It is said that one never stops learning.
As of this decade, this statement could not be more accurate. The internet is estimated to have reached 4 Zettabytes. Yes, Zettabytes. I’m willing to bet you’ve never even heard that unit of measurement before.
A regular HD movie, around 90 minutes, is probably 700 MB to 1 GB. 1 ZB = 1000 Exabytes = 1 billion Terabytes. 1 TB = 1,000,000 MB.
That’s how much information is out there. So…. why am I telling you this?
I’ve taken upon myself the task of enlightening the universe on the alternate uses of the internet. There’s more to it than cat videos and uploading selfies. There’s virtually no topic untouched on the World Wide Web. It’s a pity more people aren’t aware of how to leverage the plethora of information out there.
A new platform for learning and teaching is slowly on the rise. ‘Massive open online courses’, also known as ‘MOOCs’, are absolutely free or priced quite modestly.
Whether you’re a high school student trying to learn the basics of Economics to get a better grip on it before college, a middle level executive trying to learn new presentation techniques to be on par with the newer fresher recruits in your company, or even a computer engineer trying to get a hang of a new programming language, there’s something for everyone.
So without further ado, here a 5 great platforms for learning on the internet :
1) Coursera
A personal favorite of mine. Coursera.org contains courses from several universities around the world. The range of topics is as diverse as the product range on Amazon. From Ancient history to Cybersecurity to Microeconomics to Biology. A certificate of completion with your name on it also awaits you at the end of a successful course.
2) Khan Academy
Another popular one, Khan Academy is a non-profit educational organization created in 2006 by educator Salman Khan to provide “a free, world-class education for anyone, anywhere.” The organization produces micro lectures in the form of YouTube videos.In addition to micro lectures, the organization’s website features practice exercises and tools for educators. You also get to earn badges, with a different to display different levels of dedication.
3) Udemy
In their very own words, “Our goal is to disrupt and democratize education by enabling anyone to learn from the world’s experts.” It’s a great way to learn real world skills like guitar lessons or even Yoga !
4) Duolingo
Easily the most popular site out there if you’re attempting to learn a new language. “Free Language education for the world.” That’s their slogan. As of now, they have over 10 languages, including American English. An extremely useful for those willing to put the effort to learn something new
5) Lynda
Lynda.com has actually been around since 1995, and is another great source with a wide variety of topics for the any student belonging to any background. They’ve got group subscriptions for businesses and governments too. Most of their lectures are taught by industry experts in a very precise and clear manner.
For those of you looking for work or are just entering the workforce, a completed MOOC on your CV is great for adding a little bit of extra value to your profile. You’re showing your peers and potential recruiters your commitment to learning.
Coursera generously provides you the convenient option of posting a neat link directly to your LinkedIn Profile, which displays your Statement of Accomplishment of the course.
Don’t hesitate or miss out opportunities like this to develop yourself both personally and professionally. Push your boundaries ; don’t let your learning curves plateau. The key to learning a new skill is just a click away.