What it is: With the availability of the Internet, everyone can learn more anywhere they happen to be, often for free.
In the old days, education was expensive and limited. That’s because you needed a teacher, a classroom, and the ability to physically show up at the classroom at the same time as the rest of your classmates and teacher. The time restriction kept many people from learning because they had to work, and the physical restriction kept many people from attending classes that were never offered nearby.
Fortunately the Internet has changed all that. You can literally study any subject you wish online either for a fee or for free in many cases. There’s absolutely no excuse for not learning more. If you’re not learning anything new, it’s not because it’s not available to you but because you either don’t know it exists or you’re not willing to find it.
Apple offers iTunes University as a way to learn from famous colleges all over the world absolutely free. Beyond iTunes University, there are plenty of other colleges and online sites offering free or paid courses. The goal isn’t to necessarily work towards a degree but to work towards simply learning more about any topic you may be curious about.
By simply following your own interests rather than an artificially structured curriculum, you can maintain your curiosity and interest while gaining knowledge in the topics that interest you the most. Learning is available to everyone. It’s unfortunate that so many people either don’t know about these free educational opportunities or simply choose not to learn due to faulty beliefs that learning must be hard, difficult, and boring.
To get started learning online, simply focus on topics that interest you the most and find a short course that can help you learn just a little bit more than you know today. The more often you pursue learning, the more you’ll make it a regular habit and continue learning more on your own either through books, online courses, or meeting people face to face. As noted public speaker Jim Rohn once said, “Formal education will make you a living; self-education will make you a fortune.”
To find some free online courses, click here.
