Category: Online Education

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25 Free Online Classes for Seniors

25 Free Online Classes for Seniors

We are living in a digital age. Millions are working online from the comfort of their own homes. Meanwhile, students of all ages use the internet to continue their studies (or learn something completely new).

Learning a new skill or finding your next favorite thing has arguably never been easier. The wealth of free online classes for seniors makes it highly accessible for anyone. 

We’ve sourced 25 of the best free online courses for seniors. Whether you’re a seasoned pro at taking online classes or looking to try something for beginners, you can get started on your learning journey right away. 

25 Free Online Classes for Seniors

Online Technology Classes

Online technology classes are a perfect choice for seniors looking to learn or enhance their tech skills at their own pace. Classes are available on numerous topics, such as digital security and office software. There are even curricula for coding. 

1. Digital Skills: Embracing Digital Technology

This course covers fundamental digital skills that you can use every day. Best of all, you can complete each lesson and activity at your own pace. With FutureLearn basic access, you can access this course for a limited time (four weeks) for free. 

  • Class provider: King’s College London (through Futurelearn.com).
  • Certificate: This course offers a Certificate of Achievement with the FutureLearn Unlimited membership (at $23.33/month).
  • Curriculum level: This course was developed for people unfamiliar with the digital world — specifically, to improve the lives of migrants, refugees, or others adapting to the digital age for the first time. 
  • Time to complete: The course is scheduled for four weeks, with three hours of weekly study time. However, you can take the entire course at your own pace.

2. iPhone and iPad Tips and Tricks

iPhone and iPad Tips and Tricks is an excellent course for seniors new to Apple devices or mobile devices in general. This course provides ample tips for using Apple’s mobile devices, from app management to managing your data usage.

  • Class provider: Garrick Chow, Senior Staff Instructor at LinkedIn Learning.
  • Certificate: This course offers a Certificate of Completion through LinkedIn Learning. LinkedIn Learning is free for the first month and $26.99/month after.
  • Curriculum level: Intermediate.
  • Time to complete: Each lesson is concise, so the entire course should take you 35 minutes to complete. You can also go back and rewatch each section multiple times. 

3. Microsoft Office Basics

In today’s digital age, skills with productivity software can help with a range of tasks. This includes budgeting, correspondence, and even business. The Microsoft Office Basics course introduces several tips and lessons for Microsoft’s software suite. 

The courses are self-paced and great for first-time users. Plus, the lessons are free with guided steps and videos.

  • Class provider: Goodwill Community Foundation’s GCF Learn Free Program.
  • Certificate: This course offers a Certificate of Completion.
  • Curriculum level: Though intended for beginners, those taking the course should know basic computer operations. 
  • Time to complete: There are four primary program curricula and four courses full of additional tips. With each module containing upwards of 30 lessons, this self-paced course may take weeks to complete.

4. Computer Programming for Everyone

With the Computer Programming for Everyone course, those with existing digital skills can boost their technical knowledge of computers and computer languages. Using FutureLearn’s basic access, you can take this course for free for two weeks. 

This course is excellent for anyone searching for advanced computer know-how or even a late-career change.

  • Class provider: The University of Leeds (through FutureLearn.com).
  • Certificate: This course provides a Certificate of Achievement with the FutureLearn Unlimited membership (at $23.33/month).
  • Curriculum level: This course requires previous knowledge of computers and how to use them. As such, this is an intermediate-level course. 
  • Time to complete: This course can be finished in two weeks, with just two hours of weekly study. It can also be completed at your preferred personal pace if you upgrade to FutureLearn’s unlimited package ($23.33/month). 

5. Security Tips

Digital security isn’t merely strong passwords and antivirus software. Anyone who uses a computer should know the security tips to keep them safe in this digital age. From understanding scams to protecting yourself from hackers, this course is valuable for all.

  • Class provider: Scott Simpson of LinkedIn Learning.
  • Certificate: This course offers a Certificate of Completion with a LinkedIn Learning account. LinkedIn Learning is free for the first month and $26.99/month after. 
  • Curriculum level: This course is designed for every level of technological skill.
  • Time to complete: This course is self-paced, and it should take three hours and 43 minutes to complete.

Online Finance & Investing Classes

Understanding your finances and investing options as a senior can help you maximize your existing retirement accounts and make your money work for you.

6. Investments at MIT

The Investments course is an in-depth class in quantitative investment knowledge offered by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. It uses mathematics, optimized financial theories, and comprehensive market expertise to teach expert portfolio decisions and advanced investment finances. 

  • Class provider: MIT’s OpenCourseWare.
  • Certificate: There are no certificates provided.
  • Curriculum level: Advanced (Graduate Level).
  • Time to complete: This course comprises 23 lectures and five group assignments. Each lesson lasts 1.5 hours, and there are two lectures each week, including exams. 

7. Just Money: Banking as if Society Mattered

Just Money: Banking as if Society Mattered is for those interested in understanding how banking and finances affect society. This course places a strong emphasis on the impact of your finances on social and environmental concerns, especially how digital tools and methods can help banks improve society as a whole. 

  • Class provider: MIT’s OpenCourseWare and edX.
  • Certificate: On edX, the $49 verified track offers a certificate upon completion. Otherwise, there is no provided certificate. Without the certificate upgrade (optional), the course is entirely free. 
  • Curriculum level: This is an introductory course available for everyone. 
  • Time to complete: This is a self-paced course. At the standard speed of three to four hours of study per week, it will take 16 weeks to complete.

8. Finance Fundamentals: Managing the Household Budget Sheet

It is never too late to discover how to manage your finances better. Finance Fundamentals: Managing the Household Budget Sheet teaches lessons on borrowing, investments, and debts. It also focuses on strengthening and preparing for your ongoing financial future.

  • Class provider: The Open University Business school (through FutureLearn.com).
  • Certificate: This course is accredited by the Online Course Certification System.
  • Curriculum level: This course is available for anyone. It is a powerful tool for seniors looking to operate their household finances better.
  • Time to complete: This is a guided four-week course, with three hours of weekly study expected. 

9. Investments and Retirement

Investments and Retirement is a powerful and free lesson for seniors looking to explore the world of investments. This course delves into investments, mutual funds, life insurance, and other relevant financial topics. Seniors should take this course to help maximize their finances for upcoming retirement goals.

  • Class provider: Khan Academy.
  • Certificate: This course offers no certificate. 
  • Curriculum level: This course is designed for adults of any level, but those with prior financial experience may have an easier time. 
  • Time to complete: This course features 14 videos of various lengths. Watch at your leisure, and expect upwards of a few hours’ worth of insightful content. 

10. Principles of Wealth Management 

Seniors looking for further insight into personal finance should enroll in Principles of Wealth Management. This course focuses on advanced financial theories and mathematical formulas to delve into specialized investments, portfolio diversification, and more. This course is available for seven weeks using FutureLearn’s free basic access program. 

  • Class provider: Hanken School of Economics (through FutureLearn.com).
  • Certificate: This course offers a Certificate of Achievement with the FutureLearn Unlimited membership (at $23.33/month).
  • Curriculum level: This course focuses on advanced topics. As such, it is geared toward those with existing personal finance knowledge.
  • Time to complete: This course can be completed at your own pace. Following a study schedule of four hours per week, it should take seven weeks to complete. 

Online Language Learning Classes

Learning a new language as a senior is an enlightening undertaking. It is beneficial for multiple areas of the brain. Also, online language classes help seniors improve communication with people from all over the globe. 

11. Introduction to Norwegian

The University of Oslo’s Introduction to Norwegian is an excellent course for seniors looking to learn the Norwegian language, customs, and culture. 

This course addresses the main rules of Norwegian grammar and pronunciation. It does so by focusing on basic, everyday conversations. Plus, a Norwegian Chatbot allows you to communicate in your new language with a “native Norwegian AI.” FutureLearn’s basic access program lets you take this course for four weeks for free. 

  • Class provider: The University of Oslo (through FutureLearn.com).
  • Certificate: This course offers a Certificate of Achievement with the FutureLearn Unlimited membership (at $23.33/month). 
  • Curriculum level: No prior Norwegian experience is needed for this course. As such, it is available for everyone. 
  • Time to complete: This course is self-paced. It should take four weeks to complete, assuming five hours of weekly study. 

12. Spanish I

As the second-most spoken language globally, Spanish is a beautiful and beneficial language for everyone to learn. Offered by MIT, Spanish I is a series of 26 half-hour videos. Each video provides an authentically Spanish dive into the culture, emotions, and language.

  • Class provider: MIT OpenCourseWare.
  • Certificate: There is no certificate for this course. 
  • Curriculum level: This course is for anyone without previous knowledge of Spanish.
  • Time to complete: Originally developed to fit a 15-week schedule, this course is now self-led. Expect 13 hours of videos, plus additional time for activities and extra exercises. 

13. Contemporary Chinese

For seniors interested in learning the culture and language of China, Contemporary Chinese is an excellent place to start. Teaching traditional Chinese characters and Pīnyīn, this course introduces the basics of Chinese Mandarin. Also, students will learn about various aspects of Chinese culture. This ranges from traditional family trees to cultural customs. 

You can sample this class with a free seven-day trial of FutureLearn’s ExpertTrack program but will need to upgrade to finish. The ExpertTrack program is a great way to try out classes to make sure you enjoy them before purchasing full access to FutureLearn’s vast category of online classes. 

  • Class provider: Chinese Plus (through FutureLearn.com).
  • Certificate: This course offers a validated, official certificate of completion with a FutureLearn Expert Track membership ($39/month). 
  • Curriculum level: This course is developed for anyone interested in learning Chinese. No prior experience is needed. 
  • Time to complete: This is a self-guided course. It should take five weeks to complete at five hours of study per week. 

14. Speak Italian With Your Mouth Full

Fully embracing Italy’s culture (and the food), Speak Italian With Your Mouth Full teaches the language through cuisine. Broken down into 13 video lessons, the curriculum focuses on teaching how to speak Italian by teaching how to cook like an Italian.

  • Class provider: MIT OpenCourseWare.
  • Certificate: There is no certificate for this course. 
  • Curriculum level: This course is fun and accessible to people with no prior Italian skills.
  • Time to complete: This course is self-paced. In addition to the lessons, the various recipes take different times to complete. 

15. Irish 101: An Introduction to Irish Language and Culture

Irish 101: An Introduction to Irish Language and Culture will interest seniors curious about the history and culture of Ireland. By focusing on the Irish people and their heritage, students learn basic Irish language skills. This class is available for free with basic access to FutureLearn’s platform for four weeks. 

  • Class provider: Dublin City University (through FutureLearn.com).
  • Certificate: This course offers a Certificate of Achievement with the FutureLearn Unlimited membership (at $23.33/month).
  • Curriculum level: This course is developed for anyone interested in the Irish language, history, and culture. As such, no prior Irish experience is needed.
  • Time to complete: With four hours of study per week, this course should take four weeks. However, it is self-paced, so feel free to learn on your schedule.

Online Art & Music Classes

As a senior, you might finally find the time you’ve always wanted for artistic endeavors. With online classes, you can bring art and music education right into your living room. These courses are designed to bolster your love of art by helping you find a new hobby and brush up on dormant skills. 

16. Popular Culture and Narrative: Serial Storytelling

Seniors interested in the art of storytelling will find great value in MIT’s Popular Culture and Narrative: Serial Storytelling. This course focuses on how the passage of time, popular culture, and various media forms influence how stories are created and told.

  • Class provider: MIT OpenCourseWare.
  • Certificate: There is no certificate for this course. 
  • Curriculum level: This course is available for all. Prior experience with art and literature might help with clarity, but it is unnecessary. 
  • Time to complete: This course is broken into 25 self-paced sessions. It is recommended to complete two two-hour sessions each week. 

17. Introduction to Art History

Introduction to Art History provides a deep insight into the portrayal of history as told through art and how art has influenced and has itself changed through history. It’s an excellent opportunity for seniors who love classic, Euro-American art over the past seven centuries.

  • Class provider: MIT OpenCourseWare.
  • Certificate: There is no certificate for this course. 
  • Curriculum level: This course has been developed for everyone, and no prior knowledge of art history is needed. 
  • Time to complete: Originally developed as a 15-week course, the online version is self-paced. With that said, two weekly sessions of 1.5 hours each are the average pace. 

18. Art Since 1940

For those more interested in contemporary art and culture worldwide, MIT’s Art Since 1940 is a strong choice. Focusing on art after the WWII era, this course explores the relationship between art, politics, and culture over the past century. Additionally, the course will study how the art boom of the 40s has evolved into today’s art.

  • Class provider: MIT OpenCourseWare.
  • Certificate: There is no certificate for this course. 
  • Curriculum level: This course is available to all. While it deals with a more specific period of art history, no prior experience in art or history is needed.
  • Time to complete: This self-led course features 14 lectures covering various topics. A standard pace assumes two sessions a week, with each session taking 1.5 hours. 

19. The Anthropology of Sound

The Anthropology of Sound is designed for students interested in the auditory arts. The course focuses on the relationship between humans, culture, and the transmission of sound. First, students will explore sounds from music to environmental noises. Then, they will study how those sounds correspond to cultural and scientific advancements.

  • Class provider: MIT OpenCourseWare.
  • Certificate: There is no certificate for this course. 
  • Curriculum level: This course is available for all, and no prior skills are necessary.
  • Time to complete: This course features 14 three-hour weekly lectures.

20. Popular Musics of the World

Focusing on popular music outside of the U.S., Popular Musics of the World looks at what makes music popular. It also focuses on how music has changed worldwide due to Western recording technology and artistic influences.

  • Class provider: MIT OpenCourseWare.
  • Certificate: There is no certificate for this course. 
  • Curriculum level: No prior education or experience is required for this course.
  • Time to complete: This course features 26 weeks of lessons and assignments. Each week is divided into two 1.5-hour sessions.

Online College Classes

Online college classes are an excellent way for senior citizens to learn new skills and improve their existing proficiencies. In most states, enrollment for seniors is free or costs are greatly reduced if class openings are available.  

Many state universities and colleges offer free college courses. Some of the top institutions in the world offer online courses for free, including Yale and Harvard University. In addition, several non-college educational services, such as Udacity and Coursera, offer college-level courses on various subjects.

How to get free college credits as a senior citizen

21. Open Yale Courses

Open Yale Courses provide course material and recorded video lectures for free. These self-guided courses focus on liberal arts disciplines of all levels. These offerings range from humanities to biological sciences. There is no required registration, but no credit or certificate is offered either.

22. Harvard Open Courses

Harvard Open Courses provides over 400 courses on various topics and proficiency levels. You can audit over 120 courses for free, including the accompanying lesson plans and coursework. Paid classes are available in many disciplines, from personal health and medicine to data sciences.

23. Stanford Free Online Courses

Stanford’s Free Online Courses provide academic lessons taught by world-class Stanford faculty. Courses are varied and diverse. Seniors can find lectures on Cybersecurity, the Special Theory of Relativity, and plenty in between.

24. edX Open College Courses

edX is a free online course provider partnered with over 160 of the world’s top universities, including Berkely and MIT. Over 3,000 college-level courses are offered in over 30 subjects. 

All of edX’s offerings are free as audited courses. Each lesson also features a verified track for varying prices. Every verified track has assignments, quizzes, and exams graded by instructors and then awards a verified certificate at the end of the course. 

There are also various other degree and certification programs, although most are not free.

25. Massive Open Online Courses (MOOC) 

As part of edX’s library, Massive Open Online Courses provides edX’s extensive course library to hundreds of thousands of learners. MOOCs can offer college credits and other recognized accolades. As a part of edX, all course materials and instructor lessons are optimized for online learning.

How to Prepare for Online Learning

Online learning provides seniors with an excellent option for expanding their education. You can join all online courses wherever an internet connection is available, meaning you can attend a class in your living room, or even while traveling. 

Why take online classes as a senior?

What Materials Do You Need?

Online courses will require a computer and an internet connection. Be sure to bring along a notebook for notes, and find a quiet area that is conducive to learning. 

For specific courses, additional materials and supplies will be listed. This can range from textbooks to software, and students may have to purchase these items themselves. Be sure to check for materials requirements before signing up for any course.

Are Free Classes Really Free?

In most cases, “free” is another word for auditing the course. This typically won’t result in any certificates or credit. However, the lessons themselves are otherwise unimpacted.

Like MIT’s OpenCourseWare, other academic sources provide entire curricula and course materials for free. Again, these are essentially self-led, audited courses. However, the contents have been created by some of the leading minds in their respective fields.

Quality sources of education will highlight their pricing structures up-front and without hesitation. When signing up for a free course, always ensure that all resources are truly free. Never enter any payment information for a course that should be free.

How Do Online Class Schedules Work?

In most cases, free courses can fit any schedule because there’s no set course time. Many online education sites understand the busy schedules of adults. Their lessons are made to be self-led and completed on one’s own schedule.

With that said, double-check the specifics of each course before signing up. Some courses run concurrently with on-campus offerings. These courses might require on-time attendance and interaction with your classmates (so be sure you have a camera so your peers can see you!).

More interactive courses may also have set days and times of the week to better reach all students at once. While this is more likely for paid courses, some free courses track attendance, so be sure to free up your schedule for education.

Free Classes for Seniors Near Me

Free in-person classes can be found in many locations. Seniors can visit local public libraries, community colleges, and even museums for a variety of courses. 

To find specific classes (online or in-person), simply perform a Google search for Free classes for seniors near me. Ignore any results that say “ad” next to them. Your top results should be tailored to your local area. 

Online classes allow seniors and busy older adults to build skills in nearly any discipline. Additionally, most online courses are self-led. This allows students to set the pace of their education around their lives. If you’ve felt the need to improve your mental acuity, turn to online classes. In the digital age, lifelong learning is achievable by everyone.

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Online education platform designed to help those most in need

Online education platform designed to help those most in need

WATERLOO Area — A new partnership involving Monica Put and Anishnabeg Outreach will bring existence capabilities programs to young households regionally, and most likely throughout the nation.

Young new moms in Waterloo Location fascinated in mastering how to make little one meals, how to do residence repairs and other daily life competencies, will soon be in a position to just take programs on the net and receive credit history towards earning their high university diploma.

For the previous 50 decades, Monica Area has been an educational useful resource and aid centre for pregnant or parenting youth. Every calendar year, all around 30 folks — largely young mothers — attend the life abilities classes made available by the company. Government director Jennifer Breaton said up right up until now, the software was limited to in-human being schooling only.

“It’s pretty paper-primarily based and cumbersome. Of course, that is not how youth want to understand. We want to make things far more available,” she claimed. The programming is created up of 11 modules and makes it possible for learners to obtain entire credit score via the Waterloo Regional District University Board.

Anishnabeg Outreach has agreed to set these courses on video clip and host them on the AONest system, a cloud-based learning system that people can accessibility from any unit. The platform by now hosts a range of articles, which includes education and work supports, early years programming and self-directed healing courses.

The lifestyle competencies videos may well be accompanied by worksheets, digital displays or other files to assist in the studying.

CEO Stephen Jackson claimed the academic hub will assistance the pregnant and parenting youth at Monica Area, but it also has the possible to assistance younger households throughout the state. The business hopes to spouse with other companies like Monica Area in main urban centres in Canada to give them accessibility to the online system.

“We have to break the cycle of lifelong social guidance,” Jackson said. By providing instruments and assets for people today in have to have, the aim is to position them for upcoming good results, and to keep away from a life of poverty or homelessness.

“This is a proactive alternative that prevents the downstream challenges.” If younger moms can discover lifetime abilities and obtain work training via the platform, it may well lead to a far better daily life for them and their youngster.

The online platform is also a way to give again culture to Indigenous peoples, Jackson stated. The source has sections on sharing recipes, text of wisdom, and teachings from know-how keepers.

The AONest platform is not publicly obtainable for just anyone. Only households supported by Anishnabeg Outreach have obtain to it, and quickly purchasers of Monica Spot will way too.

It’s distinct than heading to YouTube and discovering info and schooling methods there, Jackson stated. The AONest platform is curated and material is produced by agencies with certain folks in intellect. Entry to the on the internet resources is envisioned to be paired with assistance from area organizations.

Immediately after clientele of Monica Put start out making use of the on the net classes, Jackson hopes to kind partnerships with other social products and services businesses by means of word of mouth. The far more partnerships, the a lot more educational programming is brought to the platform, he explained.

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UF Online announces partnership with Amazon’s Career Choice program – News

UF Online announces partnership with Amazon’s Career Choice program – News

GAINESVILLE, Fla. – UF On-line, the College of Florida’s prime-rated on-line bachelor’s diploma software, announced an education partnership with Amazon’s Career Decision program nowadays in which the business will totally deal with tuition and costs for its Florida hourly personnel that gain admissions to and enroll in a person of UF’s 25 bachelor’s levels through UF On the web. The partnership will go into effect for Amazon’s hourly Florida staff members starting up in the tumble semester.

A short while ago rated the No. 1 on line bachelor’s degree plan in the nation by U.S. News & Earth Report, UF On-line commonly leverages new partnerships to increase Floridians’ entry to bigger schooling. This yr, UF introduced the UF On the web Gator Pathways system, which is designed to welcome and assistance pupils as they go after their have finest path to the College of Florida to make their bachelor’s degrees. The partnership with Amazon is a single part of the UF On line Gator Pathways approach targeted on industry partnerships that eliminate barriers for workforce and let them to gain levels whilst in the workforce. Members in the program are matter to the exact same admissions requirements as all UF candidates.

“By covering UF On the internet tuition and expenses for their admitted employees, Amazon is giving its employees an possibility to receive a diploma from a best-tier college in packages that are built to present overall flexibility for persons in all levels of life,’ explained Joe Glover, UF’s provost and senior vice president for academic affairs. “By eradicating the barrier of cost, this partnership will give Floridians another avenue to progress their occupations and prosper in a rapidly-escalating workforce,”

Today’s announcement is a testament to UF Online’s amplified leadership in training each nationally and statewide. Supplied its exemplary standing in on line schooling, UF On line has earned recognition and have faith in from one particular of the world’s major and most influential firms.

“We’re seeking ahead to the University of Florida coming on board as an instruction partner for Occupation Alternative, including to the hundreds of very best-in-course choices accessible to our staff members,” reported Tammy Thieman, world software direct of Amazon’s Vocation Decision application. “We’re committed to empowering our employees by delivering them access to the instruction and instruction they will need to grow their occupations, no matter whether that is with us or somewhere else.”

“UF Online is the national leader in on the internet bachelor’s education,” said Andy McCollough, UF’s affiliate provost for teaching and know-how. “Joining Amazon’s Job Selection application permits UF to lengthen new educational prospects statewide and is reflective of the price of a UF degree.”

Due to the fact its inception, a lot more than 50,000 Amazon workforce have benefited from the Profession Preference software to progress their education and careers, with minority teams earning up more than 50 {e4f787673fbda589a16c4acddca5ba6fa1cbf0bc0eb53f36e5f8309f6ee846cf} of all taking part personnel. The most popular fields of review amid Profession Choice members contain health care, transportation, and info know-how.

Amazon crew customers throughout Florida should call their employer to discover extra about how to join the Job Selection method. Workers ought to use to UF On the internet by Might 7 to be viewed as for Fall 2022 admission.

UF, rated No. 5 in the list of very best general public universities by U.S. Information & World Report, launched UF Online In January 2014.

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Smart Horizons Career Online Education Selected by Amazon as an Education Partner for Career Choice Program

Smart Horizons Career Online Education Selected by Amazon as an Education Partner for Career Choice Program

POMPANO Seashore, Fla., March 3, 2022 /PRNewswire/ — Smart Horizons Job On-line Education announced they have been picked as an schooling companion for Amazon’s Career Choice software, supplying Amazon’s hourly employees entry to their Occupation On line Substantial Faculty application.

“We are thrilled that Amazon’s Profession Option plan chosen the Clever Horizons Career On line Education college district as the instruction spouse to deliver Amazon’s workforce an option to gain a significant college diploma and occupation certification by Vocation On the web Higher University,” stated Dr. Howard Liebman, the district’s Superintendent of Educational institutions. 

By Profession On the internet Significant University, workforce can now receive an accredited superior school diploma online, on their schedule. They concurrently make an entry-amount vocation certificate in fields, this sort of as: producing, retail buyer provider, workplace administration, business driving, or house treatment skilled. Learners get a person-on-1 guidance from Tutorial Coaches. To day, a lot more than 12,500 grownups have graduated by means of Sensible Horizons Career On the net Instruction.

Amazon’s Career Option software is an training profit that empowers staff members to discover new expertise for vocation achievement at Amazon or in other places. The application satisfies personal learners the place they are on their education journey through a variety of education and learning and upskilling options which include total faculty tuition, market certifications built to guide to in-desire jobs, and foundational competencies this sort of as English language proficiency, significant school diplomas, and GEDs. In the U.S., the corporation is investing $1.2 billion to upskill a lot more than 300,000 employees by 2025 to help move them into better-paying out, in-demand work.

“We’re on the lookout ahead to Good Horizons Vocation On line Education coming on board as an education and learning spouse for Profession Preference, introducing to the hundreds of ideal-in-course choices obtainable to our workers,” reported Tammy Thiemann, International System Direct of Amazon’s Profession Choice program. “We are committed to empowering our workforce by delivering them obtain to the education and education they need to develop their occupations, no matter whether that is with us or somewhere else. We have deliberately cultivated a lover community of third-party educators and businesses fully commited to furnishing exceptional schooling, position placement methods, and constant enhancements to the working experience. Nowadays, in excess of 50,000 Amazon employees around the planet have already participated in Vocation Option and we’ve observed to start with-hand how it can remodel their lives.”

For a lot more info on Amazon’s Job Option, go to: https://www.aboutamazon.com/information/office/career-alternative

For more information on Intelligent Horizons Job Online Training, stop by: https://www.shcoe.org

Speak to: [email protected]

Resource Clever Horizons Vocation Online Instruction

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Graduate Theological Union launches new online platform

Graduate Theological Union launches new online platform

The Graduate Theological Union, a consortium for the graduate-stage examine of religion, introduced a new on-line discovering platform this week concentrated on the intersection of spirituality and activism.

The new on the internet hub, identified as GTUx, capabilities lectures and understanding modules by Graduate Theological Union college members, alumni and learners. Students explore topics ranging from ecospirituality to the intersection of spirituality and artwork to spiritual influences on the riot at the U.S. Capitol final yr. GTUx will also consist of digital artwork exhibits on religious or social justice themes, dwell conversations more than Zoom, and other alternatives for users to join with just about every other, which include a Slack channel and a Fb team for dialogue. Members are encouraged to donate an volume of their option to assist the undertaking, but any person can sign up for and access the material for absolutely free.

The union, primarily based in Berkeley, Calif., is produced up of a collective of establishments and applications representing a assortment of faith traditions and focuses on interreligious and interdisciplinary graduate instruction. The idea for GTUx was born out of a theory among the consortium directors that there is demand for instructional content about spirituality amid individuals interested in social activism and community arranging, in and exterior academia, regardless of whether they see themselves as affiliated with a religious tradition.

“Our perception is the globe is hungry for a spot to go to have loaded discussions and do some deep-dive mastering in a way that equips people today to facial area the troubles that we are experiencing in the entire world suitable now, from weather improve to racial injustice, religion and politics, and to have a place where folks can gather,” said Jennifer W. Davidson, incoming dean and vice president for educational affairs and a professor of theology and worship at the Graduate Theological Union.

The platform is an opportunity to engage with these issues “with a perception of hope and a way of drawing on these really deep means that we have in our wisdom and spiritual traditions,” she extra.

A 2015 report by the Pew Investigate Heart identified that the share of Us citizens who establish as unaffiliated with a faith has quickly grown, generating up 23 percent of the populace at that time, up from 16 percent in 2007. This rising detachment from religion is specifically noteworthy amid more youthful People in america 35 percent of millennials report obtaining no spiritual affiliation. Still numerous Us residents clearly show curiosity in spirituality, in accordance to a research by the Fetzer Institute, a private basis concentrated on fostering and finding out spirituality in the United States. The study included a 2020 survey of 3,609 grownups, conducted by NORC at the University of Chicago, a nonpartisan investigate group, which uncovered that 86 percent of respondents identified as non secular to some diploma, and far more than 66 percent explained their spirituality as guiding their habits. Respondents who explained on their own as moderately or quite spiritual also noted partaking in volunteer operate and civic action at larger prices.

J. Cody Nielsen, director of the Middle for Spirituality and Social Justice at Fairleigh Dickinson University, reported there is a “growing rejection of official spiritual practice” in the United States.

“More and a lot more persons in American modern society are wanting at the spiritual buildings in which they grew up in or which have dominated our countrywide landscape … and they are rejecting people,” Nielsen explained. “Yet people today are deeply tied to understandings about a kind of greater sense of goal, and people’s spirituality is primarily just switching.”

He pointed out that Americans are increasingly drawn to humanism or a number of spiritual traditions at at the time, rather than a one perception technique, and they are “coming back to deep concerns of philosophy.” So, the Graduate Theological Union is “on point” in building programming targeted on spirituality.

Leaders of the consortium say people today are in particular drawn to discussing spirituality and social justice through a pandemic that still left a lot of feeling isolated and amid the national reckoning with racism that followed the murder of George Floyd.

“The intersectional crises of general public overall health, common injustice, political strife and heartbreaking violence that we have weathered as a world community make it crystal clear that the need to have for this sort of useful resource is more urgent than ever,” Uriah Kim, president of the Graduate Theological Union, explained in a press release. “There is a deep drive for transform, and we are very pleased to have made a space that will allow learners and changemakers around the planet to come alongside one another in knowledge, dialogue, and motion.”

Frank Yamada, govt director of the Affiliation of Theological Colleges, a membership firm for graduate colleges that educate religion leaders, claimed theological universities are more and more devising new strategies to “serve nontraditional pupils by nontraditional implies,” a trend he claimed was accelerated by the pandemic.

“This innovation that GTU is promoting is … searching for to access digitally an audience with their academic mission that may possibly not be common, diploma-in search of pupils,” he reported.

He believes theological university leaders are enthusiastic by enrollment difficulties. General enrollment at Association of Theological Universities member institutions has held steady above 30 years—and the Graduate Theological Union has viewed enrollment gains in the past quite a few several years. But mainline Protestant establishments “have observed really precipitous declines in enrollment over the very last 15 to 20 decades,” he reported. These worries have led to administrators “getting inventive.”

Kim, the GTU president, pointed out in an e-mail that persons want a lot more chances to pursue a religion education “side by side with their existing vocation” and that this is mirrored in a “meaningful increase” in the number of section-time students and certification-software college students at the Graduate Theological Union.

Paul Brandeis Raushenbush, senior adviser for community affairs and innovation at Interfaith Youth Main, an firm centered on fostering interfaith cooperation and dialogue,​ said the consortium’s on-line system can open up bigger accessibility to training about religion.

It is an enjoyable and “long-overdue” development “for major theological schooling to get to out over and above the confines of their partitions and into the broader world,” he explained.

When Raushenbush thinks faith remains a potent force in people’s life and activism, he observed that the system could offer “a different entry point” for those people who may not consider of religious traditions as getting something to give them.

“If you assume of on your own as not religious or non secular especially, but you’re incredibly interested in ecology or you are pretty intrigued in racial justice, then you might … then go, ‘Oh, I didn’t even know that there was anything there for me,’” he mentioned. “They may possibly enter the exact same portal by a diverse lane.”

He also hopes GTUx will give men and women a likelihood to have interaction with faith traditions other than their very own because of the spiritual diversity of the consortium, which contains institutions and centers centered on Christianity, Judaism, Buddhism, Islam and Hinduism.

“I assume the target in this article is to position these distinctive valuable wisdom traditions on the same page and practically in discussion with a person a further and allow the world see that that’s attainable,” Raushenbush reported. “You could go there pondering, ‘You know what, I’m hunting for something about Christian ecospirituality’ and then see some thing about Jewish ecospirituality and be like, ‘I did not even know that was a thing’ … That is exactly where the magic takes place with education and particularly with some thing as effective as spirituality and religion.”

Nielsen reported participating a entire assortment of faith traditions is crucial to “foster a a lot more holistic academic experience” on the platform. He also thinks the academic examine of religion and activism requires to contain difficult discussions about “the historic approaches in which religion has been the two valuable and harmful” to social actions and marginalized groups, which requires becoming “interrogators of our very own histories and experiences.”

Davidson, the incoming dean of the Graduate Theological Union, reported the consortium is dwelling to a lot of students, faculty associates and directors that are by now having multifaith and academically demanding conversations about social motion and conducting applicable analysis.

“I feel lots of of them would recognize as people who are deeply spiritual … and who are also deeply committed to social justice,” she explained. “This is an organic venture for us that is seeking to share who we are with the world in buy to be a useful resource to other individuals.”

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Where Now For Online Learning? Coursera CEO Predicts The Next Wave

Where Now For Online Learning? Coursera CEO Predicts The Next Wave

Just after the incredible changes more than the previous two decades, for many in instruction a crucial issue is the place following for on line finding out?

And couple of men and women are in a superior position to response this than the CEO of Coursera, 1 of the world’s biggest on the internet mastering platforms.

Pre-pandemic, all-around 40 million folks all over the world were being enrolled with Coursera. One more 30 million signed up about the course of 2020, and full enrolments today stand at about 90 million.

And although the tempo of growth has fairly slowed considering the fact that the heady times of March and April 2020, the charge of registration is still drastically increased than before the pandemic.

And this encounter has helped Stanford MBA graduate and Coursera CEO Jeff Maggioncalda get perception into how on-line learning is evolving and what the up coming wave will search like.

The to start with wave observed the creation of on the internet lectures, in the days when MOOCS ended up continue to a novelty, adopted by palms-on finding out, as VR and AR gave learners new depth to their expertise.

And the knowledge of the pandemic has laid the foundations for the theme of the subsequent wave: collaborative learning.

At the top of the pandemic, universities and universities shut to in-human being learning and shifted to on the web teaching, and workers commenced learning from dwelling as perfectly as doing work from property.

But even though the on the net finding out encounter may possibly have been shared across age teams, as we arise from the pandemic it will begin to diverge.

“The initially point about the pandemic is it gave most people a taste of on line mastering,” states Maggioncalda, who this calendar year marks five years at the helm of Coursera. “But the affect is distinct based on who the learner is and what they’re attempting to discover.

“For younger kids, on the internet discovering just can’t switch the bodily and social understanding that comes about in a schoolyard. So much of studying for younger kids is learning how to be a social creature.”

At the other stop of the spectrum, on-line discovering frequently labored definitely effectively for grown ups, allowing for them to suit classes all around their get the job done agenda.

In involving are college students in higher education, who missed out on the campus knowledge, but acquired the versatility offered by online understanding. It is right here that Maggioncalda predicts we will likely see a lasting shift.

“I imagine where we’re likely to conclusion up is pretty a great deal a hybrid world, where that encounter that was not online at all will unquestionably have a major on the internet component, even for kids who are on campus,” he claims.

“But the major point is the several people who are not on campus but need to study will have entry to significant excellent education and learning which is purely on the web.”

Quite a few of Coursera’s most well known classes all through the pandemic have been entry-level skilled certificates, a pattern mainly pushed by persons switching work, Maggioncalda notes.

These learners broadly fall into two categories: individuals with a degree who want to alter careers, and people with no a diploma but with an entry-level job who want to get credit score in direction of a diploma.

“It is a ramp to a new job but also the pathway to a degree,” he says. “We believe that is the long run of instruction.”

For learners, the attractiveness is obvious. A sequence of certificates gives a route to a college degree that is both equally much less expensive and speedier than a standard campus route, and can healthy around a work.

“Once you land in a work you like, you can then go and get a degree whilst you are functioning, so you do not have to forfeit your cash flow,” Maggioncalda says.

Even though this opens up opportunities, the impression will be felt in a different way by various universities, he argues.

The far more selective universities will experience minor tension to alter. Their levels will nonetheless be sought-right after by companies and their campus experience will nevertheless be wanted by learners, at the identical time as their potential to provide economic assist makes the cost far more workable.

But universities below this elite level are possible to see additional of an effect.

“I’m not saying really don’t get a college or university degree, but the way you get it will be distinctive,” suggests Maggioncalda. “More often than not, the degree is likely to be acquired on line and not just on campus.”

And it is not just how students discover that will be hybrid. Campus pupils will close up having short, entry-stage classes along with their degree, he argues.

“Maybe you are finding out English or art history, and you are not positive you’re going to get a job in that subject when you graduate, so you hedge your bets,” he says.

“You have a diploma and a fantastic household knowledge, but also a certificate that has experienced you to get a particular position.

“The environment is heading to be hybrid: some persons on campus and some folks on the internet. Even the qualifications will be hybrid, where you have a college or university diploma and a expert certification. When folks only get one particular or the other they will most likely be disadvantaged.”

This will prompt universities under the elite stage to appear even tougher at how they catch the attention of pupils, and will progressively prompt them to function additional closely collectively.

“The narrative is collaboration,” he claims. “We’re looking at much more and more universities embrace this group-based mostly approach.”

And this indicates not just information from other universities, but also from the likes of Facebook, Google and Amazon, allowing for universities to give a broader selection of know-how.

As an example, he cites a liberal arts faculty that could also supply college students a certificate in guide-retaining, without acquiring to set up a new college. And this circles round to all those pioneers of online understanding, the huge open on the internet study course (MOOC)

“There was a great deal of buzz and a lot of disappointment, but MOOCs are now the developing blocks of better education,” he states. “They are making it possible for universities to collaborate with every other.”

He expects this approach to blow-up the product of universities currently being a a single-end shop, capable to do all the things themselves and bringing all the disciplines beneath 1 campus. Rather, sector forces will direct to expanding specialization for universities beneath the elite tier.

“Once universities are topic to sector stress, they’re going to say what are we really good at? Incredibly number of schools will be good at everything.

“They will target on what they are definitely very good at and they will complement that with materials from others,” he claims.

This does not signify the residential knowledge will be confined to the prime tier of universities. As a substitute, he suggests there will be a emphasis on creating a student overall body that produces an immersive, innovative expertise that couldn’t be imitated online.

As an example of how the hybrid method could possibly function in practise, he cites a college with a powerful report in athletics drugs licensing a enterprise course, providing occupation-valuable techniques with no owning to set up a business school.

“Universities will consider their core disciplines and set on the internet programs all-around that,” Maggioncalda says.

Adhering to the creation of online lectures, and the advancement of palms-on discovering by digital and augmented truth, this tactic is mirrored in the following wave of on the internet learning, he provides.

This will see an expanding emphasis in creating resources to make it a lot easier for learners to do the job jointly, he predicts.

“The upcoming wave is going to be continued advancement in collaborative understanding,” he states. “How do we do tasks? How do we do group discussions? Collaborative learning on the net is the up coming frontier.”

And even though it could seem ironic to some, he suspects that this will enable bring the on line knowledge closer to the pre-on-line product.

“It will develop an knowledge that feels a little bit like the outdated-fashioned in-man or woman studying,” he claims.

No matter if it’s collaboration among universities or collaboration amongst learners, even as on the net finding out attempts to replicate its offline predecessor, there is no question that the pandemic has shifted the dial on what discovering will look like.