E-Learning for Adults During the Pandemic

E-Learning During the Pandemic

Tech Talk show notes for Tuesday, May 6, 2020. Listen live Tuesday mornings on WTCA FM 106.1 and AM 1050 in Plymouth, Indiana.

E-learning is nothing new. In fact, it’s been around for decades in one form or another. It’s only come to the forefront now that millions of school children are stuck at home during the global pandemic. But e-learning is just for kids, right? Wrong!

There are a number of e-learning opportunities for adults. It doesn’t matter if you’re a student, a business professional, or a retiree. Many of these resources are available for free or at low cost. In fact, you could earn a degree entirely online, if you so desire.

Here are a few of my favorite resources for learning online:

  • Udemy offers a broad range of courses primarily geared towards business and technology. Many of the courses are available for a small fee, but some of the courses are free.
  • Coursera has a huge catalog of courses. They have partnered with a number of universities and industry leaders to bring a wide variety of online learning options for adults. Some of the courses can also earn you college credits.
  • edX is a fantastic resource and one that I have used often. Most of the courses are free unless you actually want to get a certificate. They have partnered with prestigious educational institutions like MIT, Harvard, Stanford, Oxford, Penn, and Notre Dame.
  • YouTube is more than just cat videos, trust me! You’ll want to be careful with this one since there can be quite a bit of misinformation on YouTube, but there is a ton of good informational videos on the platform. Most of them are short and sweet, but there are some video series that can help you learn everything from gardening to computer repair.
  • iFixIt is a fantastic platform for the DIY-er who is interested in fixing things like tablets and phones. Be careful though! You’ll need the proper tools to get the job done right. And there’s a high probability that you could permanently damage your device.

I only scratched the surface with my above picks. They’re the ones I’m most familiar with and have used. If you’re stuck and home, don’t let the kids have all of the fun – learn something new!