Free Education Resources

TLDR: Learning is fun and has hidden benefits that can improve your life, this drop outlines the continuous learning mindset and a variety of free learning platforms 

Key Take-Aways:

1.     The more effort you put in to learning something, the more you will typically get out of whatever you tried to learn
2.     There are many different types of learners – some learn best through trying and failing, listening, visuals, or being taught by others – learning is not a one size fits all model
3.     There are a TON of free resources online where you can learn just about anything – scroll down to explore!

 Free Education Resources:

As we learn new things, our perspective on the world tends to change. At some point in each of our lives, we learn something that drastically changes how we live. One example of this was when I learned to drive a car. It was a time-consuming process - attending drivers education classes, practicing behind the wheel, and preparing to pass both a written and driving test. Once I received my driver’s license, I felt a new sense of freedom. At last, I was independent! I could drive to school, to the gym, or hang out with friends on my own schedule. I was no longer dependent on others, public transportation, or costly ride sharing apps to get from point A to point B.

You can learn just about anything if you put your mind to it. Typically, the more effort you put into learning the more value you get out of it. Those who put in the time and practice to learn a new language can communicate to an entirely new group of human beings. Those who put in the time and take a few coding classes can build software and develop webpages. The great thing about learning is that it can be done in whatever way, and at whatever pace that works best for you. I am an experiential learner, which means I learn best by diving in headfirst. Typically, I will try something new and fail a few times before I figure it out. Each time I fail, I learn something new about the task at hand. Others may be auditory learners who thrive by listening, visual learners who learn by seeing things happen, or social learners who learn best from others. Learning is not a one size fits all activity!

One principle that I have always operated on is the principle of continuous learning. Continuous learning is the ongoing, voluntary pursuit of knowledge. In other words, I am curious and like to learn new things! By learning new things constantly, I can interact with a much wider variety of people. I’ve also seen benefits in my career, my ability to advise and mentor others, and my overall happiness. Sometimes learning something new can refresh your sense of purpose.

The internet has spawned endless opportunities to learn new things. You can watch videos on YouTube, read articles, communicate with others on the same journey via platforms like Reddit and Discord, or take classes online. Many of these internet resources are free to access. The list below summarizes some of our favorite (free) online resources for learning new things:

Khan Academy:

Khan Academy partners with post-secondary schools (Colleges or Universities) to offer classes across a wide variety of subjects. Khan Academy is a non-profit, so all of their courses are free. You can find courses in Math, Science, Arts and Humanities, Economics, Computing, Reading and Language Arts, and Life Skills. Khan Academy also offers standardize test prep courses, so you can avoid the expensive fees at private learning centers as you prepare for the ACT or SAT.

Udemy:

Udemy is an online learning site that offers both free and paid courses. Udemy provides users the ability to build custom courses from a wide variety of lessons. The platform works with top professors and schools to ensure top-quality content. Here you can find lectures from Ivy League universities - for free! Udemy offers classes in computer science, basic business skills, music, lifestyle, design, marketing, health and fitness, photo and video, and more!

edX:

edX is a free online education platform that brings together courses from Harvard, MIT, and Berkley, among other high caliber (and expensive!) schools. This site is a great way to learn from the smartest professors in academic institutions without spending a dime. edX is a little more advanced than other learning platforms. You can access classes in subjects like Architecture, Computer Science, Business and Management, Health and Safety, Food and Nutrition, Communication, Chemistry, the list goes on and on! Click the link above to see the full list of subjects available.

Codeacademy:

For those of you looking for material on Computer Science and Coding, Codeacademy is for you! This website is dedicated to teaching coding and includes a unique feature that allows users to practice coding while watching the instructional videos. Great for experiential learners like me! The courses on this site are well written and easy to follow. Users have access to a centralized dashboard where you can monitor your progress and work through pre-set modules. Following the modules help you learn the entire language without manually selecting your courses.

BBC Podcasts:

For those of you that are auditory learners or like to learn through listening, BBC Podcasts is the place for you. BBC has podcasts on everything from finance to sports to current events. This is a more casual resource than some of the others that involve formal courses. This site includes podcasts in many different languages through the World Service line of podcasts – so for those of you that are translating this article, this is for you!

TED-Ed:

This is a great destination for those of you that like videos. This site is jam packed with educational videos. Most of the videos include animation and are about 10 minutes long. Great for car rides, commutes, or bus rides to school. It’s a great place for curious minds who are down to learn whatever! The site includes quizzes on each video and supplemental material for those of you who want to get after it.

Learn something new. 

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