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Educational Resources

Online Education, learning apps & Other Educational Resources

Some information about online education and college success:

How to Finally Start Learning a New Skill   2.5 minute video about getting started with learning something new

Online Course Report‘s goal is to provide prospective students with independent and thoroughly researched guides on the best online course options for them.

How to Learn Any Skill with Your Own Solid Training Plan (older article, so pricing and links may be inaccurate but information is helpful)

8 Criteria to Consider When Choosing an Online Course

5 Tips for Catching Up in School When You’ve Fallen Behind

How to Access Paywalled Scientific Journal Articles

5 Useful Web Tools Every Student Should Use

10 Ways to Make the Most of Your College Experience

Brainly.com – For students. By students. Homework helper available 24/7. 

The Best Techniques for Taking Notes

Lifehacker’s Most Popular Study Tips

Who needs higher education when we have YouTube?

5 Student Sites to Learn the Best Study Techniques and Methods

Instructor-Led Training vs. Self-Paced Learning: Which Is Better?

Can Teachers Record Your Online Classes? 

Anxiety and depression can affect your learning ability – Big Think

The 7 Best Strategies for Self-Regulated Learning

10 Tools to Make Learning at Home More Effective

How to Use OneDrive for School Assignments

The 11 Best Sites to Get College Textbooks Online 

5 Websites to Download Free Textbooks

The Top 9 Most Profitable Skills to Learn in 2022

Our Best Education Articles of 2021

Places to Find Online Courses:

  • Academic Earth – free online college courses and lectures from leading universities. Also features original video presentations and curated playlists of college lectures.
  • Alison – Offers free courses for skills training and personal improvement. 
  • Coursera – Coursera is one of the largest online learning sites. 
  • CreativeLive – Can watch live streams free, has an annual fee for on demand access.
  • edX – offers classes in computer science, business and management, engineering, languages, data science and the humanities. 
  • Khan Academy – offers free education, from kindergarten through early college, in a wide variety of subjects.
  • MIT OpenCourseWare – Choose from business, engineering, fine arts, health and medicine, mathematics, humanities, science, education and other subject areas. Materials may include course syllabi, instructor insights, summaries of lectures, readings and assignments.
  • Udemy – Offers both free and paid courses. To find the free classes, filter your search by price (free). 
  • Class Central – The site lets you track subjects and courses and offers personalized course recommendations.
  • Skillshare – Offers a free trial but I was unable to find anything accessible without first handing over credit card info. 
  • What Is Skillshare?
  • How to Apply for Skillshare Scholarships
  • OpenLearn – the home of free learning from The Open University. Whether it’s a 60-second animated video or a 24-hour course you are after, you will find it on OpenLearn for free.
  •  OpenCulture is a massive compilation of free courses offered by universities.  The subjects are arranged alphabetically in a linear list. You can drill down the list and see the media type of the the lecture. For instance, it can be a YouTube video or a podcast on iTunes. Also offers free audio books, free textbooks, and free language lessons. 
  • SkillCrush – Offers online courses in coding, design, user experience and digital marketing. Their free coding camp is a beginner-friendly introduction to coding, teaching you the lingo, career paths and learning marketable skills in computer coding and programming.
  • SoloLearn – Learn how to code, free of charge. They offer fun lessons and quizzes to teach the fundamentals and test your skills. The platform also has message boards for posting code and Q&A discussion groups.
  • CourseRoot – “The best any subject courses and tutorials for everybody. I want the price to be free…”
  • Grow with Google – Free training, tools, and resources to help you grow your skills, career, or business.
  • FreeVideoLectures was started with an aim to bring free educational video lectures to everyone. All the video lectures are from top universities. 
  • The Crash Course team has produced more than 15 courses to date, and these videos accompany high school and college level classes ranging from the humanities to the sciences. Crash Course transforms the traditional textbook model by presenting information in a fast-paced format, enhancing the learning experience.
  • Lurn is an Online (& Offline) Transformational Home for Entrepreneurs Everywhere.
  • FutureLearn: Online Courses and Degrees from Top Universities
  • Explore Open Courses | OEDb – Universities, colleges, and private organizations offer free online college courses to help students acquire new knowledge and skills. These courses cover a variety of traditional academic topics and other subjects that can lead to career advancement and personal enrichment. Courses occur online, allowing learners from all over the world to participate. At the end of a course, students may qualify for an official certificate. Some institutions charge a small certificate fee.
  • Stanford Online: Home | Learning for a Lifetime  has both free and paid classes.

Language:

  • Babbel – Language learning platform offers monthly subscription services, but you can try out one of their courses for 30 days. 
  • Duolingo – Free to use language learning app, though you can pay to remove ads and add a few features. Use my Friend code to try it out: https://invite.duolingo.com/BDHTZTB5CWWKSPQ7SRUIFTKLM4
  • Memrise – Online language community. Like Duolingo, Memrise’s language studies are like a game, using spaced recognition to speed up the learning process.
  • Mango Languages is an American online language-learning website and mobile app which has a two-week free trial, then has a monthly fee.
  • The 5 Best Podcasts to Learn a New Language
  • 20 of the Best History Podcasts to Help Us Actually Learn From the Past
  • The 7 Best History Apps That Make Learning History Exciting
  • The 10 Best Language Learning Apps That Really Work
  • The Top 6 Ways to Learn a New Language With Technology
  • The 6 Best Features of Memrise You Can Use to Learn a New Language
  • These Language Tips Make Learning Fun
  • Conjuguemos makes learning verb conjugations in Spanish, French (+ 7 other languages) easy with drill practices and fun multi-player games.
  • A browser extension called Language Learning With Netflix takes advantage of that to teach you new languages while you’re watching foreign content. The app does so by actively translating a show or movie’s subtitles to the language you are trying to learn. You can read both versions and hover over words you don’t know to reveal their meaning as well as usage. There’s also a handy sidebar which lists all the dialogues. You can click any entry to view its translation, jump to the scene where it appears, and bookmark it. Language Learning With Netflix supports nearly every major language and has a host of other features you’ll find handy. It can automatically pause the playback after each line so that you have enough time to process it. It adds a handful of keyboard shortcuts for controlling the playback. On its website, you can easily find content depending on the language you’d like to learn. Download: Language Learning With Netflix (Free, premium upgrade available)
  • How to Learn a New Language While Browsing the Internet Using Toucan 
  • The Fable Cottage: Bilingual stories for language learners 
  • 5+ Creative Ways to Learn a New Language for Free 
  • Flowlingo (Android, iOS) lets you study languages by reading the news as well as books, watching online videos, and listening to music. The app automatically surfaces the country’s local publications, clips, and music. When you tap one, Flowlingo loads a special web page where you can highlight words to quickly translate and log them. In addition, Flowlingo turns your starred translations into flashcards. You can participate in tests, and review your vocabulary through them. You can read online articles for free on Flowlingo. But for the other features, you will have to pay a monthly subscription. Download: Flowlingo for Android | iOS (Free, subscription available)
  • TenWords (Chrome) brings some of Flowlingo’s best features to your computer. The browser extension allows you to sharpen your language skills while catching up on the news. Like Flowlingo, TenWords interprets foreign articles to your native language. You can hover over words for their translations and tell TenWords whether you already knew it or not. The service uses this data to build flashcards so that you can practice later. Plus, TenWords’ little widget has a text field. Before unlocking the translation, you can try to guess and enter it yourself based on the sentence’s context and your existing knowledge. TenWords has a few more nifty tools such as daily goals and vocabulary stats. TenWords supports about 10 languages including Italian, Spanish, Russian, Lithuanian, and French. Download: TenWords (Free)
  • Beelinguapp (Android, iOS) is another language immersion app for Android and iOS. However, it’s especially for those who want to learn a new tongue through audio. While listening, Beelinguapp displays the audio’s text and its translation into the language you’re familiar with. On top of that, the app offers precise controls to focus on a specific sentence or word. You can bookmark it, repeat the pronunciation, adjust the speaker’s pace, and manually scroll through the book or lyrics. Beelinguapp also has a News tab. But unlike Flowlingo which lets you pick a story from any publication you like, Beelinguapp curates a limited set of articles. Download: Beelinguapp for Android | iOS (Free, subscription available)
  • Woodpecker Learning (Android, iOS) specializes in language immersion through videos. You can watch local programs and videos and understand the dialogues via on-screen subtitles. Woodpecker clearly lists the lines as they disappear and you have the option to tap any of them to translate them. You can also have subtitles in more than one languages run simultaneously. In addition, Woodpecker features a web browser integrated with a translator. It allows you to learn a foreign word’s meaning simply by tapping it. The app gives you a few more tools like a bookmarking tool and practice tests. Download: Woodpecker for Android | iOS (Free, premium subscription available)

Coding:

Arts including Writing:

History:

  • Histography gives you sounds, animations, and visuals on an interactive timeline that spans across 14 billion years of history, from the Big Bang to 2015. The historical information comes from Wikipedia, and the timeline self-updates as new events are recorded. Move the mouse across the timeline to speed through history. Focus on one historical event to know more about it. Or, use the categories on the left bar to dive into related events. The timeline helps you understand the cascading impact of related events on the world.
  • Histagrams: History depicted as Instagrams
  • A History of the World in 100 Objects from the BBC. The objects are spread across the ages from 2 billion years ago to 2010. There is also an archive of a podcast of the same name.
  • HistoryExtra keeps up with the times past and present. HistoryExtra is the official website for BBC History Magazine and BBC History Revealed. The site also produces a history podcast, but the most interesting section could be the Historical Q&A section that takes a question and gets to the bottom of it with historical fact-finding.
  • The History Explorer is an interactive exhibit curated from the 3 million items in the Smithsonian Museum’s collections. It is meant for use by K-12 teachers and students, afterschool program providers, families, and anyone interested in lifelong learning. Use the filtering tools on the right side of the screen to narrow your results by grade, resource type, or historical era.
  • Mission US is an interactive exploration of US history for middle and high school classrooms. The four interactive games are designed to immerse the players in rich, historical settings. You have to make everyday choices to understand how ordinary people experienced the past. One of the objectives of the site is to help relive the past and develop historical empathy.
  • History of Vaccines takes you through the history of immunizations and how they have ensured life for a large section of our population.
  • A History of The Second World War in 100 Objects is a Dutch site that presents the best collections from 25 war and resistance museums across the Netherlands. Click on the thumbnails or use the dropdown index.
  • Smarthistory wants to make public art accessible to everyone. The site showcases public art history with thousands of free videos and essays written by scholars who are art historians, archaeologists, and museum curators. Use the search box or the Histories of Art pulldown menu at the top of every page to explore the resources on the site. You can also cite the resources in an essay or paper as the site is an open educational resource.
  • David Rumsey Map Collection – The American map collector is among the well-known map collectors and cartographers in the world. Here you can find rare maps from the 16th through the 21st Century of America, North America, South America, Europe, Asia, Africa, Pacific, and the world. Many more are being added every day as the total collection is 150,000 strong. Maps are convenient places to merge the ancient with the modern. Use the LUNA Browser to view multiple maps from different time periods. Create your own collections for studying history, art, genealogy, explorations, and your own family history.
  • The Epic History TV channel on YouTube is just one of the places to catch up on the history of our fascinating past.
  •  Stuff You Missed in History Class podcast.
  • Lincoln Archives Another interactive history site that does a good job with browsing old maps is the Lincoln Archives. The historic maps that you’ll find on this site are amazingly detailed, and the site lets you zoom right into specific areas to examine very fine details. Of course the site offers more than just the interactive maps, you’ll find lesson plans for classes, old newspapers and photographs and even old political cartoons.
  • The 7 Best Free Online Homeschool History Curriculums according to MakeUseOf.
  • The 7 Best History Apps That Make Learning History Exciting
  • 360° Virtual Tour of the Museum of the American Revolution
  • The Flow of History: Welcome
  • Christopher Columbus Interactive Map – Ages of Exploration
  • The 1619 Project
  • American History Tellers podcast
  • Salem Witchcraft Accusation History As you click along the timeline at the bottom of the screen, specific accusations pop up on the map, with the location on the map of both the accuser as well as the accused. If you click the play button, you’ll see just how rampant the accusations became in just a short period of time. You can also add or remove the Accuser, Accused, Household, Township, Roads and River layers from the map by clicking their links in the right menu.
  • Fold3 – The Arizona Memorial One of the biggest disasters from that attack was the USS Arizona, a Pennsylvania-class Navy battleship. It exploded and sank into the Harbor. Unlike other ships in Pearl Harbor, the Arizona couldn’t be salvaged, but today there is a USS Arizona Memorial that straddles the hull and stands as a reminder of all who died there that day on December 7th, 1941. Fold3 offers a really cool, interactive display of that actual memorial wall. You can zoom right in and look at the names, and you can even include your own highlight and notation for specific names. Some people have written things like, “This was my Uncle” or just a simple note to the memorial of a family member who passed away that day.
  • Another great, interactive research page is a site called Eyewitness Exhibits. These are very personal, historic photos that present famous events and eras throughout history in a very human way. The photos will show you candid and sometimes extremely emotional images that you just don’t find in the history books. As you explore the site, you’ll feel like you’re walking through a museum of photographs.. If there is also audio available as part of the exhibit, look for the microphone button.
  • Interactive Evolution of States Another really interesting interactive history site that makes use of maps is one put together by GeneologyInc.  This site offers map tools for every single U.S. state. You can use the tool to watch the progression of European settlement, and the segmentation of each state into county lines over the course of time.

Science:

  • Science.gov  is a search tool that provides relevant scientific research. The science-based search tool helps you browse over 60 databases, 2200 websites, and 200 million pages of U.S. government science information. Aims to enhance technical and scientific literacy by providing a variety of free resources. You can access free manuscripts, reports, journal articles, and research funded and backed by federal agencies.
  • ResearchGate  serves as a combination of a search tool, networking platform, and social media site. The site is a leading search tool for academic information within the scientific field. With over 135 million pages for you to access, you’ll most likely find relevant educational material for your research. This search tool not only provides ample options for your research, but you can also collaborate with your peers in the scientific community. In addition, you get to connect with industry professionals to get a head start in your career.
  • 6 Top Virtual Science Lab Apps to Experiment With
  •   ZME Science (Web): The Simple Science Blog for Anyone It tracks news in myriad fields and puts it in simple language for anyone to understand. You can follow ZME Science on any of the major social networks, or use an RSS feed for updates.
  •   MadSciNet: The 24-hour exploding laboratory. MadSci Network represents a collective cranium of scientists providing answers to your questions. For good measure we provide a variety of oddities as well.
  • It’s Okay To Be Smart (YouTube): Quick and Simple Science Videos. The range of subjects covered at It’s Okay To Be Smart is what makes it special. Every video has a scientific bent to it, but the actual subject can vary from Disney princesses to what DNA looks like.
  • My Fav Scientist (YouTube): Quick Talks About the Greatest Scientific Minds   YouTube star Brady Haran is renowned for his smart video channels like Numberphile and Periodic Videos. 
  • Extreme Science (Web): Science You Didn’t Know That You Wanted to Know  The site is divided into easy sections to browse, like animal kingdom, earth, ocean, resources, space, time, weather, and science tutors. Go to any section to read the best articles there, ranging from the world’s biggest snake to the hottest place on earth. Each topic is explained in simple language, which is a welcome change from the kind of robotic drivel on Wikipedia. Extreme Science also has plenty of photos, videos, and other multimedia to illustrate the topics they write about. But it’s mainly a text site to read and understand something thoroughly, and then impress your friends with your knowledge.
  • The 12 Best Science TV Shows to Watch on Netflix
  • The 7 Best Sites With Space Activities for Kids to Learn About the Universe
  • Skeptical Inquirer: Home
  • Internet Bunk – Steven J. Milloy’s Junk Science Page
  • What Is Google’s Interactive Periodic Table?
  • The Top 10 Websites to Get Your Daily Dose of Science
  • 8 Popular Environmental Sites for Learning More About Conservation
  •  Bad Astronomy (Web): Space and Universe in Fun and Easy Language.  Phil Plait’s famous long-standing blog.
  • Tweeting Knowledge To The Masses: 8 Popular Scientists On Twitter
  • Science Friday (Podcast) and SciFri Spoonfuls (Web): For Grown-Ups and Kids. NPR’s Science Friday is among the older science-oriented radio programs and podcasts on the internet. That’s probably why host Ira Flatow and the team have gotten so good at recapping what happened in science news in the week, in the simplest words possible. 
  • Sci-Hub The goal of Sci-Hub is to provide free and unrestricted access to all scientific knowledge ever published in journal or book form.

Math:

  • Math.com is dedicated to providing revolutionary ways for students, parents, teachers, and everyone to learn math. Combining educationally sound principles with proprietary technology, Math.com offers a unique experience that quickly guides the user to the solutions they need and the products they want. These solutions include assessment, on-demand modular courses that target key math concepts, 24/7 live online tutoring, and expert answers to math questions. In addition to solutions, Math.com offers exploratory and recreational introductions to the world of math that will lead to deeper understanding and enjoyment. The range of services, products and solutions offered makes Math.com the single source for all math needs
  • Arithmetic Game  provides an online speed drill.
  • Math Goodies is the best site to learn pre-algebra. The site focuses on theory and information and provides educational exercises immediately following the lesson.
  • Math Planet does a great job at presenting example math problems. It provides an instructional YouTube video at the end of every lesson for further explanation. Additionally, you can take your knowledge and put it to practice on the SAT and ACT section of the site.
  • IXL Learning is another great site to review and practice algebra.
  • Math Warehouse does a great job of bringing together explanations, graphics, and explanation videos. You can even use their online calculator for better practice.
  • MathHelp is a site that offers resources and tips to improve your test-taking skills.
  • Free Math Help offers a lot of useful information (theory, examples, and three calculus calculators), as well as an interactive problem-solver, which is useful for some problems. Everything is clearly shown and laid out on the free site. 
  • Setia Budi’s YouTube channel has a playlist that really does a great job at explaining stats. You don’t even need to have a great mathematical background to understand what is being taught. The videos are an average of around 25 minutes long and use graphics and examples to explain statistics.
  • You can learn more about statistics with Stat Trek. This comprehensive site includes a practice test and online tools such as a probability calculator.
  • History of Math won’t teach you any level of math, but a look at its evolution helps place everything in context.
  • Cool Math – free online cool math lessons, cool math games & apps, fun math activities, pre-algebra, algebra, precalculus
  • Math Tutor DVD – Online Math Help, Math Homework Help, Math Problems, Math Practice!

Documentaries:

Unsorted:

Many additional educational  resources coming soon.

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