This blog was initially published in May 2020 and suggests at-home learning opportunities for students during the Covid-19 pandemic. But many of the recommendations in this post are great suggestions for students to pursue at any time! If you are looking for ways to take your learning outside of the classroom, here are some suggestions!
COURSERA
Coursera offers thousands of classes from top universities around the world. Many of their courses are available for free (if you choose not to get a certificate of completion). You can explore by subject area, but since the subject areas can be pretty broad, I like to use the search bar to get specific results. Searching for Creative Writing brings up classes from Wesleyan University, Stanford University, and the University of Pennsylvania. There are over 250 courses available on Public Health. Search for Video Games and you’ll find hundreds of classes on game design, art, and narrative development.
Pro Tip #1: If you’re worried about falling behind in a particular subject, this is a great time to catch up. Coursera has plenty of options like Introduction to Calculus, Basic Statistics, or How Things Work: An Introduction to Physics.
Pro Tip #2: If you’re thinking about applying to a selective major, this is a unique way to demonstrate interest, especially if your interest isn’t heavily featured somewhere else in your application. For example, if you’re interested in Journalism but don’t have any experience yet, Coursera has plenty of options to learn more about the craft.
edX
edX is an online learning platform originally founded by Harvard University and MIT. It works much the same way as Coursera, but you can search edX by the school or company offering courses. They also offer courses designed to prepare students for AP exams, so if Pro Tip #1 caught your attention above, this is another great opportunity to make sure you’re ready for next year’s coursework.
UDEMY
Udemy is similar to Coursera and edX in that it offers thousands of online courses, but Udemy’s courses are often less academic and more practical or skills-based. You can learn to use design software, brush up on your photography skills, or work on your leadership skills. Instead of being taught by professors from universities around the world, courses on Udemy are taught by experts in their field.
Not all of Udemy’s are available without paying for them, but over 700 of their courses are free. Choose from subjects ranging from public speaking to learning to play a new instrument.
COLLEGE-BASED
A great place to look for summer opportunities is often at colleges themselves. For example, Stanford University has a page dedicated to online learning that shows learners where they can take online courses for free. And while some summer programs have been canceled, others have moved online. Emory University and Wake Forest University have online pre-college programs, and The Great Books summer program is offering online workshops and courses taught by international faculty.
Google “College Name + summer programs for high school students” to see what colleges have available.
If you’re interested in taking for-credit courses over the summer, see if any local colleges or community colleges accept high school students. For example, both The University of North Carolina and Wake Tech Community College invite high schoolers to become “visiting students” over the summer and take online courses.
OTHER RESOURCES
Khan Academy isn’t just for SAT and AP prep! They provide learning resources and self-paced courses for students in common high school core subjects.
Similar to Coursera, Future Learn and OpenLearn offer free online courses in a variety of subjects. Both sites are based in the UK, so most of their courses are taught by professors at British universities. You won’t find many courses on American history, but you can get a different perspective on tons of other subjects.
Don’t forget about resources like Free Code Camp and Language Bird if you’re interested in learning computer and/or foreign languages!
Hopefully, this gets you started exploring online learning options. With so many options available, everyone will be able to find something that interests them and showcases their commitment to learning!
Stay tuned for Part 3 of our Fill Your Free-Time series coming soon!