Free online courses

rosielx

Some of the courses lead to recognised qualifications but they are free (subject to availability in your area but still worth seeing if you can get on one for free), there are no fees to pay and you could use them to increase your skills on a CV or just to learn the basics . I think they would be really useful for someone who has just got a PC as the courses are on IT and webpage design. There are also useful courses on finding a dream job, equality and diversity and also health and safety.

http://www.creatingcareers.net/channels/index.asp

:j


I copied this information from the health and safety course:

Health and Safety is a 120 hour course. You can study at your own pace for as little as three hours a week, so you should finish it in 8 - 10 months. But, if you want to work faster you can - it's entirely up to you.

Although the course is free, your commitment is time. We'll give you hints and tips and a study planner to help you build regular study slots into your busy lifestyle.


The support you’ll get

You will be assigned to a Further Education college in your area, which will then provide you with an online tutor. Your tutor will be available to help and guide you through the course. You can contact your tutor at any time using v-mail, vision2learn’s own internal messaging system.
Before you get started on your course we ask that you complete a short course induction. From your induction, your tutor can assess the level of support you will need and form an Individual Learning Plan for you. This plan will set out a realistic timeframe for you, and your tutor will negotiate deadline dates for submitting coursework. Tutor support is not only available by v-mail, but also by telephone or e-mail.


Course delivery and assessment

The course is offered online with vision2learn – an innovative web-based learning system, which you can access via your PC from home, work or college. The online course contains all of the learning content needed to meet the assessment requirements of the course and activities to enable you to practise your skills and test your learning. In addition, you receive help and support from an online tutor – who is always just a click away.

About the qualification

Studying Health and Safety leads to the accredited qualification NCFE Level 2 Certificate in Occupational Health and Safety, which helps you to develop the knowledge and skills associated with workplace health and safety.

In order to successfully achieve your qualification you will need to complete a series of assessments as you work through each unit of the course, which you’ll send to your tutor through the v-mail system on vision2learn. Your tutor will assess these and they will build up to form your portfolio of evidence of learning. A certificate will be awarded on satisfactory submission of evidence of learning for all four units.


The computer kit you’ll need

An Internet enabled PC running MS Windows and Internet Explorer 5 (or later), or Netscape 6 (or later), with JavaScript and cookies enabled
Email software and an active email account
Microsoft Word or similar word processing package
Download Adobe Acrobat
Why it’s free

Vision2learn courses are funded by the Learning and Skills Council. This means that the courses are normally free of charge to anyone over the age of 16 who has been ordinarily resident in England for 3 years or more, as long as this residency has been for purposes other than full-time study. If you don’t meet these requirements, there may be other ways for your course to be funded and you can contact us on info@vision2learn.com for more information on this.

How to keep your free place open

It’s important that you log on to your study area regularly, keep in contact with your tutor and complete the assessments as you work through your course. If you don’t do this you may lose your free place. If you are experiencing any problems with your learning please let your tutor know and they can help you and ensure that you remain enrolled on the course.

What do I do now?

After you have completed our online registration form, we will need to confirm the availability of support from our network of partner colleges. When we have confirmed that there is a place available for you in a college in your area you’ll receive an enrolment form from the college that you will need to complete and return immediately. Please remember to sign your form, as it is crucial in securing your free place. Once this form has been processed, your vision2learn study area will be activated and your chosen course will become available. You will then be able to log on and get started.

calleyw

I have done a vision2learn course. The tutor was very helpful. Took for ever to get my certifcate after the exams had been marked.

I wanted to do the next level course but I can't because I have moved and they have no colleges near by to that do the courses.

Some parts of the countries are not covered by these courses. So I personally would e-mail them before filling in the form. Otherwise you are wasting your time.

Yours

Calley

angelcake

I would love to do one of these courses but I am pregnant at the moment which results in me being clumsy, sensitive and very very stupid so I should probably wait a while!!!

(My 3 year old laughed at me for telling her to put her spoon in the fridge when she had finished her yoghurt!!! reminding me that spoons don't belong there!! )

Iffy_Wallet

I signed up to do a vision2learn course well before Christmas. At Easter they said they had located a college where I could register (to do this online). Then weeks later, when I asked what was going on, the college said they don't do that particular course. I had a personal email from vision2learn saying how sorry they were and how it wouldn't happen again, as they now ask you for your postcode and can tell you if there is a course available. It does seem a little strange as you can study for lets say eight months online, then pop into a local college for a couple of afternoons. However despite me living in a major city, they were totally unable to sort the paperwork to facilitate this. They blamed this on government regulations. So, unfortunately like many things in this country, you may find (unless you are lucky) that it is glitter, wrapping, glitz, but of little substance.

Keep your eyes open with this one. I know that people have completed these courses, but it could be pot luck whether they can "make it happen".