Innovative and interesting online courses anyone can sign up for

29 May 2019

The wonderful thing about education today is that there is a multitude of courses online that anyone can sign up for, regardless of whether they have an existing diploma or degree.

These are known as MOOCs (Massive Open Online Courses) that anyone can enroll for at a flexible pace.

Learning doesn’t have to end at graduation or at the end of a term. Maybe you never got the chance to take that interesting elective, or you have some free time this summer to immerse yourself in a fascinating online course in coding?

People now have plenty of choices to take different kinds of courses online, whether to pursue a personal interest or add a new skill to their CVs.

While in the past people typically had to attend night school or take a class on weekends if they wanted to learn something new, we have the luxury today of taking a free course in coding or digital marketing at our own pace, in the comfort of our own homes.

Perhaps the only downfall of taking an online course is that there are so many ones out there that it can be difficult to choose!

Here are four new courses that caught our eye lately for its unique subject matters that are relevant to today’s trending topics.

A History of Royal Fashion

This mantua dress dates from c1760-5. It is made of French silk satin brocaded in silver thread. It consumed 14 metres of fabric & would have cost over £10k in today’s money. A History of Royal Fashion launches 7 May, sign up to the course: https://t.co/1DWol6QzVB #FLRoyalFashion pic.twitter.com/fx6a3b6zDW

— Historic Royal Palaces (@HRP_palaces) March 23, 2018

The marriage of Meghan Markle to Prince Harry in 2018 amped further the world’s fascination with the royal family and all that they do.

Their fashion sense is one aspect of the royal life that is particularly talked about. While the princes and princesses today usually dress in a modern fashion (Kate Middleton is known to dress off the rack and repeat her outfits), it’s interesting to see just how the royal family’s style has changed and evolved over the years.

A History of Royal Fashion, available on FutureLearn, is a seven-week course that was developed in partnership with Historic Royal Palaces last year.

It allows students access to “the wardrobes of British kings and queens across five royal dynasties from the Tudors, Stuarts and Georgians to the Victorians and Windsors”.

You can also get an exclusive look behind the scenes at the Tower of London, Hampton Court Palace, Kensington Palace and the Banqueting House to explore the different styles of monarchs and their families, as well as the impact their clothing had on society.

Reducing Gun Violence in America: Evidence for Change

One way to help create change is to educate yourself on US gun violence.

That’s why @JohnsHopkins created a *FREE* certified online course – so that you can arm yourself with the facts to fight for life saving legislation.

Register today: https://t.co/8xNoBtDyLm

— March For Our Lives (@AMarch4OurLives) May 24, 2019

Gun violence and shootings are a common occurrence in countries that have not banned the use of them, like the US.

New Zealand’s prime minister Jacinda Ardern’s recent swift action in banning them, following the devastating shootings in two mosques in Christchurch, has caused many to question why the US has not done so yet.

This interesting course by John Hopkins University on Coursera is “designed to provide learners with the best available science and insights from top scholars across the country as well as the skills to understand which interventions are the most effective to offer a path forward for reducing gun violence in our homes, schools, and communities.”

The course structure encourages meaningful and respectful discussion in an informative setting, as it can be a sensitive topic to some.

If you have plenty of thoughts and insights on the gun violence issue, you’d most likely find this course interesting and insightful.

Introducing Robotics

[New Course] Introducing Robotics: Making Robots Move from Queensland University of Technology on FutureLearn https://t.co/TAnG1jAklD pic.twitter.com/nJtlcxwGzt

— ⭐ Class Central (@classcentral) October 19, 2016

Robotics is an emerging technology that’s been trending in technology circles lately, along with 5G, artificial intelligence (AI) and virtual reality.

It’s no longer the case that only “tech junkies” and those who work in STEM fields are solely interested in how technologies like robotics work, as it’s been predicted that robotics will play increasingly larger roles in our everyday lives over the coming decades.

In fact, many schools today are teaching children to build their own robots to prepare for the future.

If you’re fascinated with growth of new technology and want to learn more how to build your own robot, this beginner course by Queensland University on FutureLearn will give you an introduction and understanding in the world of robotics.

According to the website, “You’ll begin by exploring how we’re using robots to help solve big challenges in our society today, before considering what the future might hold for humans and robots alike.

“You’ll become familiar with the mathematical knowledge and programming skills required to make robots move, and you’ll try out your skills in practical exercises.

“Finally – you’ll put your skills into practice by building your own robot. You’ll design, build and program a simple robot arm, and you’ll be invited to share a video of your robot with learners around the world.”

The Connected World

[#Infographic]
The Connected World Of #InternetOfThings #IoT #IIoT #IoE #SmartCity #SmartHome #HealthTech #Industry40 #AutonomousVehicles @FrRonconi pic.twitter.com/P4GKEiWD4m

— Antonio Gambina (@Lago72) November 8, 2017

If building a robot isn’t really your thing but you are still curious about how technology will be integrated in our everyday lives, or perhaps work in a relevant industry, check out this course by Bedrock Learning.

The Connected World provides learners with an overview of the Smart Home industry and Internet of Things (IoT).

The website states, “Learn the various subsystems that make up an integrated building. Understand the phases and stakeholders of an installation project. Examine ongoing trends and future technologies. Recommended for all types of employees and anyone interested in learning about digital living.”

In this course, you will learn the dramatic changes in the connected world, be able to understand and explain the Internet of Things, as well as how to incorporate smart technologies into a home.