The University of Reading is a public research university in Reading, Berkshire, United Kingdom. The University was established in 1892 as University College, Reading and received its Royal Charter in 1926.
Food security is a complex, global issue, in which we all play a part. In this free online course, you’ll join experts from the School of Agriculture, Policy and Development at the University of Reading, to investigate our relationship with agriculture and your own food habits.Meet food producers around the worldWe’ll take you on a journey around the world from Europe to Africa to Asia. Over six weeks, we’ll find out more about the challenges of growing crops and managing livestock at the regional, national, community and household level.We’ll focus on the experience of family farmers (who produce 80% of the world’s food) in rural and urban settings in Uganda and the UK, asking:What are the key issues facing producers and consumers of food, and how do they compare?What factors influence the way we grow, process, package, transport and consume food?How does agriculture - and its wide-ranging impacts in these different regions - relate to us?And how does the food we grow, buy, eat and throw away relate to global food security issues?Consider your own role in global food securityEach week, we’ll invite you to take part in activities that will help you reflect on your own food habits, including keeping a food waste diary; analysing your weekly shop; and sharing your experiences of food and farming in your community.Despite the fact that the world is no longer short of food, about 842 million people remain chronically hungry because they cannot afford to eat. In this context, you’ll understand how your preferences - and those of a myriad of other actors in the food system - impact on our global quest for food security.To find out more about some of the issues covered in this course, read Andrew Ainslie’s post for the FutureLearn blog: “Why are dairy farmers taking to the streets in protest?”Further your studiesOur Hungry Planetprovides a taster of The University of Reading’s MSc in Food Security and Development.This course is aimed at anyone with an interest in food, food security and food waste; farming and agriculture; or sustainability. You don’t need any previous experience or qualifications to join it.
Chart the progress of an archaeological excavation from dig to lab and beyond.We’ll show you around our field school at the Vale of Pewsey, a relatively untouched site compared to its famous neighbour, Stonehenge.An excavation is more than just digging with a trowel. You’ll investigate how and where to dig, collect, record and store precious finds and take a closer look at what you can learn from a discovery once you’ve found it.One of the most intriguing finds of all is a burial site and you’ll examine the archaeological methods employed in the study of the dead. How can you recreate the life, health and occupation of an individual just from their skeletal remains?No prior experience of archaeology is needed. This course is designed for anyone interested in studying an archaeology degree at university. However, anyone with an enthusiastic interest in archaeology is very welcome to join us too.
Understand cardiovascular disease and learn how to keep your heart healthyYour heart beats around 100,000 times a day, pumping blood around your body to deliver oxygen and nutrients, while taking away waste products. When your heart is unhealthy, it can’t perform this vital task so effectively.This course will improve your knowledge of how the heart works, the causes of cardiovascular diseases such as heart attacks, strokes, high blood pressure and heart failure and what you can do to avoid them.You’ll cover both theory and practical aspects of heart health, learning from lab demonstrations and practical activities so you better understand your own heart.Hear from our course teamYou can take this course at any time. However, if you’d like to engage with the course team, our educators/mentors will be joining the course discussions during the following dates:15 March 2021 – 11 April 202120 Sept 2021 - 17 Oct 2021This course is aimed at anyone with an interest in how the heart works and the diseases that commonly affect it. It will help if you have a basic understanding of human biology, but we’ll explain things in a way that will be easy for those who are unfamiliar with the subject. If you get stuck, you can always ask questions in the comments and other learners may be able to help you.Healthcare practitioners may also enjoy this as a gentle refresher or resource to share with patients.
Obesity is changing the world we live in. Across a wide range of sectors - from the food industry to clothing design - we see the impact of the world’s growing waistline.Perhaps the biggest impact obesity has is on our physical and psychological health, and the organisations and institutions that care for us.Investigate the causes and consequences of obesityIn this free online course, we’ll investigate how modern life is increasing levels of obesity around the world, and the wide-ranging consequences this has on individual lives and society as a whole.We’ll explore the impact of abundant, cheap, high-calorie fast food; sedentary lifestyles; changing modes of transport; and increasing urbanisation. Over four weeks, we’ll ask:How do we define and measure obesity?What are the causes of obesity?What are the consequences of obesity on health?How is research into obesity helping us to understand the issue?Take a multidisciplinary approach to obesitySpecialists from the University of Reading’s School of Chemistry, Food and Pharmacy will guide you through the latest research in the field, and discuss how a multidisciplinary approach can help tackle the obesity epidemic.If you’re a healthcare professional, this course will offer you a taste of the University’s Certificate in Obesity Management.This course is suitable for anyone with an interest in understanding obesity and health, including healthcare professionals.
Understand how teams work and the importance of a diverse workplaceAlmost every modern workplace relies on some level of teamwork. Understanding how teams work, and why they fail is vital for any manager. On this course you will consider how teams are composed, why diverse teams (and workplaces) are so important, and how to address poor teamwork.You will also consider the best practices for team working: examining the theory behind teamwork including social aspects of teams and how to resolve issues. You will also consider the processes that help ensure organisations hire the right people and maintain productivity.This course is for entry level managers with no formal management education. You don’t need any knowledge of management theory.
Explore our introduction to roboticsRobots today are roving Mars, hoovering our floors, building cars and entertaining us in films. You may even share Stephen Hawking’s world view that super-intelligent ones may one day bring about the end of the human race.But what forms do robots take today? How do they achieve particular tasks? And how is our relationship with them evolving? In this introduction to robotics course, you’ll explore answers to these questions and more.Examine robot anatomy, control and behaviour through a set of simulated tasksIf you’d like to find out more but don’t have Hawking’s brain or an advanced qualification in cybernetics, this course is for you. You won’t require a soldering iron, but you’ll explore the key components of robot design, control and behaviour through a series of simulations that will have you test driving an ERIC – our very own University of Reading mobile robot. You’ll command ERIC to explore its environment avoiding obstacles, follow a line, and act like a Braitenberg vehicle.The course is designed for anyone interested in robotics - you don’t need to own your own robot to take part! If you’ve always wanted to learn about robotics, robot design, or the history of robots, this is the course for you.Please be aware that this course contains video clips that include sequences of flickering/flashing lights which might affect learners who are susceptible to photosensitive epilepsy.
Discover the importance of climate education and outdoor learningChildren around the world are demanding comprehensive and up-to-date education on climate and sustainability. Most teachers agree climate change education should be compulsory in schools, yet many feel ill-equipped to teach it.On this two-week course, you’ll discuss ways to embed climate awareness and sustainable practices into the life of the school. You’ll explore the importance of being outside for inspiring children and learn how to lead high-quality learning experiences outdoors.Identify the skills to teach climate and sustainability outsideYou’ll engage with a case study from a school that is developing an approach to climate and sustainability education through outdoor learning. You’ll hear from teachers about their experience of leading learning sessions outside, watch climate education in action, and reflect on your own working practices.Collaborate and develop an action plan for your own teaching practicesYou’ll have the opportunity to build a plan for your own teaching or to help make a wider impact at the whole school level.You’ll have the space to share your experiences and ideas about teaching climate and sustainability and collaborate with others on the course to discuss how to facilitate this learning outside in an effective way.Learn from the experts at the University of ReadingThis course has been developed by The University of Reading, one of the world’s leading centres for the study of climate. On this course, you’ll hear from experts in outdoor learning and meteorology and explore resources for raising awareness and action through climate education outdoors.This course will inspire you to start implementing climate and sustainability learning outdoors within your own school, helping you and your pupils pioneer a better tomorrow.This course is designed for primary school teachers who want to incorporate climate and sustainability into their teaching. It will also be particularly helpful for those who lead on climate and sustainability education and/or outdoor learning in a school or are looking for opportunities to build their skills and knowledge for such a role in the future.Course image©Gi Dais, Taking the first steps outside.
##Take your first steps into the world of computer programming and learn how to build your own mobile game in just five weeks.You’ll be introduced to the basic constructs and the principles behind computer programs, as well as the building blocks that are used to create them.Using the same tools as industry professionals, you’ll create algorithms to solve problems and translate them into code.Each week you’ll put into practice your new-found skills by changing the game code provided in the course, creating a game unique to you.This beginners’ course teaches the basics of programming and you don’t need any knowledge of coding to take part. You may find it challenging at times, but we hope it’ll be fun too. However, the course does require you to be comfortable downloading, unzipping and installing software to your computer. If you think that you may find this difficult, you may like to have someone with a good knowledge of IT on hand to help you – particularly in Week 1.The 4 hours per week is an estimate based on past participants’ experiences, however some previous participants have reported taking much less time, while others take considerable longer to complete some weeks. This will depend on your experience and to some extent how powerful your computer is.This course includes video content and other visual teaching methods. As such, blind and visually impaired students may need a helper.The course will give you an opportunity to write and edit your own programming code using specific software. To run this software effectively, we recommend a computer (Windows, Mac or Linux) that has a dual-core processor and a minimum of 2GB of RAM — though this may vary. For information on operating system support see the Android developers’ site.We do recommend using a computer to complete the practical coding exercises in this course, but if you just want to watch the videos and read the tutorials, you should be able to access these on most web connected devices, such as smartphones, tablets and consoles.We recommended that you have an Android device (such as a phone or tablet) running at least Android 2.2 on which you can test and run your game. If you don’t have an Android device you can use an emulator on your computer, but this is a much slower and more error-prone process.
Improve the support you provide for children’s learning in primary schoolGiving children in primary school the right support is vital.On this course you’ll hear from education experts, school staff and school children who provide insight into how children learn, the learning environment, and communicating in school.You’ll explore some of the theories underlying people’s behaviour that could impact learning in school, and you’ll reflect on your own experiences in the classroom to help build on your confidence and working practices.By the end of the course you’ll be better equipped to improve the support you provide in the education of children.This course is for teaching assistants and support staff in early years and primary school. It will also be of interest to teachers returning to work, newly qualified teachers, as well as providing a refresher for current teachers.Parents of children in schools may also find this course useful in helping them to support and encourage their children’s learning.This course focusses on teaching and learning in primary schools. If you work in a secondary school, you may like to join: Supporting Successful Learning in Secondary Schools.
Get ready for university life and make the most of your timeas a studentWhat do you think university life is like?You probably have many questions about what to expect. This course will help you prepare for the best possible start, wherever you go.You’ll hear practical advice on how to navigate university life from current students and staff as they give you an insight into the expectations vs reality, what support will be available, and common questions about what’s ahead.Live Smart will help you to start making plans so that you canset goals for your future and build on the life skills that will helpyou make the most of your time at university and beyond.Hear from our course teamYou can take this course at any time. However, if you’d like to engage with the course team, our mentors will be joining the course discussions during the following dates:11 January 2021 – 31 January 202114 June 2021 – 4 July 2021This course is designed for anyone considering or soon to be enrolling at university.Parents and supporters may also find this course useful to gaina better understanding of what living at university entails, andthe sources of support that are available to students throughout their undergraduate career.
Improve the support you provide to students’ learning in secondary schoolEngaging young people in the classroom can be a challenge for teachers and teaching assistants. Secondary school students often learn differently to younger students. This can require a different teaching approach.On this course, you will learn how to support effective learning experiences in secondary schools, exploring the different ways secondary school students learn. You will also reflect on your own values and biases to improve your confidence and working practice.By the end of the course you should feel more confident in your ability to support secondary school students.This course is ideal for teaching assistants in secondary schools. It will also be of interest to teachers returning to work, newly qualified teachers, unqualified staff, as well as providing a refresher for current teachers.Parents of children in schools may also find this course useful in helping them to support and encourage their children’s learning.This course focusses on teaching in secondary schools. If you work in a primary school, you may like to join Supporting Successful Learning in Primary Schools.
Anxiety and depression are terms discussed widely, in different media and amongst family and friends. But what do those labels actually mean?On this five-week course from the University of Reading, you will explore what it means to have anxiety or depression and how they are identified. The course will also demonstrate the leading evidence-based treatment–Cognitive Behaviour Therapy.It’s important to emphasise that this course is not intended to be a self-help treatment for anyone experiencing anxiety or depression, nor can it be used to formally diagnose yourself or anyone else.This beginner’s course is aimed at anyone with an interest in mental illness generally, and anxiety and depression in particular. This may include:•those who are currentlyexperiencing or have previously experienced emotional difficulties,•family and friends of those who are experiencing emotional difficulties,•primary (or other) healthcare professionals who have a frontline role in detecting mental health difficulties and offering appropriate support and guidance to those affected.
Explore the different areas affected by climate changeThe impacts of climate change are being felt worldwide and across many areas of life. This includes our food, our physical and mental health, where and how we live, wildlife and environmental systems, and political direction.On this two-week course, you’ll explore how climate change affects different people and places in varying ways and how we, and our world leaders, can take action.Examine the environmental researchThe course is presented by two University of Reading students who uncover what the research shows about the effects of climate change, discuss the impacts, and consider the implications for young people and their futures.Based on the themes identified by youth delegates who hosted mock COP26, which represented over 140 countries, you’ll explore different aspects of the climate crisis. As you delve into each one, you’ll find out about innovations helping us adapt and the actions you can take to help yourself, others, and the planet.Be empowered to take action for the planetFinally, you’ll look at how climate change is being addressed globally, such as through the Paris Agreement, and how you can call on world leaders to do more.By the end of the course, you will be able to speak confidently about climate change and its impacts, understand how it will continue to affect all areas of our lives, and be empowered to take action.This course is designed for anyone interested in climate change but will be particularly useful for 16-18-year-olds.
Learn how to write using academic English in preparation for university study.Academic writing can be very different from other types of written English. This course has been developed to help you learn the basics of academic writing and develop your English language skills.You’ll develop some proficiency in key areas of ‘academic’ grammar, learn about the stages in essay writing, and produce an essay of your own. You’ll also explore how to organise an essay, write in an academic style, and use tools to evaluate your own writing and other learners’ writing, so that by the end of the course you’re able to write a good, basic academic essay.Hear from our course teamYou can take this course at any time. However, if you’d like to engage with the course team, our educators/mentors will be joining the course discussions during the following dates:18 January 2021 – 19 February 20216 September 2021 – 8 October 2021This course is aimed at non-English speakers who have studied some English. You should have a minimum level of IELTS 4.5 or equivalent.