Free online Courses

One of the biggest benefits of the Internet is the huge amount of information we all have available at our fingertips. Yet the biggest challenge for many of us is making sense of all that information.

There are many opportunities for learning, but the information is often spread out in various places and not presented in an organized way that makes learning easy.

Thankfully, several organizations – both nonprofits and businesses – have jumped into this niche and have developed online courses that draw upon this vast wealth of available knowledge. These eight free websites allow you to take educational courses in the comfort of your home, expanding your knowledge and understanding of the world at your convenience.

is one of the leading providers of MOOCs – massive open online courses. Coursera offers a wide selection of college courses on a variety of subjects and includes lectures taught by university professors, discussion forums and quizzes. Some Coursera courses provide certificates of completion to recognize that you passed the class. If you enjoy learning in a structured classroom-style environment and want to do this at home, Coursera is a great place to start.

is a tool for learning new languages such as Spanish, French, Italian and German and provides a lesson-based structure in which you gradually learn new words and grammar. The site integrates visual, audio and written learning, so you become comfortable with the new language as a whole. Using Duolingo feels like playing a game, but after completing the full track of a language, you’ll be able to carry on a basic conversation.

is an organized series of mini lectures and interactive problems on a variety of topics including mathematics, history, science and more. The lectures are short and share a handful of information at a time, but build on each other as you progress. If you like the idea of learning about a topic in short bursts, Khan Academy is the right resource for you.