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Free Education: Learn Without Gaining Debt

Enjoy a Free College Education Online

By Mindy

Have a thirst for knowledge but a limited budget? You’re in luck. Access to free education and information has never before been so easy. By taking advantage of today’s technological resources, you can you improve your understanding of specific subjects and processes without spending a dime. Better yet, you can learn from Ivy League-caliber professors. Discover how using the tips below.

Tap into the power of online learning

The Internet has never before been as rich and diverse in free knowledge as it is today. Anybody with a little Internet savvy can virtually acquire a free college education online simply by searching out the right websites.

Here’s just a sampling of the resources you can access online:

• Free university online courses. Many courses in intriguing subjects are available for free through university websites. They range in scope from Greek mythology to economics. For example, the University of Washington offers free extension courses as part of their educational outreach program.
• Free video courses. For subjects that require hands-on learning such as sign language, you can find free podcasts and video demonstrations.
• Readings on theology. In a step up from traditional library lending, schools like Covenant Seminary offer free downloadable podcasts and .PDF files on theological history.
• Language courses. Multiple universities and language institutes offer free access to language instruction in everything from Turkish to Mandarin Chinese. Many also include audio recordings so you can learn the appropriate pronunciation of new languages.
• Instruction on health care. Free CPR classes are available through several medical school websites, some of which even include video instructions.
• Basic important knowledge. Anyone hoping to someday become an American citizen will benefit from resources that help you prepare for the U.S. citizenship test.
• Online library access. Places like the University of Pennsylvania offer access to thousands of books through the Web, putting a virtual library right at your fingertips.
• Knowledge via your iPod. If you prefer audio lessons, you can download scores of courses to your computer or MP3 player. UC Berkeley is one of many institutions to offer this type of access to a free education.

Other free routes to knowledge

You don’t have to locate an entire free online course to benefit from the instruction of professors across the country. Several university instructors post course syllabi online, complete with reading lists, research ideas, and lecture outlines. Use these free info-rich sources to construct your own learning plan. To locate free education sources on the topics that most interest you, use search engines like Google

Understand what you’re getting into

It’s important to realize that tapping into a free college education online is not equivalent to earning a college degree. Colleges and universities across the country have specific curricula approved by the U.S. Department of Education. These curricula must be completed in a certain order and within a specific timeframe in order to merit a degree that is certifiably recognized.

Don’t dupe yourself into thinking a free education from online sources will get you the same sort of benefits and privileges as earning a real degree. It won’t. But it will open the doors to possibilities you never before imagined, such as:

• New employment opportunities. By proving that you are self-motivated and fired up enough to study something without the lure of college credit, you may very well land approval from a potential employer. You may also be able to show your current employer that you’re a self-starter with an open mind, inevitably leading to a promotion.
• Personal satisfaction. Expanding your mind can be very personally rewarding. Not only will you gain better insight into certain areas of expertise in the world, you’ll also prove to yourself that you can set a goal and stick with it.
• Better social skills. Depending on the courses you pursue, you may wind up improving your ability to converse about an array of topics. This means you can say goodbye to talking about the weather when struggling to make conversation at social events.
• Training in interests or hobbies. If you have a hobby or interest that fires you up but doesn’t make sense to pursue on a professional level, taking free education courses may very well get you the information you need without the expense.
• Recognition for self-motivation. By and large, people admire those who willingly expand their minds and their ability to understand the world. Drinking up online information for the love of knowledge will likely win you respect and admiration from your friends and family.

Unlimited possibilities

If you can get yourself motivated to pursue a little independent learning, you’ll be amazed at all you can achieve. Doors will start opening where you never saw possibilities before. All it takes is a little commitment and drive, and you’ll find you can easily change your life. Start today and take advantage of the wide array of awesome, free Internet information. It’ll be an educational move you never regret.

6/24/2009

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