The Best Free Computer Education Courses for Skill Building

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Where to Learn Online for Free

Classroom education is expensive, not to mention limiting. Depending on your geographic location you may be restricted to local institutions. However, the Internet is free and full of resources that cost no money. The best part about these free courses is that you learn something while connecting with the best in the industry. You are no longer tied down to local education.

Unlike a traditional university setting, these free online courses are geared toward skill building. You shouldn’t expect to complete assignments for a grade or take mandatory quizzes. You can, however, expect to walk away from the class with a great knowledge of the subject matter. By voluntarily joining the course you are agreeing to participate and contribute to the conversation, which is typically a major hurdle in traditional education.

Check out the online resources below and find a course that interests you:

  • Microsoft Virtual Academy – Updated with new sessions every week, Microsoft Virtual Academy offers classes on all Microsoft products – the perfect resume booster.
  • Future Learn – Join the more than two million people who have taken courses from Future Learn. Search by category to find a class that is right for you.
  • Coursea – Coursea partners with top universities and organizations to create engaging virtual classrooms.
  • ALISON – Use ALISON to search for free courses from top publishers, like Google, Microsoft and MACMILLAN.
  • UDACITY – Learn new programming and development skills dubbed “nanodegrees.”
  • edX – Find courses that can help you earn college credit or a professional certificate.
  • Open Education Database – Browse by subject from more than 10,000 free online education courses.
  • Academic Earth – Founded on the principle that education should be accessible to all, Academic Earth offers courses on a variety of topics from approximately 25 universities.
  • Open Culture – Download more than 1,000 courses from some of the world’s leading universities, including Stanford, Yale, MIT, Harvard, Berkeley and Oxford.
  • Open Learning at Harvard – The extension program at Harvard offers several free courses (that can be difficult to get into), as well as certification programs for a lower cost than a traditional degree-based program. Check out other university-based free learning programs.
  • GCF Global – Learn the essential skills for working in the 21st century with GCF Global.
  • DuoLingo – A second, third or fourth language is definitely a desired addition to a resume. DuoLingo provides access to lesson plans for more than 10 languages. Review other websites that teach you to learn a new language.
  • iVersity – iVersity is Europe’s digital learning platform for higher education and professional development.

Webinars as an Addition to Online Education

Although not as specific and detailed as a full online course, webinars can help you gain insight into a particular subject area, as understood by professionals working in that industry. The host can typically offer sound advice that is immediately ready to implement. Webinars provide strategy and plans of action. Another added benefit is that continued participation in webinars (as either a guest or host) can introduce you to industry leaders.

Check out these resources to browse professional webinars:

  • Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development – The webinar archive for education professionals includes topics on peer monitoring, teaching and digital learning strategies.
  • Cisco WebEx – WebEx is both a platform for webinars and an archive of top videos related to the business and technology industries.
  • Score – Score features online workshops in the categories of management, marketing, start-up, technology, money and finance.

The Power of Education

Education is not limited to a four-year degree. You can utilize online courses to advance your education at a price you can afford. Learn more about online and distance learning.

Additional Resources

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Education

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