Digital learning is the future of education. At no point in history has the average person had access to so much knowledge, and had the opportunity to learn as many skills as they can today. The trick, however, is knowing where to look.
1. Khan Academy
Khan Academy offers an extensive library of online courses ranging from introductory algebra and chemistry to macroeconomics and philosophy. Started in 2006 by educator Salman Khan, its goal is to provide a free college-level education to anyone, anywhere.
If you want to learn more about a subject, or brush up on something you learned in school, just log in and hop into a class. The site gives placement tests when you select a subject to see how much you already know, and then tailors your experience based on that.
2. Duolingo
If you’ve ever wanted to learn a new language, Duolingo is an excellent resource. Select a language you know, and you can see what languages are available. For example, English speakers can learn: Spanish, French, German, Italian, Portuguese, and Dutch, and more languages are being added all the time. (Danish, Irish, and Hungarian are almost available. In addition, Duolingo users help to translate real text on the web as practice exercises.
The Massachusetts Institute of Technology publishes all of its course materials on the web. Anyone interested in Aerospace Dynamics, Structural Mechanics, Cognitive Robotics, or a host of other classes can view lecture notes, assignments, and projects. Textbooks and other readings are also listed for you to pursue on your own.
4. Codecademy
As the Internet and software continues to permeate our society, the value of being able to program effectively continues to rise. Codecademy offers a fun and easy environment to learn the fundamentals of writing code, in a few common languages. Whether you want to create a simple web page with HTML and CSS, add some functionality with Javascript or jQuery, or create a full web app with Ruby, Codecademy gives you the knowledge to get started.
5. TED.com
TED Talks don’t necessarily teach you skills like the other sites on this list, but they can teach ideas. TED stands for Technology, Entertainment, and Design, and started in 1984 as a conference. Since then, it’s grown to cover almost all topics, and exists to allow people to share revolutionary ideas “to change attitudes, lives and, ultimately, the world.”
Nelson Mandela once said that “Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world.” The tools for education are available right now to anyone willing to reach out and use them.
What are your favorite educational tools or websites that I may have missed? Let me know in the comments.
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