Editorial note: This post was first written during the early growth of Massive Open Online Courses. Some platforms and payment arrangements have since changed. The list now includes MOOC platforms, free educational resources and an online university.
Learning is a continuous process—it never ends.
Over the years, Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs) and other online learning platforms have emerged to provide lifelong learning opportunities to people in different parts of the world where internet access is available.
They provide endless opportunities to learn new things, acquire new skills and remain up to date in one’s area of interest.
In case you are wondering what Massive Open Online Courses are, MOOCs are online courses offered to a large or unrestricted number of learners over the internet. Many can be studied free of charge, although certificates and graded assessments may require payment.
Benefits of Online Learning
The benefits of taking online courses are numerous. Apart from gaining knowledge, learners enjoy flexibility and opportunities to interact and share ideas through discussion forums.
From my personal experience with edX, people with busy schedules can also learn at their own pace through self-paced or archived courses.
Learners may earn certificates that can support career development and strengthen their CVs, although a certificate alone does not guarantee employment.
There are several platforms where learners can enrol in courses of interest. For a start, I would personally recommend edX, where I earned several certificates from different courses.
edX
edX offers online courses and programmes from universities and other recognised institutions.
Many courses can be audited free of charge, giving learners access to lectures, readings and some practice materials. Learners who want graded assignments and verified certificates generally need to enrol in the paid track.
Khan Academy
Khan Academy is not strictly a MOOC platform, but it is one of the most useful free online learning resources.
Learners can study Mathematics, Science, Computing, Economics, History and several other subjects through videos, articles and practice exercises. It also allows learners to study at their own pace.
University of the People
University of the People is an online university rather than a MOOC platform.
It describes itself as tuition-free because students are not charged for instruction. However, learners pay an application fee and assessment fees for the courses they complete. Financial assistance may be available to eligible students.
The university provides an opportunity to study for recognised online degree programmes without the cost normally associated with conventional universities.
iversity
iversity offers online courses in different subject areas, including some free MOOCs and paid professional-development courses.
I undertook two courses on the platform and would also recommend it. The platform is now part of Springer Nature, but it continues to provide online learning opportunities.
National Open University of Nigeria
The National Open University of Nigeria provides a large collection of digital course materials covering different university programmes.
The materials can be read online or downloaded for educational use. They may be useful to students, teachers and anyone seeking additional learning resources.
YouTube Learning
YouTube is not a conventional MOOC platform, but it contains a large amount of educational content.
Learners can search for subjects, topics or skills and find video lessons, explanations and tutorials. YouTube also provides organised courses and learning playlists for topics requiring more than a single video.
However, because anyone can publish on YouTube, learners should consider the qualifications of the creator and confirm important information through reliable sources.
Coursera
Coursera is one of the largest MOOC platforms, offering courses, specialisations and degrees from universities and companies worldwide.
Many courses can be audited for free, while certificates and full programmes typically require payment.
FutureLearn
FutureLearn provides online courses from universities and cultural institutions around the world.
Learners can access many courses for free for a limited time, with options to upgrade for certificates and extended access.
Udemy
Udemy is an online learning marketplace where instructors offer courses on a wide range of topics.
While many courses are paid, there are also numerous free courses available, especially for beginners.
OpenLearn (The Open University)
OpenLearn offers free courses and educational content from The Open University.
It provides short courses, articles and interactive learning materials across various subjects.
More Learning Opportunities
These are only a few of the many online learning platforms and educational resources available on the World Wide Web.
edX also made the software behind its learning platform open-source. The Open edX platform now allows universities, governments and other organisations to establish and manage their own online learning sites.
As online learning continues to expand, more courses and platforms will become available.
I will continue to add useful platforms to this list as I discover them.
Happy learning!
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