Lift in visitors to OU’s one-stop-shop for free learning

The Open University has seen a spike in visitors to its free online learning platform OpenLearn to access its health, wellbeing and educational content in a time of huge societal need.

The popular online site is The Open University’s home of free learning, offering a chance for anyone to explore relevant topics, from teaching online and courses designed to aid mental and physical health, to family friendly interactives, animations and quizzes, providing thousands of pages of content to help you cope with the affects of Coronavirus and the impact it is having across society.

Dedicated pages on Coronavirus and related topics

The site usually sees an average of 40,000 daily visits, which has risen to more than 60,000 over the last week.

Its dedicated pages on Coronavirus provide information and links to UK government advice and advice from OU academics about the spread of the virus and a wealth of free resources dealing with associated concerns such as mental health issues. Additional content is also being developed for these Coronavirus-specific pages, including video content aimed specifically at the elderly (over 70s) on staying well in the event of needing to self-isolate. 

In terms of educational resources, there are popular specific pages on taking teaching online with a collection of helpful resources and a digital literacy collection. To support and prepare students for their studies, there is the For Study section of the site. And work-based skills are available in the For Life section.

The increasing changes we are having to make in society because of the coronavirus has created a demand in delivering educational content online but also, clearly, for how to stay informed, inspired, engaged and entertained in this time of need.

The Open University has always been present in peoples’ homes and has long been a front-runner in distance learning, specifically online. OpenLearn is a valuable free resource and we hope it can help people, families and communities in these unprecedented times.

Professor Tim Blackman
Vice-Chancellor, The Open University

Launched in 2006, OpenLearn has 15,000 hours of online courses and content offered to all, free of charge. The portal attracts 10 million visitors per year. With more than 950 courses, learners can explore a subject, get inspiration, build skills and confidence and earn recognition (via badged open courses), all for free.

As well as popular interactives, academic insights and animations on a range of subjects there are also more typical taster courses in the arts, sciences, languages and more, plus comprehensive courses to show you how to make your own open educational resources.

What’s on offer?

• All courses – with printable statements (PDF certificates); browse by subject, level and length.
• Skills for Work  – including digital and leadership.
• Skills for Study – including critical thinking and writing.
• Skills for Life – including family and relations, health, money and finance.
• ‘Badged’ courses – provide badges which can be shard on social media.
• Everyday skills – functional skills courses, level 1 & 2 in maths and English.

Courses are available immediately: Our courses do not have a start and end date. You can start right away or at a time that suits you.

Work through at your own pace: You can spend as long as you like on a course. If you sign-up you can track your progress and work towards a free statement of participation.

There more than 950 courses to choose from: The courses always focus on a specific area of learning. Some focus on academic subjects, others on skills needed for study or work.

5% of all OU modules can found on OpenLearn for free: We’re the perfect way to discover further education.

And you can check out the behind the scenes background on our co-productions with the BBC here.