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The Future is Open Courseware: Three Institutions Offering Online Learning Opportunities

Guest Blogger — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 00:51:11 +0000

As society becomes increasingly more tech savvy, more and more of the foundations of our lives are turning to the web. Our professional lives have been conduced online and plugged in for several years now and, with the advent of social media and social networking, so too are our personal and social lives. The latest trend today seems to be online learning and online education. While at one time online education and online degrees were frowned upon by most employers and scholars, more and more people are turning to online avenues for their educational and academic endeavors. Furthermore, as online degrees and online courses become more popular, online courseware that is free and readily available are becoming the next hot thing. The internet is all about immediate access to information for no cost—this is the crux of open courseware. Open courseware allows anyone with a computer and the internet access to endless knowledge and academic pursuit. These three open courseware resources are wonderful waves of what will be part of the future of education and academics.

MIT Open Courseware

As one of the most prominent names in higher education, MIT plays a major role in America’s opinion on higher education. That being said, MIT has made real wave on the front of open courseware and online learning. Offering up to 1,800 courses online and free to access, MIT is one of the absolute best resources for open courseware in the world. These courses come directly from the actual traditional courses taught at MIT, including syllabi, reading lists, course notes, assignments, and much more. Of course, because MIT is a technical school, most of the courses offered are of that nature. There is both video and audio that accompanies many of the courses, providing a learning environment that closely compares to being inside a class at MIT. MIT’s initiative to provide higher learning material to anyone who wants it is admirable and forward thinking.

Berkeley Open Courseware

UC Berkeley offers webcasts of several different classes offered on their campus. UC Berkeley is one of the top ranked public universities in the nation and boasts some of the most influential professors in their fields. Allowing anyone to watch various webcasts or listen to podcasts of their lectures, Berkeley’s open courseware initiative is one of the best. Each course that is offered provides printable assignments, notes that you can get from the professor’s website, and tests from the actual class. This is a wonderful resource for anyone looking to expand their mind or build on their educational repertoire.

Carnegie Mellon Open Learning Initiative

Carnegie Mellon is another one of the biggest name universities in the nation offering open online learning resources. With Carnegie Mellon’s open learning initiative you can choose to either sign up as a user for free to keep track of your scores and progress or you can simply take a class unregistered. Though the school only offers a few courses online at this time, they are offered in a very useful and approachable way. Mellon offers classes such as Modern Biology, Media Programming, Statistics, French, and several others. These classes are easier to jump into than UC Berkeley’s or MIT’s simply because of the way they are presented. There is basically presented as an eBook, where you can jump from chapter to chapter at your own will.

Each of these open courseware initiatives are examples of how education can be accessible to anyone wishing to find it. These schools set a wonderful example by sharing their wealth of knowledge and resources and making learning and academia available to anyone who seeks it.

Jane Smith is a freelance writer and blogger. She writes about free background checks for Backgroundcheck.org. Questions and comments can be sent to: janesmth161 @ gmail.com.

The Future is Open Courseware: Three Institutions Offering Online Learning Opportunities is a post from Learning Online Info, a blog dedicated to the world of e-learning and the emerging learning technologies.

Online Learning and How it is Leveraged by the Internet

Guest Blogger — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 23:15:01 +0000

Summary: Online learning is largely benefitted from the use of internet and the computers. The content deals about how computers benefit students learning online.

The onset of the computer era has left us dumbfounded. We can feel its existence in every second step we take. Gradually, the education system has undergone changes with the coming of distance schooling. A transformation in distance education has given birth to online education. UK distance learning has warmly welcomed the arrival of online schooling in our lives. Now, you can enjoy studying at home, while indulging in other activities. Just like shopping has recently joined the online platform, one can think of acquiring a higher education degree while studying over the internet. Computer networks are of immense help when it comes to educating a working professional.

Learning online gives you a host of advantages, which is possible only because you have opted computers over the traditional means to simultaneously work and learn. UK Distance learning has urged the world to think smart. Computers play a definite role in educating millions of aspirants.

Online Learning and how it leverages the student community
Computer assisted learning benefits students in various ways as discussed in the following lines. Let us take a look:

Instructions assisted by computers allow students to achieve respective academic goals. Educational programs of today involve tutorials, problem solving classes, games and simulations.
The online programs ensure self-assessing programmes, allowing the pupil to judge his core competence and his improvement in a chosen field. The results are shown online to allow 24×7 accesses to the student.
Speedier learning is a key reason for students to pursue online programmes. Learning online makes it easier and quicker for the student to gather knowledge. Those indulging in online education are provided with quick feedback.
UK Distance learning programs taking place over the internet are all accredited by reputed universities and colleges.
Students get to access and master their skills over use of multimedia tools. These tools feature a host of new age media applications such as graphics, print, audio, video and print.
Education practiced over the net allows the student to understand and avail complete accessibility to the web world offering a host of resources. The better the connectivity of the server, the greater are the chances of the pupil to learn more.
Computer technology supporting UK distance learning is vast and is readily undergoing changes to invent the new.
Online education helps students to interact with educationists and other fellow students living in different corners of the world. Students communicate with educationists and are able to indulge in productive interactions.
The online mediated programs make use of e-books, email and different types of electronic knowledge imparting means.
Online education has helped students improve their interactions with educationists; since the platform is spread over the world, one can attain quality knowledge by communicating with teachers and students hailing from a different background.

UK Distance learning is broadly connected with the internet. Candidates can join in forums and communities in order to broaden knowledge horizon. Since the internet is considered the biggest networking tool on earth, it is instrumental in imparting knowledge amongst aspirants.

Anna Willkins has written several articles on UK distance learning, which are quite rich and informative. Her offerings have benefited a fair number of students get enrolled for online educational courses.

Online Learning and How it is Leveraged by the Internet is a post from Learning Online Info, a blog dedicated to the world of e-learning and the emerging learning technologies.

10 Super Helpful iPad Apps for Early Childhood Educators

Guest Blogger — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 10:24:20 +0000

These days it seems like just about everybody has an iPad. Thanks to their portability and ease of use they continue to be a popular device for casual, business, and educational uses. Educators in particular are finding them useful for early childhood lessons since the touch screens allow children of all ages and levels to start learning in new and inventive ways. But with so many apps in the iTunes store it can be daunting to find the best ones for your needs. Here are 10 iPad apps that are great for early childhood educators.

Swapsies
Allowing toddlers and young children to see what they can be when they grow up, the app allows users to swap out clothing to dress up the figure as a doctor, firefighter, police officer, and more. A great way to help with fine motor skills for young children, this app is a great alternative to getting all of the required costumes to play a real game of dress up.

ABC Expedition
Highly rated and perfect for toddlers and up, this app takes users on an adventure where they can learn about their animals and their letters. With a wide range of sites and sounds the app is both stimulating and educational at the same time.

Preschool Music
Featuring classic songs that every child should know, the app lets children play and create their own music without the need for a range of musical instruments. This app is a great way to introduce children to music without having an extensive music department.

Super Why!
Interactive literacy games are a great way to help your children find the joy of reading. Featuring the same popular characters from the PBS Kids show, Super Why! teaches reading, letters, and sentence completion at age appropriate levels.

Slide & Spin
Another app designed to help develop fine motor skills, toddlers ages 18 and up will have to spin or slide knobs and levers to reveal the surprises while learning about colors as well.

Toddler Flashcards
Perfect for teaching reading and even offered in multiple languages, this is perfect for those wanting to get a jump start on teaching children other languages that will serve them as they grow up.

iWriteWords
Teaching letters, words, and fine motor skills at the same time, this app allows users to learn by tracing out letters and words and is perfect for younger users just learning to spell.

Montessori Counting Board
A great introduction to counting for toddlers and young children, it lets them count up or down from 1 to 20 and they can even count by dragging numbers.

My Math Flash Cards
Great for young elementary school children to work on the math lessons they’ve studied in school. Includes addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division so that it’s great for kids as they move through the different levels of math.

LetterSchool
Perfect for kids learning their numbers and letters, this app lets them trace both, including numbers from 1-10 and both uppercase and lowercase letters. Multiple users as an option is an added bonus.

Christina W Brannon is a graduate student working towards her masters of art teaching degree. Thanks to online mat degree programs she’s even able to complete this from her own home. To learn more about these kinds of programs visit: matdegree.org.

10 Super Helpful iPad Apps for Early Childhood Educators is a post from Learning Online Info, a blog dedicated to the world of e-learning and the emerging learning technologies.

5 Reasons Why Educators and Students Need to Use Google+

Guest Blogger — Wed, 18 Jan 2012 17:25:06 +0000

Since its inception, tech experts have raved about Google+, the social media platform that some predict has the goods to take down leading social networking site Facebook. Although Facebook still reigns supreme and Google+ is still in the midst of growing momentum, the rookie social media site is still a strong contender in changing the way users interact with one another — especially when it comes to the world of education. To learn why Google+ is the better social media platform to help engage educators with their students of all ages, continue reading below.

1. Less Privacy Issues
While some instructors decide to “friend” students on Facebook so that they can more easily share class updates as well as give assignment deadline reminders and provide supplemental educational materials like news links and videos, the truth is that the privacy lines are too blurry on Facebook—you want your students to see some of your statues that pertain to school assignments but not the ones that deal with your personal life. The sentiments are vice versa with your students. It’s just uncomfortable getting a deeper look into a student’s or teacher’s “outside” life. While some instructors choose to create separate accounts in order to resolve this issue — one for personal use and one for professional use — it’s just too much work. Google+ however allows users to separate people into “circles.” These circles easily allow users to choose what can and cannot be seen between people. So for example, teachers can put all of their students in the circle appropriately labeled “students” or “Geography 1:00 p.m.” for example, and you don’t have to worry about cross contaminating info or letting inappropriate material seep through.

2. No Age Restrictions
Currently Facebook has an age limit restriction—only those who are 13 years or older can apply for an account. While the age restriction is understandable (too many child predators lurk cyber space) because there is no age limitation on Google+ even those who teach elementary can use the social media site to enhance their student’s education—it’s just important that educators instruct their students from adding strangers.

3. No Limitations
While Twitter can also be a very engaging social media site to utilize, the problem is that users are limited to their character use—even in direct messages, users have to send multiple messages if they go over 140 characters. This can become quite troublesome if a student asks an instructor to explain a problem in greater detail for example. However, with Google+ there is no such limitation and both students and teachers can ask questions, give responses and leave comments without having to short change themselves. This option is also idea for introverted students—those who may be too shy to ask additional questions in the classroom but need help once they’re at home doing assignments on their own.

4. Provides Archived Material
Google+ also trumps Twitter because old information is easy to retrieve and access again. Unless a student or teacher “favorites” a tweet, it can be hard to go back and look for a tweet that was posted two weeks ago since it gets buried underneath the myriad of other tweets on the timeline. Google+ is organized and is easy to bring up again since everything is marked by dates.

5. Provides Opportunity for Remote Parent-Teacher Conferences
Last but not least, sometimes parents who have late night meetings can’t leave their desks to attend their child’s open house. Sometimes parents without transportation can’t make it to a much-needed parent-teacher conference. Sometimes students who are taking online classes don’t have the time to drive to a brick-and-mortar campus that may be hundreds of miles away to have a conference with their teacher or professor. Google+’s neat “hangout” feature however paves the way for group video chat capabilities so that important “meetings” and “conferences” are more convenient and can take place over the internet instead of in person.

Maria Rainier is a freelance writer and blog junkie. She is currently a resident blogger at First in Education where she writes about education, online colleges, online degrees etc. In her spare time, she enjoys square-foot gardening, swimming, and avoiding her laptop.

5 Reasons Why Educators and Students Need to Use Google+ is a post from Learning Online Info, a blog dedicated to the world of e-learning and the emerging learning technologies.

5 Online Degrees Sure To Increase Your Income

Guest Blogger — Mon, 19 Dec 2011 10:21:52 +0000

Earning a college degree online is becoming a very common practice these days. In addition to being able to earn a degree from the comfort of your own home, an online degree will have your career on the right path in no time. There is no substitute for a college education, and an online degree is a great way to put yourself in a position to succeed. There are five online degrees that you could realistically pursue in the good hopes that they will pay off for you in the long run.

1. Nursing

These online degrees are considered the best of the best right now. Few fields are experiencing a bigger need right now than nursing. There has always been a shortage of qualified nurses, and with the baby boomer generation now starting to get up in years, the need for qualified, skill people with nursing degrees is higher than ever. Nurses usually start out at around 60,000 dollars per year, and an online nursing degree can get you started in a nursing career very easily.

2. Software engineering

A software engineer has one of the most interesting careers in the world right now. They create, plan and incorporate new software into computers for businesses, home computers and working computers. They usually start at around 65,000 dollars per year, and there are plenty of online software engineering degrees to be found online. They will put you on the path to success as a software engineer.

3. Accounting

Accountants usually make a very good wage, with starting offers for bachelor’s degree-holding applicants ranging from 40,000 to 45,000 per year. There is always a need for good accountants, as more and more businesses each year are looking for people with new knowledge in the field to help them manage their money. Online accounting degrees are the way to go to get on the fast track to a career as an accountant.

4. Teaching

You can become a teacher by enrolling in an online teaching degree program. Interacting with children and helping them learn can be rewarding, and you’ll earn a good salary. Teachers have an average starting salary of around 35,000 to 40,000. The chance to see kids reach their potential is a benefit that only teachers can have.

5. Criminal justice

Have you ever wanted to be a police officer? Online criminal justice degrees have risen in popularity during the past few years, and more and more people are becoming police officers thanks to online criminal justice degrees. Starting salaries usually range from $35,000 to $40,000 per year. Serving and protecting the citizens is a duty that you can fulfill after completing an online criminal justice degree.

Online college degrees are a great way to give yourself a better career, and a better life. In no time at all, you will earn more money than you do at your current job with the help of an online degree.

Francine Gomez is a career consultant and loves giving people new ideas on how to make money from home. Learn some of the many ways you can successfully be making money online from your very own home office.

Image credits: ideas by Sean MacEntee

5 Online Degrees Sure To Increase Your Income is a post from Learning Online Info, a blog dedicated to the world of e-learning and the emerging learning technologies.

Traditional Universities now Offering Online Education

Guest Blogger — Fri, 18 Nov 2011 08:47:15 +0000

Online education has grown up over the last decade. It has become a staple at many of the traditional universities and colleges today, public and private. Distance learning is no longer solely the province of the for-profit colleges; it’s likely that you can find a public school in your state offering online courses and in many cases, certificates and degrees.

Two elements have driven the adoption of the online platform among traditional schools: the number of students who can enroll in the class isn’t limited by the number of chairs in the classroom, and the number of students who are adults returning to school for an academic retrofit has increased dramatically. Public universities in particular have attempted to adapt their catalogues as well as their educational platforms to accommodate people who want to reorient their careers. The higher education institutions in general have also found that the potential for open-ended enrollment can be an attractive financial option.

Community Colleges

These two-year institutions have always been a viable public resource for technical and vocational training as well as for associates’ degrees. Collectively the nation’s community colleges have probably been the most adept at realigning curricula to match today’s students’ needs. Examples include Ivy Tech, which is an Indiana community college with 30 campuses throughout the state; in recent years the school has developed online degree and certificate programs in thirteen academic fields that include accounting, computer information systems, paralegal studies, and design technology. The New Jersey Virtual Community College Consortium (NJVCCC) offers courses from each of the state’s nineteen community colleges.

Public Universities

If you went online to consult the programs available at your local state university, the odds are pretty good that you’ll find some level of distance learning capability. It varies from state to state, with the most proactive schools having developed online “campuses” that offer online academic options from all of their affiliated campuses. UMassOnline in Massachusetts, UI Online in Illinois, and the University of North Carolina Online are prime examples.

Other schools offer online programs through their various campuses: the University of Minnesota has an impressive array of bachelor’s degrees available online from its various campuses. Some schools tend to confine their degree options to graduate programs; Penn State and the University of Florida have completion programs for bachelor’s degrees and graduate programs in selected fields.

Private Universities

Some private schools have weighed in heavily in the online field. Northeastern University has over sixty online degree programs including some at the associate level. Drexel University has an enormous online selection including several in engineering and the health sciences. Others like Duquesne, Villanova, St. Joseph’s University in Philadelphia and the University of Southern California have selected academic options. The Engineering Department at Stanford developed Stanford Engineering Everywhere (SEE) to offer engineering classes worldwide.

These are examples of online offerings from traditional institutions; they are a small sampling of what is available today. The universities have enrollment standards, so acceptance is not automatic – but in the case of state institutions you can still take advantage of the (relatively) reasonable tuition rates available to in-state residents.

Bob Hartzell has been writing for five years about education, business, budgets, and other life essentials on a variety of websites. He writes steadily on the changes in collegiate goals, having published multiple articles on undergraduate education and online graduate programs.

Traditional Universities now Offering Online Education is a post from Learning Online Info, a blog dedicated to the world of e-learning and the emerging learning technologies.

iPad Perks: Top 5 Ways the Device can Help you Excel in Online Learning

Guest Blogger — Wed, 16 Nov 2011 18:51:04 +0000

The holidays are fast approaching and if you’re unsure of what you would like to ask Santa to bring you this year, you might consider putting the iPad or even better—the iPad2 on the top of your wish list. It’s a pricey gift (starts at $499) but it’s an investment well spent, especially if you are an online student. That’s because not only can it help simplify your everyday activities, but it can also be a vital instrument that can help you achieve success while enrolled in an online program (and can be used long after graduation). To learn the top 5 reasons for using an iPad as an online student, continue reading below.

1. Cheaper Textbooks

Online students can purchase hardcopy textbooks just like a traditional student, but they also typically have the option of purchasing e-textbooks—downloadable textbooks that are sold at a discounted rate. For example, a hardcover copy of Psychology: Themes and Variations is sold for $172 at most major retail stores, but it’s sold for only $89.95 in digital form. Granted there will be some textbooks that will not be available as an e-book since the concept is still relatively new, but there is a good selection of e-textbooks that can be purchased (or even rented) and stored on your iPad which leads us to the second advantage.

2. Eco-Friendly

Not only are you saving money, but you are also saving trees by downloading e-textbooks on to your iPad. Also since you can use the device to write and store notes and essays, you are also getting rid of the need of notepads and pencils—both class materials that are also manufactured from trees. Thus purchasing an iPad can help sustain the environment.

3. No Back Ache

Because you’re an online student you naturally don’t have lug around a heavy backpack full of textbooks to classes everyday like a traditional student, but if you like to sneak-in a study session during lunch breaks at work or while picking up your kids from school you might. The iPad on the other hand is light weight (more so than a clunky laptop) and allows you to possess all of your books at one time, which also leads us to advantage number four—

4. Accessible Materials 24/7

Since the iPad allows users to write and store notes and essays, as well as tune-in to video lectures and slide shows via wi-fi connection, you will virtually have all of your class materials with you at all times. This means that you don’t have to worry about forgetting to bring a certain book when you plan on studying at the library for example or even forgetting to bring something as simple as pencil. This also means that you can have impromptu studying times—as long as you have your iPad you can study anywhere when you have time.

5. Apps

Lastly, because the iPad is a product of Apple, similar to the iPhone the iPad allows you to download tons of apps that can serve as additional learning resources at your disposable. From learning to organizational tools, apps can help enrich your online experience and serve as extra supplements when studying for tests and completing assignments.

This is a guest post by Kimberly Wilson. Kimberly is from accredited online colleges, she writes on topics including career, education, student life, college life, home improvement, time management etc.

iPad Perks: Top 5 Ways the Device can Help you Excel in Online Learning is a post from Learning Online Info, a blog dedicated to the world of e-learning and the emerging learning technologies.

3 Online Scams Associated with Online Education

Guest Blogger — Wed, 09 Nov 2011 16:38:51 +0000

In recent years, online education has become a very popular pursuit for students young and old wishing to gain a degree in higher education. With so much of our lives already taking place online, it is a fairly natural extension at this point to move education and learning to the web. Online education is a wonderful option for students with families to care for, jobs to maintain, or difficult schedules to work around. With the convenience of an online learning environment comes the added danger of online privacy. There are numerous scams out there online that are geared toward those seeking online learning or online scholarships. While these malicious entities are no doubt dangerous, they are certainly no reason to distrust or discredit online education. Before completing any forms in your online college application process, educate yourself on these three types of malicious web scams associated with online learning.

Scholarship Scams

With thousands of legitimate scholarships available, college students have numerous ways to save money in their pursuit of higher education. However, this means that they also have numerous ways to fall victim to malicious web scams. With so many legitimate scholarships offered it can be difficult to know where to get started in your scholarship application process. Before providing any personal information on any sort of online form, you should educate yourself on how to avoid scholarship scams. The most dangerous type of scholarship scam involves a malicious entity creating an entirely false scholarship offer. This phony scholarship is created to obtain personal information from vulnerable students that will in turn be utilized to steal their identity or (less threateningly) to obtain information for marketing purposes. Before applying for a scholarship online, research that specific scholarship. If the application requires some sort of fee, that should draw some red flags for you. Carefully evaluate the scholarships you are applying for to be sure that they are legitimate and a decent fit for your educational needs.

Student Identity Theft

Identity theft is by far the largest category of college scams on the web. Because of the impersonal nature of online education and the application process, online learning is targeted fairly often by online scammers. Malicious entities will create false pages that mimic legitimate online university sites and will use that false form to steal your sensitive personal information. Those seeking an online degree should carefully educate themselves on the accreditation process for online colleges and universities on the web. Some scammers will go through the trouble of actually creating an entirely false university just to steal your money or information. If a school is not accredited by an official accrediting agency, you should go through several steps to ensure its legitimacy. Look through that schools contact information and if you can call them to enquire about their school and accrediting status. If they do not provide contact information, contact the U.S. Department of Education and inquire about the school there.

Student Loan Scams

In today’s turbulent economic atmosphere, more and more students are finding it necessary to take out a loan to attend or complete their education. Student loans are a great (and terrifying) way to get the money you need to pay for tuition and other learning expenses. However, (because it’s the internet) there are malicious entities online that will try to obtain your personal information through phony loan offers and applications. The primary source for legitimate educational loans is the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (or FASFA). This service is free (as indicated in the name). Some scammers will attempt to charge you for financial aid applications. Avoiding loan scams is done in much the same way one avoids phony scholarships. Be wary of any online forms you are asked to fill out and educate yourself fully on the loans you are seeking.

This is a guest post from Jacelyn Thomas. Jacelyn writes about identity theft protection for IdentityTheft.net. She can be reached at: jacelyn.thomas @ gmail.com.

3 Online Scams Associated with Online Education is a post from Learning Online Info, a blog dedicated to the world of e-learning and the emerging learning technologies.

Distance Learning Degree

Guest Blogger — Fri, 04 Nov 2011 10:07:56 +0000

Students have many more choices open to them today in regards to choosing how to further their education. Online distance learning programs are one of today’s most popular ways in accomplishing this aim. These distance learning programs offer students the chance to complete coursework online rather than through a traditional classroom setting.

In today’s world, things move at a more rapid pace. Today people want to be able to seemingly do it all without having to choose between what they want. Many people do not want to have to give up working in order to obtain their education. Distance learning programs provide a great deal of flexibility for a person to continue working. Distance learning programs can easily fit into anyone’s schedule. When you go with this type of learning, you do not need to travel to the university. With these programs you either obtain information through a DVD or through the computer. It is easy to view the material when it’s convenient for you. You are also able to go back and listen to information again if you need to do so.

A wide array of courses can be taken via a distance learning program. Some students may even opt to simply take the courses for fun or to further their knowledge of the subject. A degree does not always have to be the focal point. Some distance learning courses are offered for pleasure. Some courses may provide instruction for hobbies or languages. This is a great way to learn how to complete a particular activity. Again this is a way to learn content without having to drive to a college or school.

Some of these distance learning programs can help secure technical certification that will enhance someone’s career skills. Distance learning courses are usually sponsored by various colleges or technical schools. By incorporating modern technology, people are able to obtain knowledge from a location away from campus.

Distance Learning Degree is a post from Learning Online Info, a blog dedicated to the world of e-learning and the emerging learning technologies.

Get A World-Class Education With YouTube EDU and iTunes University

Guest Blogger — Thu, 20 Oct 2011 23:26:32 +0000

If only one thing has been made clear by the protestors marching against Wall Street and the government officials who have colluded to steal the American Dream, it is that a top-flight university education no longer guarantees a job.

People are now exploring new ways to learn without paying exorbitant tuition fees, and YouTube EDU and iTunes University may be just the ticket for prospective students willing to think – and study – outside the classroom.

Distance learning is nothing new, but neither is charging fees for it that can be as much as or more than brick-and-mortar institutions. People are fast coming to the conclusion that they are paying for the credits rather than the knowledge, and these two online avenues for learning can offer them a wide variety of free high-quality lectures, course material, classes and more.

iTunes University launched in 2007 and has since grown into a hub where a collection of hundreds of universities, museums and educational groups from around the world gather to post lessons, lectures, tutorials and podcasts of all kinds. While it may give off a more product-oriented feel by driving users to the iTunes Store, a few clicks through the offerings reveal there is a treasure trove of valuable knowledge that is free for the taking.

YoutTube EDU is more of an effort to organize and continuously update all things that have true educational merit that have been downloaded onto the site. It is easily searchable and there is a wealth of great content such as lectures from ivy-league schools, science demonstrations, debates and cultural performances, but users will likely run into some B material as well.

The benefits of these two endeavors can’t be undersold. It makes it possible for any person with access to the Internet to receive the exact same education as those individuals fortunate enough to attend the most prestigious learning institutions in the world. In fact, a great deal of the material is organized by university and subject so people can “take classes” as they would if they were in attendance at the university of their choosing.

Many people may argue the drawback is that YouTube EDU and iTunes University don’t issue degrees upon completing coursework, but the prevailing opinion of the day is that university diplomas are not worth what they used to be and that America’s cash-strapped economy now places a premium on performance and proven results over most any other credential.

Of course, the true benefit is that these sites provide opportunities for personal advancement that may or may not have anything to do with career advancement, and some would say that is what a world-class education is really all about.

This article was written by James Madeiros who writes for Criminal Justice Degree Schools, an education site providing information on earning a bachelors in criminal justice.

Get A World-Class Education With YouTube EDU and iTunes University is a post from Learning Online Info, a blog dedicated to the world of e-learning and the emerging learning technologies.