North Carolina Center for Public Health Preparedness

2009-04-23T00:54:00.000-07:00

Disaster response personnel, law enforcement personnel as well as other first responders will definitely benefit from the multitude of courses available at the North Carolina Center for Public Health Preparedness Training Web Site.

http://nccphp.sph.unc.edu/training/index.php

All NCCPHP Training courses are offered for continuing education credits (CEUs), which further make these professional courses very much worth the effort. Courses available free of charge include public health preparedness topics such as disease surveillance, basic epidemiology, bio-terrorism and new/emerging disease agents.

All courses are very well structured, easy to follow and come with simple self-assessment tests after reviewing the multi-media tutorials and pdf transcripts. Following successful completion of the tutorials and tests, a neat certificate of completion may be printed out.

Below is a list of topics of free online trainings available from The North Carolina Center for Public Health Preparedness. Each topic includes a number of different courses that can be accessed directly.

	Assessment
	Bioterrorism, Chemical & Radiation Emergencies
	Disaster Planning, Response & Recovery
	Diverse Populations
	Emerging & Reemerging Infectious Diseases
	Environmental Health
	Epidemiology
	Evaluation
	Laboratory
	Legal & Forensic
	Management & Leadership
	Mental Health
	Professional Resources
	Software for Public Health
	Statistics
	Surveillance
	Training Series

I have so far completed 4 of these courses and planning to finish all available by the end of the year.

Jay Marshall

Thinkfinity: Verizon Foundation

2009-04-22T09:37:00.000-07:00

Today I came across another neat site which provides a number of courses with certificates of completion. The site is called Thinkfinity and is an online education platform provided by the Verizon Foundation.

Quoted from the site, it states that "Thinkfinity.org is the cornerstone of Verizon Foundation's literacy, education and technology initiatives. Our goal is to improve student achievement in traditional classroom settings and beyond by providing high-quality content and extensive professional development training."

So far I have completed my first course, entitled "A Way With Words: Strategies for Strengthening Adult Learners' Vocabularies", which was very much a pleasure to complete.

The one and only drawback of these courses is that the certificates are really rather plain looking. A more professional-looking certificate would have rounded out this course rather perfectly.

Content for these courses - which range from Adult, Children & General Literacy & Technology to Literacy Administration - are provided by a host of reputable organizations. These include:

American Association for the Advancement of Science
Council for Economic Education
International Reading Association
National Center for Family Literacy
National Council of Teachers of English
National Council of Teachers of Mathematics
National Endowment for the Humanities
National Geographic Society
ProLiteracy
Smithsonian National Museum of American History
The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts

The website can be found at http://thinkfinity.org/about.aspx and registration is - of course - totally free and simple.

Happy learning!

Jay Marshall

Advance Learning Interactive Systems Online

2009-04-20T19:09:00.000-07:00

The first provider of online courses that provides a certificate for course completion I would like to introduce is Advance Learning Interactive Systems Online or ALISON.

Although ALISON seems to be a rather newcomer to the online education industry, and does not offer that many courses, the interactive, multi-media nature and content of the courses are a major attraction. The Flash content is of very high quality and visually appealing, which made completing my first course a pleasure.

As I mentioned earlier however, there are only a limited number of courses available at this point, but I am hoping more will be added as time goes by.

A full list of courses available is offered below.

I completed my first course on ALISON entitled "Fire Safety Awareness Training" in about an hour and thirty minutes and proceeded to the self-assessment and subsequently printed out a Certificate of Completion. I definitely intend to complete a few more of their courses in the near future.

Listed here are all courses that are currently available on ALISON.

ALISON ABC IT

ALISON ABC IT is a self-certifiable course which comprehensively introduces the beginner and near beginner to IT literacy. ABC IT introduces the learner to the very basic concepts of computing and teaches how computing can be an everyday feature of life and work.

Digital Enterprise

Digital skills are needed for almost every job function in a modern competitive economy. Companies are becoming ever-more reliant on those skills being acquired by all of their employees and not just managers. This course suite develops the trainees IT skills, provides IT-related health and safety awareness, and improves touch typing proficiency.

How to use Gmail

This course uses the Web-based e-mail service from Google™ called Gmail™, (Google Mail in the UK and Germany), to introduce you to the basics of e-mail. Gmail is an e-mail service which is accessed directly via the Web, and is not dependent on your using software loaded on your own personal computer (e.g. Microsoft Outlook or Mozilla Thunderbird). A major advantage of Web-based e-mail is that you can access your e-mail from any Internet-connected computer anywhere in the world.

Identity Theft

Identity theft is an increasingly common crime. Fortunately there are many preventative measures you can take to substantially reduce the chance of your identity being stolen, as well as steps you can take to minimize damage if you become a victim of this crime.

This programme will give you the tools to protect yourself and your staff by highlighting the issues around identity theft.

Microsoft Internet Explorer 6 Training

Improve upon your knowledge of MS IE version 6 with this free Microsoft Internet Explorer course. You will be trained in all basic aspects of surfing the World Wide Web, how to accomplish common Web search tasks, and how to use Web-based forms to interact with a Web site.

Microsoft Office Access 2003 Training

This free Microsoft Access course will enable delegates to use and create a database using Access 2003, to an intermediate level.

Microsoft Office Excel 2003 Training

Microsoft Excel 2003 combines a powerful spreadsheet application with the user-friendly atmosphere of Windows. Delegates will learn the basics of creating, editing, and saving worksheets.

Microsoft Office Outlook 2003 Training

Learn how to use MS Outlook 2003 with our free Microsoft Outlook course.

Outlook is the messaging and collaboration application within the Microsoft Office suite of programs. It helps you to organize and share information and to communicate with other people, especially through its usefulness for composing, sending and receiving e-mail.

Microsoft Office PowerPoint 2003 Training

This free Microsoft PowerPoint course is designed to give the user the ability to produce professional-looking presentations using MS Office PowerPoint 2003.

Microsoft Office Word 2003 Training

This Microsoft Word course is to introduce the user to the fundamental principles of using Word 2003 and to provide an understanding of the power of the Word 2003 word-processing system.

Microsoft Office Word 2007 تدريب باللغة العربية

ننطلق معاً في هذه الدورة التدريبية نحو العمل بأقصى سرعة مع Word 2007 والتعرف على أفضل الطرق لاستخدام الشريط الجديد والتمكن من العثور على الأوامر الشائعة والتعامل مع القوائم والجداول والرسومات وخصائص وورد المتقدمة وقم باستيعاب ما يقوم به برنامج معالج النصوص المحترف Word 2007

Unit E - BCS Using IT Module

Unit E is an additional module of IT Desktop Application training added to ECDL curriculum within the UK by the British Computer Society (BCS) to bring the ECDL syllabus into line with the UK’s Level 1 and Level 2 National Qualification Framework (NQF). It provides IT training outside of the ECDL curriculum which is not required learning outside of the Second Level school system of the United Kingdom.

Financial Literacy

What you do not know about money can really affect your entire life! Financial Literacy is an introductory course about personal financial management. In this interactive multimedia course, a series of seven dynamic modules covering everything from how to set up your first bank account to planning for your retirement will put you on the path to financial fitness!

Back Safety

This Back Safety training will provide learners with useful information on how to take the relevant precautions against back injury at their place of work. This programme combines exercises within each module with a quiz at the end of each module.

Behavior-Based-Safety

This course provides an introduction to behavior-based safety. It is designed primarily for supervisors and team leaders, but may be useful to anyone requiring an overview of the concepts involved. This course is of particular use to Health and Safety Auditors, Representatives and Officers or Managers.

Drug-Free Workplace

This Drug-free Workplace training will provide the learner with useful information on how to recognize the signs of drug misuse at their place of work and how to takes steps to prevent its increase. This programme allows the learner to complete the modules at their own pace, with exercises within each module and a quiz at the each module end.

Health & Safety - Environmental Awareness Training

The aim of this module is to describe the major environmental issues facing organizations, and to help the trainee to understand how they can contribute to reducing environmental impacts.

Health & Safety - Manual Handling Awareness

Manual Handling Awareness aims to help your organization to meet the intent of the Manual Handling Operations regulations. It does this by helping to establish a culture where all those involved have input into resolving the issues, having received a level of hazard awareness and workplace precaution training.

Health & Safety - Office Safety Training

Office Safety aims to help your organization become legally-compliant with the latest UK Health and Safety at Work regulations. It will give your employees a substantial awareness of health and safety issues in the office, enabling them to carry out safe procedures at all times.

Health & Safety - Working at Height Training

This module covers the range of hazards that need to be considered in typical working at height activities, the control of risks, undertaking assessments and visual inspections, and relevant equipment such as ladders, scaffolding and Mobile Elevated Work Platforms (MEWPs) to meet the requirements of the Working at Height regulations.

Health & Safety - Noise Awareness Training

The Noise Awareness course provides you with an appreciation of the requirements of the Control of Noise at Work Regulations 2005; an explanation of noise action levels and the harm that noise that can cause to individuals, as well as compliance with the statutory requirement to train those exposed to noise at work.

Health & Safety - Fire Safety Training

This module aims to change the way you think about fire safety. It's designed to promote a culture within your business or institution that encourages everyone to focus on fire prevention and the correct action to take in the event of a fire.

Health & Safety - Electrical Safety Training

This module provides trainees with an awareness of the hazards and workplace precautions relating to the safe use of electrical equipment, systems and portable appliances.

Health & Safety - Display Screen Equipment Awareness

This module provides the trainee with the ability to understand the hazards associated with display screen use. They will learn what actions can be taken to ensure their workplace is a safe environment for them to work at and how to establish an ergonomic workstation.

Health & Safety - Asbestos Awareness Training

The aim of the Asbestos Awareness module is to provide the trainee with an awareness of the dangers of asbestos, where it might be found, and what to do where the presence has been identified. The module was professionally developed for Health and Safety Professionals, Training managers, or anyone with responsibility for health and safety compliance.

HIV/AIDS

From having a HIV test to living with HIV and AIDS, this course uses a straightforward style to deliver a clear and most effective basic AIDS Awareness education programme.

Business English Test (LT-E)

English is emerging as the primary global business language and good command of the English language is now a key business skill. The Scales LT-E test measures whether your command of English will support interaction on an international scale!

Touch Typing Skills

Our Touch Typing Course is a professional typing tutor that helps you to increase your typing speed and accuracy. It takes very little time to learn the basics of touch typing, allowing you to develop a skill that we help you for a lifetime! Save yourself hours of time and learn to touch type!

Psychometric Tests

The SHAPES^TM psychometric test helps you to understand your personal strengths for employment with respect to personality and competency.

The VIEWS^TM psychometric test helps you to understand your personal strengths relating to employment with respect to your values, motives and interests.

These tests are indicative only, the results which can be saved in your personal ALISON account in PDF format.

The Psychometric Assessments are offered in partnership with the Cut-e Group, the international experts in psychometric test development.

Basic Study Skills - A Short Guide

Identify your personal learning style and learn about key study skills such as: mind mapping, time management, keeping a study diary, reading and writing techniques, as well as listening, speaking and telephone techniques.

How to Take FREE Online Classes & Courses For Personal Development and College Credit

North Carolina Center for Public Health Preparedness

Thinkfinity: Verizon Foundation

Advance Learning Interactive Systems Online