7 Free Online Courses in November

Generally, November is my favourite month – only this time I guess I need more mood-boosters than usually. Climate change, COVID, living in Poland… It even makes me less than eager to take over the world, as who on earth would like to rule a place like this?

See? Deep dark thoughts in November can be quite annoying – so instead I’ve decided to work a bit with the online courses, talk to various teachers around the world and try to feel better. If you feel like developing your skills and broadening your horizons, I’ve got a traditional batch of seven free courses you might find really useful, especially that three of them are focused on mental issues caused by the bloody covid:

Testing Times in the Classroom: Challenges of 21st Century Education by the University of Exeter

Start: 23/11/2020
Duration: 4 weeks
Recommended for: people with an interest in education, including teachers, students, and parents
You will learn:

• whether education can be considered as a business or corporate activity
• how to define some of the major changes which have occurred in education in recent years
• about some of the affordances of technology and creativity in education

Transforming Digital Learning: Learning Design Meets Service Design by Deakin University

Start: 09/11/2020
Duration: 2 weeks
Recommended for: people looking to broaden their knowledge of digital learning pedagogy
You will learn:

• about the diverse needs of global digital learners
• how to apply digital learning approaches to design and create premium digital learning experiences
• how to produce a reflective professional practice plan

English Pronunciation in a Global World by Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam

Start: 02/11/2020
Duration: 2 weeks
Recommended for: people who need to speak English, at their studies, for work or in their personal lives
You will learn:

• about the concepts of intelligibility, credibility, and identity in English pronunciation
• how to apply what you have learned about English pronunciation to your English accent
• how to explain the differences between your own English pronunciation and that of speakers with other mother tongues

Storytelling for Change by Acumen and The Ariel Group

Start: 10/11/2020
Duration: 8 weeks
Recommended for: people who want to develop their practical skills as a storyteller
You will learn:

• about using stories, especially personal stories, as part of their communication toolkit
• how to tell stories and use a specific set of storytelling skills so that they connect with the hearts and minds of their audiences (an audience of one or many)
• how to use a 5-step process to integrate story into presentations for change, work, or many other situations

Anxiety in Children and Young People during COVID-19 by the University of East Anglia

Start: 11/2020
Duration: 2 weeks
Recommended for: teachers, supporters, guardians, and parents of children affected by the current COVID-19 situation
You will learn:

• what anxiety is and how does it affects us
• how to protect vulnerable youths suffering from anxiety
• how to explain the possible impact of COVID-19 on mental health generally for us all during lockdown

COVID-19: Psychological Impact, Wellbeing and Mental Health by Maudsley Learning

Start: 11/2020
Duration: 3 weeks
Recommended for: people impacted by coronavirus across society
You will learn:

• about the psychological impact of COVID-19 on wellbeing and mental health in society
• how to apply knowledge around managing wellbeing and mental health during COVID-19
• how to improve understanding of the psychological impact of COVID-19 on support network, work colleagues and local community

COVID-19: Helping Young People Manage Low Mood and Depression by the University of Reading

Start: 11/2020
Duration: 2 weeks
Recommended for: young people with low mood and depression and their parents and carers, or anyone who has contact with young people during COVID-19
You will learn:

• about the strategies for managing thoughts and feelings during the COVID-19 pandemic
• how to can use this time as an opportunity for developing resilience
• how to explore the importance of self-care and modelling  adaptive and mood enhancing behaviours

I hope the courses I found will be useful for you. Let’s all try to enjoy November and, naturally, stay safe.

Unless you’re living in Poland – then stay strong.