University of Berkeley, California – Free online courses, start today!

The famous university of Berkeley also offers online courses through the Edx platform.
3 courses are starting on September 7, you can register for free. Here is our selection:

Course 1: How to Write an Essay

An introduction to academic writing for English Language Learners, focusing on essay development, grammatical correctness, and self-editing.

About this course

College Writing 2.1x is an introduction to academic writing for English Language Learners, focusing on essay development, grammatical correctness, and self-editing. The five-week course includes a review of basic grammar terminology and understanding; writing effective sentences and paragraphs; introductions and conclusions; strategies for writing longer texts; and thesis statements. The course materials will be offered via readings and videos. An optional course workbook, in ebook form, may be used for additional writing work. Students will participate in online discussions as well as peer review. Students will complete an essay for this part of the course.

In partnership with the U.S. Department of State

UC Berkeley is partnering with the U.S. Department of State to extend the reach of College Writing 2X. Participating U.S. Embassies will host in-person, facilitated discussions sessions around the course content in order to maximize the learning experience. The State Department-supported EducationUSA network will also offer facilitated discussions in some locations for students interested in pursuing higher education in the United States. This partnership is part of the English Education Alliance (E2A), a global effort of the U.S. Department of State to address the global demand for 21st century English language skills.

What you’ll learn

• Basic grammar terminology and understanding
• How to write effective sentences and paragraphs
• How to tackle writing introductions and conclusions
• Strategies for writing longer texts and thesis statements

More information and registration HERE.

Course 2: The Foundations of Happiness at work

Learn why happiness at work matters and how to increase it within yourself and across your organization.

About this course

This course explains what happiness at work looks like, why it matters, and how to cultivate it.

It begins by defining happiness and making the case that happiness at work improves the performance of individual employees and organizations as a whole, increasing innovation, productivity, engagement, retention, and the quality of their work. It then explores the key factors that empirical research has linked to workplace happiness, zeroing in on practices such as gratitude, developing a strong sense of purpose, and forming authentic, cooperative connections with others. The course will also highlight common barriers to workplace happiness, both at the individual and cultural level.

Finally, the course presents a practical framework for workplace happiness and explores accessible techniques for: a) evaluating happiness in an organization, b) creating an effective strategy to increase workplace happiness, and c) implementing that strategy in your own work life, within your team, or across the culture of your organization, with special tips for workplace leaders.

What you’ll learn

• The personal, social, and professional advantages of happiness at work
• How to identify barriers and pitfalls to achieving happiness at work
• A series of research-backed, practical ways to boost happiness at work
• Strategies for evaluating levels of happiness within an organization

More information and registration HERE.

Course 3: How to Write an Essay

The first MOOC to teach positive psychology. Learn science-based principles and practices for a happy, meaningful life.

About this course

“A free eight-week Science of Happiness course that will offer practical, research-backed tips on living a happy and meaningful life.” – The Huffington Post

We all want to be happy, and there are countless ideas about what happiness is and how we can get some. But not many of those ideas are based on science. That’s where this course comes in.

“The Science of Happiness” is the first MOOC to teach the ground-breaking science of positive psychology, which explores the roots of a happy and meaningful life. Students will engage with some of the most provocative and practical lessons from this science, discovering how cutting-edge research can be applied to their own lives. Created by UC Berkeley’s Greater Good Science Center, the course will zero in on a fundamental finding from positive psychology: that happiness is inextricably linked to having strong social connections and contributing to something bigger than yourself–the greater good. Students will learn about the cross-disciplinary research supporting this view, spanning the fields of psychology, neuroscience, evolutionary biology, and beyond.

What’s more, “The Science of Happiness” offers students practical strategies for tapping into and nurturing their own happiness, including trying several research-backed activities that foster social and emotional well-being, and exploring how their own happiness changes along the way.

What you’ll learn

• What happiness really means and why it matters to you
• How to increase your own happiness and foster happiness in others
• Why social connections, kindness, and community are key to happiness
• Which mental habits are most conducive to happiness and how mindfulness can help

More information and registration HERE.