We are never done learning. As an entrepreneur or even an employee, it’s not hard to feel caught in your own niche and feel your personal growth slow dramatically. Taking time for a class can may seem tiring, time-consuming and expensive. It’s almost too hard to justify. Then these free educational resources came along. For those who think they don’t have the time or resources to spend on a class, think again.
Here’s a list of the top free online learning sites for you to choose from. Yes, free classes from the best universities on a plethora of topics, all prepared for your consumption. Explore the list below and start growing as a business owner, a professional and as a person.
1. Edx
Edx is your one-stop shop for all things university. From a UC Berkley class on essay writing to a Harvard course on Einstein, they’ve got it all.
Free online education, as you will continue to see, isn’t limited to a non-academic institution or places you’ve never heard of. Edx features courses from MIT, Dartmouth, Cornell and more that would make your head spin.
2. ALISON
ALISON has partnered with top publishers, among the likes of Macmillan and Google, to bring you courses tailored to areas where you may need some beefing up.
Ready to explore more about supply chain management? How about polishing those HR practices? Why not nursing? Somebody is always hurting himself in the office. Like a perfect content curator, ALISON takes top, reputable materials and makes them super accessible. Watch those excuses about time fly right out the window.
3. MIT OpenCourseware
For a more concentrated selection of coursework from a university as well known as college itself, check what MIT’s serving up with MIT Opencourseware.
They offer everything from courses on animal behaviour to statistics and probability.
4. Coursera
Much like Edx and Alison, Coursera combines more than 100 courses from elite institutions. Taken from countries all over the world, this massive library of courses has more to offer than you could ever fit in, but that shouldn’t stop you from diving in head first. With courses from Stanford, Duke and the University of Edinburgh waiting on the home page, there’s no reason not to join the more 11,000,000 users today.
5. Microsoft Virtual Academy
For a step away from the purely academic, take some notes from the guys who pioneered personal computer as we know it. Microsoft Virtual Academy offer courses on IT, Cloud Computing and all of the stuff on the internet that you have no explanation for. You can even register for live events, like a tutorial on 2D game programming in HTML! There are courses for students at every level, so you can get going without the fear of being mocked.
6. Code Academy
In another move towards all things computer, check out Code Academy. Still trying to figure out what CSS is? Not quite confident in JavaScript? Sick of having to call your web developer guy over every 15 minutes? Code Academy is here to help. This smart site is designed to help you interactively learn code, no matter what level you’re at. So start with the basics of HTML if you need to, and work your way up to a whole new level of confidence online.
7. Moz
Beyond being one the most prominent authorities on SEO out there, Moz has an exceptional bank of resources to learn anything and everything about search engine and content marketing- for any player in the game. With expert guide to Link Building and Social Media, Moz is sure to be a priceless resource for refreshing your skills and bringing the uninitiated on in a snap.
8. HubSpot Academy
Not to be outdone, HubSpot has been a leader in producing courses and eBooks on everything “content marketing”. What’s great about HubSpot is that they’ve taken it one step further: certification. If you’re really looking to boost your credentials and stand out among the sea of hungry employees and job seekers, this is a great start. It’s simple, it’s free and you’ll really learn.
9. iTunesU
While not everything on iTunesU is free, there’s plenty of content to be had without spending a penny. It’s for those who really do not have a free minute beyond their commutes. Courses can be loaded on your phone, into your computer or synced into your car for easy on-the-go listening to podcast and lectures.
10. Duolingo
Finally, in a category of its own is Duolingo. It’s a revolutionary and extremely intuitive language learning tool that lets you truly go at your own pace. By integrating sound, text translation, visuals and speaking into simple phrase, you’re slowly helping to translate untranslated pages of the internet while you learn. It’s free and it’s beneficial to those who aren’t yet fluent in English. And if you’ve already got foundation for your second (or third) language, there’s an aptitude test to help get you started from a place where you can immediately be improving.
There’s no secret recipe for learning new things overnight. But never let yourself be bogged down by the excuse that you don’t have the time or resources. The top material from top institutions is out there. Sometimes all it takes is a few clicks.
About the Writer: Osakwe Richard is an avid follower of tech news and developments around the globe and a Scrabble aficionado.
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This article was first published on 2nd July 2015
Comments (1)
Awesome! A wonderful resource for committed learners. Thanks guys.