Access to an education is the American way! A university education is expensive, but thanks to the internet, individual courses are free! Improving your skills should be a goal of everyone! Personal development includes activities that improve awareness and identity, develop talents and potential, build human capital and facilitate employability, enhance quality of life and contribute to the realization of dreams and aspirations. What are you doing for yourself?
As a teacher, I have professional development every week. We spend an hour and a half on various topics to improve our instruction. It is a form of continuing education which is supposed to help teachers share teaching strategies. Learning best practices to improve teaching as a profession. Best practices are not limited to any one school. Access to information is key to improve your teaching skills. Access to information changed everything!
Professional development refers to the acquisition of skills and knowledge for personal development and career advancement. Free online university classes make education available to everyone. You can learn new concepts, skills or test your knowledge. Courses range from Humanities, Social Sciences, computer Science, Mathematics, Business or medicine. These classes could improve your resume, college application expand your knowledge, advance your career or just satisfy a desire for knowledge.
High school students can improve their college applications by taking college classes in their particular area of interest and demonstrate their knowledge by earning a certificate of accomplishment. It is also an opportunity to demonstrate interests in other areas. Engineering or computer science students could demonstrate knowledge in language or humanities. It is also an opportunity to takes classes for no other reason than to expand their knowledge and skills.
There are hundreds of classes in a wide category of subjects from some of the best universities in the world. This concept is expanding because of the ease of access and availability to fit in your busy schedule. You get to see and participate in the same classes that are taught at these great universities, but remotely. Some classes require more work than others and some have prerequisites too. Many of the classes will provide certificates of completion or accomplishment.
Although these are university classes, you will not receive credit toward a degree. It is a great way to get a head start on a college education without a monetary commitment. You just need to commit your time and effort and you can learn skills and knowledge or demonstrate your skills in a particular subject. It is a great way to show employers that you are making a serious effort to acquire the necessary skills for advancement of your career or expanding your skills and knowledge.
There are classes in Business, Management, Entrepreneurship, Finance, Marketing and Accounting to just mention some of the categories. Some of the online websites offering these free online classes are Coursera, Stanford/iTunes, Academic Earth to name just a few. The internet is an important learning tool and the top universities are helping you use it more effectively in these free online classes. The internet has made us more mobile and more educational opportunities are now more convenient.
Online university is the next logical step if you want to take your learning even further. A plethora of excellent degrees are available through these net-based schools, like an MS in Special Education, an MS in Communication, or a Graduate Certificate in Strategic Communication Management, to name a few. All it takes is a few moments of your time and the desire to embark on the next step of your professional life. Most schools have excellent financial aid options as well as professionals who are available to answer any questions via phone or email.
Final Thoughts
The internet has changed the way information is delivered! Universities are now providing classes online for free and you can access it conveniently. It is one of the best ways to improve your skills and knowledge, but it is up to you. What stops you from personal or professional development? These classes just made classes more convenient, free and many even provide a certificate of accomplishment! Access to education is now available to everyone!
Photo by: Flickr
Carnivals:
Carnival of MoneyPros hosted by Dumb Passive Income
Yakezie Carnival hosted by One Cent At A Time
Finance Carnival For Young Adults hosted by Financial Nerd
Lifestyle Carnival hosted by Drop The Cookies
Carnival of Money hosted by House With The View
Carnival of Financial Camaraderie hosted by Hurricanes, Panties & Dollars
Carnival of Financial Planning hosted by Planting Our Pennies
Festival of Frugality hosted by Financial Nerd
Access to education is now available to everyone!
I tried taking the Google analytics certification program they rolled out recently. I started out doing well but then lost traction. I didn’t finish in time, whoops, and none of the module I didn’t get to are available anymore. It takes a lot of focus and dedication to learn new skills.
You definitely need to be motivated to find, take and finish personal development projects. You need to find a compelling reason just like any other task or goal.
Yep, and it helps to have a dedicated space at home for working. I like being on my computer in the bedroom, but my productivity isn’t as good as when I’m in the office. The library can be good too if there aren’t people walking around constantly which can get distracting.
It was important for me to have my space in my home to work too. I have an office/gym set up that works pretty well.
I haven’t actually tried these online courses. But I am really curious about these and I definitely love to learn and take these courses.
It is the ultimate in personal and professional development. You can only take these classes for the information you may learn from them.
Thanks for the tip KC! The internet has made improving yourself via education easier. My biggest problem is time. With the little one entering the terrible twos, my free time has been greatly reduced. However, I will check out these resources and if something really tickles my fancy, I will have to make time!
The great things about these classes is you know your commitment before you start.
It really is amazing how many classes are offered online for free. People don’t realize it but they can take online courses from ivy league schools including Harvard, etc.
It is the ultimate self improvement and convenient too.
I know I was amazed when I discovered iUniversity in the App Store! I had no idea great universities are offering courses for free to the public. I was so thrilled, I downloaded a bunch of courses right away. Ultimately, this is the true purpose of a school- to give access to learning and education to anyone who is interested.
It is a great way for personal improvement as well as professional development.
Interesting! In fact, I was just trying to explain to my soon to be 13 years old son the difference between ‘performance’ and ‘achievement’ and how important it is not to get duped by performing. Self development is a very important part of achieving.
I also can see how the universities as they are now (particularly in the UK and the US) will have to change and the smart amongst us a moving to blended and on-line teaching and learning. I have a PhD studying how this happens and what are its effects on learning and knowledge.
The pursuit of knowledge for just the sake of learning is always the goal. The internet has just made it a lot easier.
I know Harvard’s extension school used to offer a bunch of online courses and lectures. Some were free and some you had to pay for. The Internet has certainly changed the way I think about learning and access to learning.
Now, there many universities who offer selected classes for free! I think it is to encourage online classes and learning in general.
I really appreciate the list you provided of free online classes. Thanks for a thought-provoking article!
I think these online classes are great for personal and professional development.