Uncertified Online/Home Study Courses
Not all are strictly speaking uncertified, but are awarded in-house certification that may not be widely recognised. For many people learning is the thing and certification is not that important and this category of courses are often unique, fascinating and very rewarding.
BBC Languages
This is a tremendous and totally free resource for anyone wanting to learn or improve their French, Italian, German or Spanish in particular, though there are also excellent introductory courses in Chinese, Japanese, Irish and Portuguese among others. There is online material for all ages, including primary school age, and lots of supporting content, games, articles and so on, as well as the courses themselves.
Tate Introduction to Contemporary Art
The Tate Gallery website has courses at two levels in this series, which are really best suited to older teenagers and adults. The Level One course is taken entirely online and is free of charge, though registration is required. The course is divided into units, in each of which a key artwork is studied in-depth and four other works in less depth. There is assessment and certification available, but it is optional.
The Level Two course is tutor-led and available for thirty students at a time, divided into hree groups of ten students, each led by two different tutors. It required that Level One has been completed and assessed. It is again delivered entirely online but there is a charge for this level, though a relatively small one when the degree of interactivity with tutors is considered.
Fantastic courses for anyone with an interest in contemporary art.
More about Courses at the Tate Gallery
Optimnem Courses
These unique courses use an approach to learning called 'Fluid Thinking' devised by a highly intelligent autistic savant called Daniel Tammet.
The theory is that Fluid Thinking is the opposite to the 'second-hand thinking' that a typical school learning environment relies on, where facts are delivered ready made. Instead it involves tapping into the ability to imagine, dream, be creative, observe, connect and be perceptive, and the methodology involves a range of spatial learning strategies, concept-skills such as pattern recognition and use of mental imagery, which foster information processing skills and a strong understanding in their chosen field of learning.
Subjects offered include literacy and numeracy as well as French, German and Spanish. Even if you are not using their courses, they have a number of very useful worksheets in all of these subjects which can be freely downloaded and used as you wish.
More About Optimnem Distance Learning