I paid cash, and this semester, due to all sorts of random expenses and circumstances, we were unable to swing the cost of my tuition and books.
I am determined to keep learning and so I've been scouring the internet for good, reliable FREE sources of information. I'm tight with my money. I work very hard for it and therefore do not spend it on just anything. Anytime I get something for free or at a deep discount, I celebrate. Consider this post a celebration of the vast amount of information available to anyone with a thirst for knowledge and a stable internet connection.
My two faves (in no particular order):
I love iTunesU, and I generally avoid all things Apple. I had to download iTunes so that I could use iTunesU but it was TOTALLY worth it. There are so many different subjects and contributors! So far I have taken the Understanding Happiness TED talk, the Leading Wisely TED talk, the Death course from Yale, and I've delved in a bit of Spanish with a few different courses, one from Arkansas University. You will never be bored once you have discovered iTunesU and all it has to offer.
My favorite thing about iTunesU is that since it is free, I can explore things (like psychology) that maybe I would not have otherwise gotten to learn. I get to experiment and see what new things peak my interests. It's been a bit of a journey of self discovery, asking myself what would I learn about if I could do it for free on my own time schedule? I'm hopeful that by using iTunesU I can figure out a bit more about myself and maybe find something I am passionate about.
Universal Class is a similar program to iTunesU that is offered for free by my local library.
I have not gotten into these classes much yet but there seems to be a more eclectic variety of classes here. For example, I am currently learning about Aromatherapy and after that I may learn about Bartending and Mixology or perhaps I will take a course on Novel writing. And it's all for free...I LOVE IT!
Check out your local library's website to see if you have free access to this or a similar website.
My local library also offers FREE e-books that you can download onto your Kindle and read for 7-14 days before it is automatically returned. Like me and don't own a Kindle? If you have a smartphone, tablet or computer you can download the Kindle app for free and read your free e-book on your free Kindle app from anywhere you can take your phone.
This has revolutionized my life.
Handy Links for people in the Lexington, KY area:
Honorable Mentions:
Not just for cat videos, YouTube has tons of DIY tutorials, instrument lessons, makeup demonstrations, work out videos. If you want it to be, YouTube can be a great resource.
Half of the things I've watched on iTunesU have been from TED conferences so I feel like I'd be in the wrong if I didn't mention TED talks directly. TED gathers together experts on a particular subject from all over the world and gives them something like 15-20 minutes to explain what they and their subject are all about. It's really interesting and a great place to go if you want something to think about.
Was just told about this one, have not checked it out yet but I'll get back to you on it. :)
Do you know of a great FREE educational website out there on the interwebs? Please share it in the comments, I'd love to explore something new.
