List of 100+ Free Educational Websites - Learn New Skills

Be warned: Although these websites can help you build a new skill base, they will not necessarily be accepted on your resume. Although we are entering a new, modern era where skills are more fluid and less rigidly attained, institutions are always slow to change. That doesn’t mean you shouldn’t learn these skills, however.  There is room to prove yourself outside of your resume.

Free Educational Websites

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IMPORTANT > 9. How Can You Prove You Learned These Skills?

1. Online University Courses

This section provides a list of Universities that share their materials openly and freely for all, with the aim of supporting classroom instruction, and giving all individuals access to an excellent education. Take note — some University sites provide better content than others in specific areas of study. Depending on your interest, you should do some research prior to choosing one of these links.

2. Other Course-Like Sites (Not Directly University Affiliated)

These websites are less structured than the University affiliated sites, and may be more helpful to someone with less time to commit.

3. Computer Related Skills

Learn how to program, write code, and work with alternative operating systems with these helpful websites.

Java Specific:

• Blue Pelican Java Textbook
• CalTech CS Java Track: A syllabus, with assignments and labs. Work through it like a student.
• FHDA Community College Intro to Java Course
• GA Tech Free Java Learning Materials
• MIT 6.092 Intro to Programming in Java
• ORACLE’s Java Tutorials

4. Music

Music theory, music lessons, and a few different instruments. Learn how to jam out some tunes!

5. Language

Bilingual ability is a solid addition to any resume. Get started learning today!

• Duolingo: Learn language for free and translate the web
• Languages from BBC
• LiveMocha
• Talk To Me In Korean: Lessons on speaking Korean

6. Cooking/Food:

“Cooking Skills” should probably be a mandatory section of everyone’s resume.

• Cooking Coarse
• Good Eats

7. eBooks, Online Books, and Academic Journals:

Successful people never stop learning. Use these resources to find articles, books, and journals — sometimes for free!

8. Miscellaneous Subjects:

Math, psychology, philosophy, exercise, investing, science, business planning, and even livestock management. There’s nothing you can’t learn here.

9. How Can You Prove You Learned These Skills?

The Internet, rapidly developing technology, and cheaper technology are working together to quickly create a more level educational playing field for motivated learners. The question is quickly becoming: how will institutions like universities, companies, and governments begin to recognize skills, knowledge, and abilities learned outside of the “normal” paths? (By “normal,” we mean the process of earning a degree from a university, or getting training through your job.)

Right now, it is not acceptable to claim that you earned skills or abilities from the Internet on your resume. It is too difficult to prove that you rigorously studied the information and learned new skills to a satisfactory degree. That is why the degree system exists at universities — it standardizes the level of competence needed to earn the degree.

However, there are massive projects being undertaken to begin a new standardization process — ones that could help people who cannot afford college, or are simply self-motivated learners, prove that they have skills and abilities on par with those who earned a “normal” university degree.

Mozilla’s “Open Badges” Project

At Resume Genius, we are particularly interested in Mozilla’s Open Badges project.

To summarize briefly, Open Badges hopes to create a process where your skills can be tested and proven, with the evidence/results stored in a digital format (in the form of a badge). Theoretically, you could collect these badges, and offer them as evidence to universities to earn credits, or to companies as supplement for your resume.

We believe that such a process could truly bring revolutionary changes to the way people learn skills and choose career paths. Although we believe that people should learn for the sake of learning, we also believe in practicality. That is why we are excited about Mozilla’s Open Badges, and the democratization of education on the web.