches you about the pesticide paradox when testing software. You will learn about the software development life cycle V-model and its strengths and weaknesses. You will also learn about the fault model and how it outlines the types of faults in a program. You will then be introduced to test cases, and the design, planning and strategies for using a test case. You will learn about unit testing and what parts of the program it tests.<br /><br />This free Alison course will be of great interest to programmers and IT developers who are interested in learning more about software testing methodologies and removing bugs from their programs.<br /><br />Prerequisites: The learner should understand programming concepts, and an understanding of the software development life cycle would also be of benefit. <br />