Aardvark Daily

Please visit the sponsor!

Look -- free education for all that want it

We live in a world where it has never been more important to have some form of training, skill or qualification.

With low-wage countries such as China, Indonesia, Mexico and the Philippines taking all the unskilled manufacturing jobs, the opportunities for untrained and unskilled Kiwi workers are becoming increasingly limited.

We only need so many labourers, street-sweepers, refuse collectors and people serving fast-food. It's clear that if the individual and the nation are to make headway, training, education and knowledge must be an important focus.

Unfortunately, most technical institutes and universities charge a hefty sum for their courses and even if you get a student loan, you're left shouldering what can be a significant debt-burden.

But all is not lost...

In recent years, a number of highly regarded universities have been making their courseware available online and last week, the prestigious Stanford University has broadened its offerings.

Those seeking to improve their knowledge and prospects can now take a free online Computer Science 101 course -- as well as papers on entrepreneurship and Software Services.

Other offerings from Stanford include Machine Learning, Cryptography, Natural Language Processing, Software as a Service, Computer Science 101, Machine Learning, Cryptography, Natural Language Processing, Human Computer Interaction, Design and Analysis of Algorithms I, and Probabilistic Graphic Models. Human Computer Interaction, Design and Analysis of Algorithms I, and Probabilistic Graphic Models.

For those on a budget and who want a high-quality course from an internationally renowned university then this maybe an option worth considering -- as an alternative to the local (and more expensive) offerings.

But don't stop there...

As I've mentioned in a column once before, there are countless lectures on YouTube which cover virtually every subject you could ever want to study.

Quantum physics, computational fluid dynamics, basic through advanced math and heaps more -- they're all there for anyone who wants to learn and, they're all 100% free of charge!

Even if your learning aspirations are not so academic, the Net still offers a raft of valuable training and teaching material. This is particularly valuable now that the government has canned the wonderful institution of night-classes that used to be run in almost every secondary school around the nation.

Although you won't get any personal tuition when you decide to learn to weld, YouTube and the web will deliver a wealth of material that can turn you from a know-nothing into a modestly accomplished welder in a reasonably short space of time.

Anyone who is sitting around, wondering where to go next with their job or their interests really ought to spend a whole day exploring the online training and education options -- you really will have your eyes opened and your horizons broadened.

Even if you don't take a formal course that produces a recognised qualification, the information you pick up through the more informal channels can pay huge dividends.

Have any readers taken some of the free online university courses?

Do you regularly use online resources to learn new information or skills?

Any tips or suggestions for those who might like to?

Please visit the sponsor!

Have your say on this...

PERMALINK to this column

Oh, and don't forget today's sci/tech news headlines

Rank This Aardvark Page

Change Font