“There are five important things for living a successful and fulfilling life: never stop dreaming, never stop believing, never give up, never stop trying, and never stop learning,” author Roy Bennett (not to be confused with the Zimbabwean politician of the same name) was quoted saying. The fifth most important thing he lists in this quote may seem borderline impossible to some, though, given the hectic and rushing lifestyle of the modern man – one can’t seem to find the time and the resources to follow courses and improve oneself. Luckily, we have the internet to help, this endless source of information always at hand. Because online, one can find way more than just the latest news, social networks, the best offers at Betway Ghana and the latest hits to listen to – one can engage in useful and most importantly free courses to complete on one’s own terms and in one’s free time to make sure learning never stops. Below, there is a handful of free courses that can be truly helpful for improving one’s life and career.
edX
edX is a “massive open online course” (MOOC) provider backed by the prestigious educational institutions Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Harvard University. It was created in 2012 and has grown to offer over 1,800 courses online to more than 14 million students from all over the world. The courses are functional and easy to take: they consist of short videos combines with interactive learning exercises for students to have the chance to try in practice what they have learned in the video, along with online textbooks, discussion forums, and other helpful amenities.
The courses themselves can be taken free of charge – those who want to obtain a “Verified Certificate” will have to pay a fee that changes from course to course. The courses available through edX range from architecture and design to science, music, medicine, and engineering.
Coursera
Coursera is a MOOC similar to the above-mentioned edX founded in 2012 by Stanford University computer science professors Andrew Ng and Daphne Koller. Today, it has over 2,000 courses covering the entire educational spectrum from arts and humanities to engineering and computer science. Many of the courses available through Coursera are free but you’ll definitely have to pay for obtaining certificates. It is still a great tool for increasing your knowledge in a specific field.
Alison
Alison is an e-learning company offering free online education to those willing to improve all over the world. It was founded by serial entrepreneur Mike Feerick in 2007 and by today, it has amassed a range of over 1,000 courses in categories ranging from languages and writing skills to business, marketing, health, and lifestyle. As of last December, Alison had 11 million registered learners and 1.5 million graduates and offers courses published by institutions like Columbia University, Cambridge, Yale, as well as by companies like Google and Microsoft. What makes Alison a great choice is that, as its website states, “there is no time limit on completing a course, so learners can study entirely at their own pace”, perfect for those who want to improve while being employed full time, and that some of the certificates are free of charge.
