Can anyone recommend an online history course for my mum?

[Katymac]

My mum was laughingly she'd like to do a history degree but that she couldn't because she didn't do many O levels and left school at 16 (in 1961)

So I wondered if there would be an online course I could arrange for her for Christmas

Perhaps something quite cheap so if she didn't want to do it it wasn't wasted

She has a good working knowledge of british history from TV & books so nothing assuming no knowledge but she has little or no essay writing skills, so something basic-ish that she could build on

Any ideas?

[TrollTheRespawnJeremy]

There's Open University but I'm not sure if she'd qualify. What about a night class at a local college?

Or at one of our local Uni's they often have day events- recently it was a facial reconstruction from a skull of a notable historical person... maybe get her a ticket for something like that?

[Katymac]

Thanks for reminding me OU do Open Learn which are free and often include study skills

Brilliant start - she can dip in &out and see what she fancies

[Headunderthecovers]

Would she like any of the future learn short courses which again are free.

[Katymac]

She has a printer. paper & computer

I think I'll get her a nice pen, a notebook, a folder & maybe some post its (tho' they maybe useless) to make it more of a present

I've picked these courses

Finding information

What is Heritage

Reading in the Past

Reading

Welsh History

Richard III


Still seems a bit stingy, but I'll buy her some nice PJs or something too I guess

[Katymac]

Thanks Headunder - Richard III is one of yours and a particular favourite of hers

[user789653241]

I recommend future learn as well. But also just learning for fun, I also recommend [https://www.khanacademy.org/humanities/world-history khanacademy].

[user789653241]

Sorry link didn't work.
www.khanacademy.org/humanities/world-history

[Collymollypuff]

What an interesting thread, Katymac. Does she know about U3A?

[Katymac]

She does, Colly, but our area one is a bit, umm, clique-y

I'll have a look at that one to Irvine

If I'd remembered Open Learn I wouldn't have started the thread!! I'm a numpty

Now I'm off to look for some systems stuff for me!! I miss learning

[SaltyMyDear]

Also look at Coursera.

Courses are free so not a present. But still are brilliant :)

[Katymac]

Hmm, not sure I agree that presents must be bought or cost something

But I'll have a look at that site, thanks

[LIZS]

Check out futurelearn. Courses are short, free and run and resourced by universities. Alternatively Open university run openlearn courses which are tasters of longer ones but can be standalone.

[JohnHunter]

You could try the short courses available through Coursera or Edx. Alternatively the University of Oxford run a number of short online history courses. Have you thought about looking for face-to-face courses run by your local university? Most universities now run a whole suite of courses designed for interested members of the public.

[smilingmind]

If your mother enjoys the online studying and wants to take it further it may be possible for her to do a degree.
At the uni I taught at recently we had a great many mature students, some in their 70s, who came through an Access Course at the local FE college. As far as I am aware this is a common route of entry at many, if not most, universities
Many had few qualifications from school and generally they all did extremely well.
Just a thought.

[smilingmind]

Here you are.

www.ucas.com/ucas/undergraduate/getting-started/mature-undergraduate-students

[Katymac]

Thanks everyone - I won't be suggesting anything else initially as it would frighten her off

[FaFoutis]

Open University is for people like your mum. You don't need qualifications to get in, that's the point.
Depending on her age and income she probably wouldn't need to pay a student loan back.

[NotCitrus]

I've done a few FutureLearn courses and they are pretty good - and free. The comments from other students are often fascinating.

[GiveMyHeadPeaceffs]

Some of these are great suggestions...think I'll have a look at some for myself! Great thread

[EBearhug]

Not having O-level history would be unlikely to be a barrier to doing a history degree and entry requirements for mature students may well be altered to reflect a non-standard route in. The main thing you need is the ability to read a lot in not much time, and then to put an argument for a point of view together, while considering other viewpoints and the evidence for and against - it's not a skill that is limited to historians.

Free courses area good idea, though. There are loads of online MOOCS - Futurelearn, Coursera, Udemy, EdX and others.

It's also worth looking at local WEA and other adult education courses in your area, though funding in AdEd has been massively cut in recent years, so thete may not be much available. Also, if you're in or near a university town, they mght do extra-mural classes, and a local museum might also run talks or short courses.

[cdtaylornats]

www.futurelearn.com/courses/categories/history

[Katymac]

I think she would need to build her confidence up before meeting other people & doing a course.

I think she got Home Economics & Englsh at O level then went & got a great job in a bank and went to watch the Beatles during her lunchbreak - life was different then

[LIZS]

I've just discovered the optional certificate for my futurelearn course costs £49. Maybe offer to contribute towards that. Fellow students come from all over the world and have varying levels of prior knowledge and time to read around.