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PDFFree or Low Cost University Level Education
With Massive Online Open Courses (MOOCs), universities and professional associations have been able to make general education coursework in many disciplines available at little or no cost to a much wider audience. If you missed something in your education, a MOOC course can be an effective way to fill in the gap.
Keep in mind that in the MOOC environment you may have thousands or even tens of thousands of classmates. That makes MOOCs best for people who can learn well on their own or with limited interaction with the teacher(s). While most MOOCs have teaching assistants, they may not be able to answer all questions posed by the student body.
Coursera.org – Take the world’s best courses, online, for free.
Coursera is an education platform that partners with top universities and organizations worldwide, to offer courses online for anyone to take, for free. A paid option provides a path to a certified letter of completion available for employers to view on the web.
Choose from more than 400 courses created by the world’s top educational institutions. Explore topics you are curious about. Broaden your knowledge with a wide-ranging catalog of courses, from music to computer science. Stay up-to-date in your field or forge a new career path.
Learn on your own schedule. Watch short video lectures, take interactive quizzes, complete peer graded assessments, and connect with classmates and teachers through the on-line forums.
One course in particular may be of interest to job seekers: Enhance Your Career and Employability Skills offered by the University of London.
edX.org – Empowering learning in the classroom and around the globe.
EdX was created for students and institutions that seek to transform themselves through cutting-edge technologies, innovative pedagogy, and rigorous courses.
Through our institutional partners, the xConsortium, along with other leading global members, we present the best of higher education online, offering opportunity to anyone who wants to achieve, thrive, and grow.
Our goals, however, go beyond offering courses and content. We are committed to research that will allow us to understand how students learn, how technology can transform learning, and the ways teachers teach on campus and beyond.
EdX is based in Cambridge, Massachusetts and is governed by MIT and Harvard.
Other General Education
SkillPointAlliance.org – Offers Gateway: Job Training in several skills trades areas including Certified Nurse’s Aide, Machine Operator, Electrical, HVAC, Plumbing and Welding. Applications are required.
Round Rock Public Library – Research and Learning resources available through the Round Rock and other local libraries. Some resources require a valid library card for access. Cards are currently free to Texas residents. Some resources can only be accessed from the library itself, but many can be accessed on-line. | 216 East Main Street, Round Rock, TX 78664 | 512.218.7000 or 512.218.7001
See the Research and Learning section of the web site for a complete list of resources available. Some that may be of particular interest:
Job and Career Accelerator: Combines all the elements needed for a successful job search: occupation surveys, job postings, resume and cover letter tools, and interview skills practice.
Learning Express: Help preparing for job tests, the GED, and several college and graduate school entrance exams.
Lynda.com: LinkedIn’s online learning platform, with hundreds of courses covering technical, creative, computer, management skills and many other areas of interest to job seekers.
Mango Languages: Learn a language online using material derived from native conversation and real-life situations.
ReferenceUSA Directory: Access millions of U.S. residential and business phone numbers and addresses. Conduct market and competitor research as well as business analysis by industry or geography. This can be very useful in preparing for an interview.
