Online courses directory (801)

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 />

Everyone knows that when you identify stocks that you believe are going to increase in price you buy them. But how can you profit from stocks that you believe will decline in price? The answer is shorting. Shorting enables you to sell stock that you do not own and buy it back at a later time, ideally at a lower price. In this free online course you will learn more about stocks and shares and how they are valued. You will then learn about the process of short selling, how to borrow stocks that you do not own, what obligations you have to original owner of the stocks, and how to cover your short where you return the stocks after buying them back, hopefully, for less than the cost when you sold them. This course will be of interest to professionals in the financial services sector and anyone who wishes to understand stocks and what the process of short selling involves. Please note that while this free course will teach you about making investments in stocks in general, it does not advocate that you should buy stocks or invest in the stock market, and that any investment made in the stock market may lose money. <br />

The free online course Introduction to Strategic Management introduces you to the concept of strategic management and how management can use the principles underlying strategic management to formulate and implement major goals and initiatives. The course explains what a mission statement is and what it can achieve for a business. You will learn what parameters should be included in a strategic plan and how a strategic plan should help determine long-term decisions including an organization's objectives, goals and course of action. You will learn how clearly stated mission statements add focus to the organization's efforts. You will learn the difference between operating decisions and strategic decisions and what a strategic management decision process involves. You will also learn more about experience curves and how they are used in business strategy. Finally, you will learn about doom loops, how a business can avoid getting into a doom loop, and what steps can help a business get out of a doom loop if they are already in one. This course will be of great interest to all professionals working in management, who are involved in making strategic decisions, and to all learners who would like to learn more about the role of strategic management in business. <br />

In this free online course Introduction to Stress Management, you will be introduced to stress and the history of stress. You will learn about the different types of stress and what can trigger each of them. You will also learn the three stages of stress and be able to explain each of them individually.<br /><br />The course begins by introducing you to stress and the history and genesis of stress research. You will learn about the differences between eustress and distress. You will also be able to explain the importance of how stress can be helpful to an individual.<br /><br />The course will inform you about stressors and the different types of stressors. People react differently in stressful situations, from this course, you will be able to explain why this is and why some people return to their resting rate sooner than others after a stressful situation. The course will then present you with information on how to bounce back from stress and the role of personality factors in stress. <br /><br />Finally, you will learn about how stress can occur in college for both a fresher and a senior student and ways to overcome this stress. This free Alison course would be of great interest to anyone who suffers from stress or those who have studied, or going to study, psychology and stress management.<br /><br />

Introduction to Supply Chain Design is a free online course that explains what supply chain design is and provides insights on how to design supply chains to give them competitive advantages over competing supply chains. It is said that in today's market, firms don't compete, supply chains do. Supply chains determine the ability of the businesses included in them to compete in the marketplace and how their supply chains are designed will affect their ability to compete. For example, a business that is attempting to compete in a market where low cost is paramount will have difficulty if it includes high cost suppliers in its supply chain. The course explains the importance of supply chain design and the design process itself. 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 />

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 />

Swedish is spoken by over 10 million people in Sweden and is mutually intelligible in neighbouring countries such as Finland, Norway and Denmark. The Swedish language is a descendent of Old Norse which was the common language of people living in Scandinavia during the 8th to 11th centuries known as the Viking Era. Swedish has a proud tradition in literature and the arts, and today Sweden has a thriving modern economy with important trade links throughout Europe. In this free online Swedish language course, you will learn the basics of Swedish grammar and be introduced to word order in sentences, verb formation, and the use of nouns, pronouns and adjectives. You will also learn important pronunciation skills and build your knowledge of vocabulary. This free course will be of interest to all business professionals who are conducting business in Sweden or other Scandinavian countries and who feel they would benefit by learning the basics of the Swedish language, and to all learners who would like a greater understanding of this important Northern European language.<br />

English is the international language of business and opens up many opportunities to non-native speakers. Teaching English as a Second Language (TESL) instructors provide a valuable service to immigrants in English-speaking countries. This free online course introduces the essential learning theories and practices needed to be a TESL instructor. The course details the needs of adult ESL learners, the learning styles of students, and how to facilitate intercultural communication in the classroom. Following this, it describes the activities and exercises that increase student comprehension of the English language. Finally it explains how to prepare for and conduct a lesson including creating a lesson plan, classroom management, and conducting tests. This free online course is ideal for fluent English speakers who wish to teach the English language in an English-speaking country. It will also be of interest to people who are considering teaching English as a foreign language or anyone who wants to know more about teaching and learning theories. <br />

The human cardiovascular system is made up of the heart, blood vessels and blood supply. These act as one system to supply vital oxygen, nutrients, and hormones to tissues and remove carbon dioxide and metabolic waste products. This system also plays a central role in stabilizing body temperature and pH levels, as well as maintaining homeostasis. In this free online cardiovascular anatomy and physiology course, the learner will explore the structure and functions of the cardiovascular system. The course explains the composition of blood and provides an overview of how blood is used for transport and energy mobilization. It also outlines how the blood responds to haemorrhage and is involved in maintaining the correct body temperature. The course then examines blood vessels, explaining the function and location of arteries, veins and capillaries. Finally, it covers the anatomy of the heart, describing the structure of the chambers of the heart, the cardiac valves and the heart walls. It also describes the pericardium, the NAVL and the fibrous skeleton of the heart. This free online cardiovascular anatomy and physiology course will be of great interest to professionals in the health care sector who would like a greater knowledge and understanding of the human cardiovascular system. Students of medicine and biology who would like to study the structure and function of the heart, blood vessels and blood supply, which make up this very important anatomical system, will also find this course of great help.<br />

Mandarin Chinese is spoken by up to one billion people within China and among the Chinese diaspora. With the continuing economic and political rise of China it is becoming increasingly important to learn even the basics of this ancient language. In this free online Chinese language course you will be introduced to the basic elements of spoken Mandarin Chinese. The course starts with a brief overview of the language, its dialects and a brief look at pronunciation through the use of Pinyin. 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 alphabet you are accustomed to. This course follows the typical path when learning how to greet people and introduce yourself, say what you do and where you are from in a new language. 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 in the attached resource files. This free online Chinese language 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 />

The tourist industry is one of the most important in the world, worth up to one trillion dollars annually. This free online course explains how travel and tourist activities from past times led to the creation of the modern tourist industry. The course describes how tourism developed up to the present day and how advancements in transportation and accommodation in the recent past have helped to create the contemporary tourist industry. The course also describes the practical considerations of tourism and how tourism can be marketed effectively. This course will be of great interest to owners of a tourism focused business and people working in the tourist industry, and who would like to learn how the modern day tourist industry developed. It is also suitable for anyone who wishes to learn more about the history of travel. <br />

Modern-day life is heavily dependent on electric power. Our technologically driven world comes to a standstill when there is any disruption to this form of energy. In order for our everyday lives to function efficiently, we need a regular and uninterrupted supply of electricity. To ensure this we need electrical engineers and other skilled workers in the field to transmit, distribute, and maintain our electrical systems and equipment. This free online course will introduce the learner to the electrical trade and the types of skills required by electricians working on residential, commercial, and industrial projects. The course explains the basic concepts in electricity such as electrical charge, current, circuits, voltage, and resistance. The course also discusses the hazards of working with electricity, and outlines the safety procedures and standards that need to be in place in any job site. This course will be of great interest to all professionals who want to learn about the electrical trade. It will also be of interest to all learners who would like to develop a career in this field.<br />

The human body cannot generate energy itself and so must obtain it from external sources. Energy from the sun is captured by plants, which in turn are eaten by animals. We humans use these plants and animals as food sources but, in order to obtain the energy we require from them, our food must be broken down into smaller molecules that the body can process. This is accomplished by a complex series of organs known as the digestive system. This free online human physiology course provides a clear introduction to the human digestive system. In this course you will learn how energy is obtained from food and be introduced to the different food types and vitamins. The course looks at the stages involved in ingestion and swallowing, describing how the stomach is designed for food storage and the initial processing of food. How the small and large intestines are structured to facilitate the digestion and absorption of nutrients is also examined. The course also provides an overview of the elimination of the waste products of digestion from the body. It outlines the special roles played by the liver and pancreas in the secretion of digestive enzymes. The mechanisms used by the digestive system to protect the body from infection are covered. This includes looking at the tonsils and other lymphoid tissue in the small and large intestine and explaining how the mammary gland protects the breastfeeding baby from infection. This free online human physiology course will be of great interest to healthcare professionals who would like a greater understanding of the human digestive system and its importance in human physiology, and to students of biology, medicine and nursing who would like to gain a greater knowledge and understanding of the structure and function of the human digestive system. <br />

The human muscular system plays a vital role in maintaining posture and is essential for movement of the body. This free online course enables the learner to explore the structure and functions of the human muscular system. It outlines the different types of muscles and the different makeup of these muscles. It explains the roles each muscle has in relation to movement of the body and explains how the nervous system controls muscular activity. This free online course will be of great interest to students of biology, anatomy, physiology and medicine, as well as healthcare professionals, who would like to gain a basic knowledge and understanding of the human muscular system.

<p>This free online anatomy course will be of great interest to healthcare professionals who would like to obtain a greater knowledge and understanding of the human nervous system, and to anyone who would like to know more about the structure and function of the central and peripheral nervous systems. </p><br /> <p>The human nervous system is made up of two main parts - the central nervous system and the peripheral nervous system. The central nervous system is made up of the brain and spinal cord, while the peripheral nervous system consists of the nerves that extend to all the other organs in the body. The autonomic nervous system is part of the peripheral nervous system and comprises the sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous systems. </p><br /> <p>In an Introduction To The Human Nervous System you will learn about the structure and function of the central nervous system and the peripheral nervous system; the structure and function of the brain and spinal cord, and how these control and coordinate the sensory inputs and movements of the body. </p><br /> <p>The course also examines the peripheral nervous system and, in particular, the sympathetic and parasympathetic components of the autonomic nervous system. Nerve impulses and synaptic transmission are also explained in detail. </p>

Unlike most anatomical systems in the human body the reproductive systems in the male and female are completely different in structure and function but both work together to play a vital role in the production of an offspring. This free online course enables the learner to explore the structure and functions of the human reproductive system. It explains the necessity for reproduction and provides an understanding of how offspring develop. It describes the structure and functions of all the organs involved in the male and female reproductive systems and it outlines the different types of cells involved in the process of fertilization. It also describes the function of the mammary glands. Finally, it reviews the parturition of the fetus, describing the different phases up to child birth and post-child birth. This free online course will be of great interest to all students of biology, anatomy and physiology, and healthcare professionals who would like to further their knowledge and understanding of the human reproductive system and the processes involved in it.<br />

The respiratory system plays a vital role in the inhalation and exhalation of respiratory gases in the human body. It allows for the inhalation of gases such as oxygen in the air which can then be transported by the blood around the body to supply tissues and cells, and the exhalation of waste gases such as carbon dioxide into the air. This free online course enables the learner to explore the structure and functions of the human respiratory system. It outlines the different types of breathing and breathing cycles, and explains the different types of lung capacities. The course will be of great interest to students of medicine, biology, physiology and anatomy, as well as healthcare professionals who would like to gain a basic knowledge and understanding of the structure and function of the human respiratory system.<br />

Human sensory organs such as the eye, ear, nose and tongue are central in the processing of sensory information from all the stimuli that bombards the body continuously. Without sensory organs we would not be able to make sense of our environment and surroundings. This free online course enables the learner to explore the functions and structure of the human sensory organs. It outlines the different special senses such as vision, hearing, balance, smell and taste, and their corresponding receptor organs such as the eye, ear, nose and tongue. It also explains the different reflexes associated with each of these senses. This free online course will be of interest to students of biology, physiology, anatomy and medicine, as well as healthcare professionals who would like to gain a basic knowledge and understanding of the human sensory organs. <br />

The human skeleton is an amazing and complex structure and is involved in vital functions such as supporting the bodily organs, providing points of attachment for the musculature system to allow movement, maintaining body shape, and protecting vital organs such as the brain and spinal cord. In this free online human anatomy course you will learn about the structure, development and function of bones within the human skeletal system. It outlines how bones develop from the fetal through to the adult stages of life. You will be introduced to the bones of the axial skeleton formed by the vertebral column, rib cage and skull. You will also learn about the appendicular skeleton formed by the pectoral girdle, the pelvic girdle and the upper and lower limbs. This free online human anatomy course will be of great interest to all healthcare professionals who would like to learn more about the human skeletal system and its biological functions, and to all learners who would like to learn more about the vital role it plays in maintaining human health.<br />

The Irish (or Gaelic) language is the official language of Ireland and is also recognised as a working language by the European Union. This free online course will introduce you to the Irish language and Irish language pronunciation skills and basic everyday vocabulary. You will learn how to pronounce words related to people, clothes, food, travel, directions, eating out, the body, places, numbers, colours, dates and times, as well as other general phrases. This free Irish language course will be of interest to all learners who would like to discover more about the Irish language and Irish Culture.<br />