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For millions of Americans, continuing the journey of learning beyond the traditional classroom has become a veritable lifeline. Through exposure to novel ideas and developing new skills, hobbies, and interests, lifelong learning keeps the mind fresh and stimulated. Indeed, there is also evidence that lifelong learning is good for human mental, emotional, and even physical health.
Best of all, thanks to modern internet technology, learning doesn’t have to stop once you leave school or university—it’s accessible online with just a click. To help you get started, SCTelcom has compiled a list of several of our favorite online lifelong learning platforms and resources. Whether you’re looking to sink your teeth into a new skill, take a deep academic dive into history or literature, pick up a hobby, or advance in your career, there are numerous apps and websites to get you on the right path.
1. The Great Courses Plus
With more than 800 courses and over 18,000 individual lectures offered by some of the world’s most esteemed college and university professors, The Great Courses Plus is one of the best places to start your lifelong learning journey. The sweeping number of course topics range from history (whether ancient Rome, modern China, or the United States) to languages (such as Spanish, German, French, or Italian) to music and the arts. More practically-oriented courses are available, too, like learning to paint like a pro or how to be a savvy backyard birdwatcher! For those with an unquenchable intellectual curiosity, The Great Courses Plus is a gem.
2. Duolingo
Our next pick is specifically suggested for those looking to learn a new language: Duolingo. Considered surprisingly effective by many foreign language experts, Duolingo is renowned for making language learning accessible to everyone. Utilizing a gamified learning method to keep users fully focused and engaged, Duolingo offers fun lessons in dozens of languages, ranging from Spanish and French to Swahili and Welsh. Through daily repetition of its short lessons and exercises, Duolingo users often make impressive progress in just weeks!
3. Coursera
One of the most thorough and academic-minded lifelong learning platforms available online is Coursera. With over 10,000 classes from more than 350 top American and global universities and institutions worldwide, including Duke University, Stanford University, and the University of Michigan, Coursera provides access to courses designed by experts in various fields. Interested in understanding how artificial intelligence (AI) actually works? Coursera has you covered. Want to explore a new language in depth or improve your computer programming skills? You can find comprehensive courses on those topics as well. In addition to satisfying your intellectual curiosity, Coursera also offers professional certifications in many areas, which can enhance your resume and help you advance in your career.
4. Skillshare
For more creative and artistically inclined lifelong learners, Skillshare is worth a closer look. With its thousands of creative courses, Skillshare is an ideal platform for anyone interested in the arts, graphic design, social media management, writing, music, photography, and more. Skillshare’s hands-on, project-based approach to learning encourages students to practice as they proceed. Many students also participate in Skillshare’s thriving online community, where participants can collaborate, network, and even share their work to receive feedback from both instructors and peers.
5. edX
Next, we turn to another prominent online learning platform, edX. Much like Coursera, edX provides a broad range of academically inclined online courses, many of which are created by prestigious universities like Harvard, MIT, and the University of Pennsylvania. edX’s offerings and overall mission trend more toward career advancement than “mere” learning, which appeals to many users. Indeed, some courses offer professional certifications in highly marketable sectors and even allow students to earn credits for certain courses.
6. Udemy
Last, we consider Udemy, a massive online learning marketplace with an extensive collection of courses. Indeed, its whopping catalog of more than 250,000 courses is simply astonishing! With topics ranging from coding in Python to mastering the basics of small business management, playing musical instruments, and planting an herb garden, Udemy students will find plenty to keep them busy. Unlike some of the other platforms above, Udemy is less focused on university-level learning and has far fewer courses taught by college professors. However, many of its courses are still highly substantive and taught by industry professionals with considerable real-world experience in their fields.
We hope our curated list of apps and platforms will help your lifelong learning experience take off. Once you start down this path, be sure to stick with it. Your curiosity and consistency can genuinely keep your mind active and enhance your life no matter your age.
And for more ways the power of SCTelcom’s advanced fiber network can augment your daily life, check out our social pages!
