Learning from Home Why Now Might Be the Best Time to Invest in Your Education
WBy D. Vienneau
hile restrictions and fear caused by the current pandemic have forced many of us into lockdown and self-isolation, we can choose to focus on some of the positives that have come out of staying at home: increased family-time, extensive spring cleaning, time spent outdoors and the opportunity to learn something new.
E-learning opportunities have increased exponentially over the last decade, enabling people all over the world to learn at their own pace, and earn credits, certifications and even degrees from the comfort, and in today’s reality the safety, of their own home. The benefits of online education and training have become increasingly important to ensure ongoing growth and development. There are many digital learning platforms, and many institutions across Canada and the United States have responded to the disruption caused by COVID-19 by offering a larger variety of online courses, some even at no cost to the learner.
Benefits of Digital Learning
There’s no question that one of the largest benefits of online learning right now is that it offers development from a distance with no face-to-face interaction. Assuming you have access to a digital device and the internet, e-learning is convenient and generally affordable. Because e-learning allows for flexibility, you can learn at your own pace, spending as much or as little time on course material as needed. Learning in this way develops discipline and essential time-management skills—both vital skills essential in the workforce.
Free Online Courses
SAY has compiled a short list of education courses being offered at no cost for a limited time. It is in no way a comprehensive list, but we hope it gets you started.
• www.classcentral.com has a database of online courses offered by a variety of universities from around the world (some of which are listed below). Search by subject or popularity. You can also access courses about the pandemic. www.coursera.org is another site where you can seek out free courses you can take anytime, anywhere.
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is a 12-lesson online course offered by the University of Canada in Alberta. The course explores Indigenous histories and contemporary issues in Canada.
is an online course offered at the University of British Columbia. The class provides insight into how Indigenous histories, perspectives and world-views impact learning.
• The University of Toronto currently offers an online course called Aboriginal
• In the US, Oregon State is offering its
program and online course.
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Yale University currently offers The Science
and Introduction to
• Finances on the brain? University of California, Berkeley is offering financial education with its
course.
There are a multitude of digital courses available at varying costs and levels of certification, from academia to gardening, First Aid to music education and culinary arts. We encourage you to research courses connected to your interests; you may be surprised what opportunities exist. University websites are a great place to start.
There’s no better time than the present to invest in your education, because if not now, then when?