We are fortunate to live in information revolution era. With progress in technology development, we have access to free educational resources. Whether you make a quick web search from a phone or take online classes, you can learn anything in multiple ways.
As a college student or graduate taking self-education activities, surf the web smart! Online learning offers a new way to explore subjects you are passionate about. Use our tips below for your personal and professional development!
10 – Webinars and lectures
Auditory learners can benefit from watching webinars and lectures. View recorded online talks, speeches, conferences and seminars on various topics.
Visit TED – top video website. It features short lectures from academics, teachers, innovators, entrepreneurs, celebrities and other successful people. Some of the TED speakers are Bill Clinton, Bill Gates, James Cameron, Bono and Jamie Oliver.
For more video lectures visit YouTube EDU, Do Lectures, Solve For X, Big Think, Fora.TV, @Google Talks, Reddit Lectures, Creative Live and RSA Animate.
09 – Educational blogs
Students can find plenty of blogs beneficial for learning. They provide educational content and materials that encourage studying and exploration. There are blogs on practically any specific information you need, like self-development, art, technology, science etc.
College students should consider blogs such as EssayService writing guides, StudyHacks, My College Guide, HackCollege, Chegg. If you are interested in learning techniques, browse Thank You Brain. Technology-assisted and online learning are topics discussed in The Knowledge Tree, Clive on Learning, Internet Time Blog and E-Learning Queen.
08 – Video learning websites
Video collection sites are innovative means of education. Students can find information related to different subjects at National Geography Video, MIT Video and Internet Archive. Academic Earth and MIT Open CourseWare can also be of use.
Various educational movies and clips are also available. It is an engaging and inspirational way of self-education. Some of the sites are TV Documentaries, SnagFilms and Top Documentary Films.
07 – Tutoring, homework help and exams preparation
Besides the obvious accessibility of learning technologies, look at another trend that is becoming more and more widespread – online tutoring. Communicate with your tutor via live video streaming. Use Skype, Google Hangouts or any other free and easy-to-navigate service.
Some video tutorials are accessible for free. There are lots of sites on the net that can help you with complete your homework and prepare for tests and exams. Clutch Prep provides video guides follow college textbooks. Also visit Khan Academy’s Tutorials, Study Guide Zone, Wikiversity, OpenCourseWare Consortium, FreeEdNet and Lynda.
06 – Online tools and apps
The mobility of online learning systems allows a student to find the right balance between individual lifestyle and studying anytime and anywhere. Countless digital tools enable you to extend knowledge and skills.
If academic papers are part of your academic routine, creative writing tools and apps help you to be more efficient and quick. Pay attention to Hemingway, Scrivener, Plot Generator and Grammarly.
Consider the following tools to manage your self-education and creative projects: Evernote, Flipboard, Diigo, Trello, Toggl, MindMeister and Wunderlist.
05 – Open educational resources (Q&A, podcasts, infographics, digital documents, and textbooks)
The variety of online resources allows choosing the best way to study depending on your particular learning abilities. Audiles can browse iTunes Podcasts for audio shows. If you are an interpersonal student, get your burning questions answered at Open Study and Quora. As a visual learner, use eLearning Infographics – a source of for visually represented information and data. An avid reader will benefit from high-quality educational textbooks and digital resources as Boundless, Textbook Revolution and Open Textbooks. Discover your learning style and find out the resources that suit you.
04 – Ebooks
An efficient way to educate yourself is to read books. Internet gives you a possibility to study the grand classics without going to a library or a bookshop: The Liberal Arts 4-Year Reading List, The Classics, Project Gutenberg, Classic Reader, Planet Ebook.
Passionate readers can find and share books through Good Reads, Book Yards, Read Print Library, Library Thing. As icing on the cake, you meet people who have similar literary taste.
03 – Certification programs
For young people and adults looking for studying opportunities, there’s a broad range of online learning programs that enable you to get a certificate outside of the traditional campus and classroom. It allows choosing even the degree programs you couldn’t take due to distance limitations.
Online certifications are available for a range of careers including nursing, web design, information technology and business administration. University of the People is a non-profit, tuition-free online university that offers higher education in multiple course streams, such as arts, commerce, science and technology. If you wish to learn web development, consider W3Schools, KnowledgeNet and Microsoft Certificate Program.
02 – Fast online language learning
Not everyone can afford attending language learning classes or purchasing the expensive software. Fortunately, there are many free resources online that you can use to learn a new language on your own. From free online courses to language learning communities, knowledge can be found with just a click of the mouse.
Many learners choose Duolingo as it is an intuitive, language-learning tool that lets them go at their own pace. By integrating sound, visuals, text translation and speaking into simple phrases you learn to translate content. Other helpful tools are Memrise, Live Mocha and BBC Languages.
01 – Online courses
If you have deep interest in a particular field, consider Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs). These are free access classes aimed at large-scale participation and not limited to one college or university program.
The choice of online courses is wide: Coursera, Udacity, EdX, MIT Open Courseware, Khan Academy, Alison, Microsoft Virtual Academy, CodeAcademy, iTunesU, Canvas Network, Online Education Database (OEDB) and many others. Take these courses for academic or career advantage.
Whatever stage of life you are on, it’s the right time to study. Don’t be afraid to explore new interests or pursue your career dreams! With online learning activities, students enhance their educational progress. Graduates or adults can self-educate and gain new skills, attitudes or develop values. Withall remember, an online certificate always looks good on a resume!
About the Author: Jennifer Lockman is the student majoring in Journalism and blogger. Her specialization includes e-learning, psychology, lifestyle and general education. Jennifer’s personal interests belong to art, literature and yoga.