Tech Talk : Free Online Education and Organization Tools
Introducing Tech Talk. Think “Dear Abby” but instead of relationship advice the topic is technology. If you have any questions about software, hardware, internet, programming, web pages, blogs, video games, video consoles, cell phones, money saving technology, local tech resources, security, error messages, virus, spyware, or any other topic concerning technology that you would like answered write to Tech Talk. The questions and answers will be printed and available on “The Contemplation”.
Evergreen Country ShopperAttention: Tech Talk
P.O. Box 408
417 9th Ave. W.
Ashland, WI 54806
Email: techtalk@soketnetto.com
An autodidact is a person who is self-taught using books, podcasts or alternative resources available without a teacher or traditional classroom.
Some of the most successful people in history (and in modern tech industries) taught themselves. Several dropped out of college or avoided it to begin with. But none of them ever stopped learning. They matured intellectually and didn’t need a school, committee, or a professor dictating what, when, or how they studied.
I am a college graduate, but I have a strong appetite for knowledge. Luckily knowledge and resources are not limited to a library or a classroom. These sources are not about getting a degree or certificate; it is about knowledge and learning.
iTunes U – Content includes course lectures, language lessons, lab demonstrations, sports highlights and campus tours provided by qualifying two- and four-year accredited, degree-granting, public or private colleges and universities from all around the world. Many of these are course can be accessed for free, although some are limited to actual students enrolled in the associated course. (http://www.apple.com/itunes/)
OpenCourseWare (OCW) Consortium – The OCW Consortium is a collaboration of more than 200 higher education institutions. The Consortium’s website is an excellent place to find free courses and course materials from some of the world’s best colleges and universities. (http://www.ocwconsortium.org/)
LearnOutLoud – This Internet catalog contains more than 20,000 free educational materials, including books, videos, audio lectures, and podcasts. (http://www.learnoutloud.com/)
Learning Space – Learning Space is a section of The Open University. It promotes educational opportunity and social justice by providing high-quality university education to all who wish to realize their ambitions and fulfill their potential. As a US citizen you are limited to just the Learning Space, but the content is rich and worth a peek. (http://openlearn.open.ac.uk/)
Colleges and Universities
- Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) was the first higher education institution to provide free access to course content for everyone online. (http://ocw.mit.edu/OcwWeb/)
- Carnegie Mellon University (http://oli.web.cmu.edu/openlearning/)
- Fulbright Economics Teaching Program (http://ocw.fetp.edu.vn/home.cfm)
- Princeton University (http://www.princeton.edu/WebMedia/lectures/)
- Tufts University (http://ocw.tufts.edu/)
- University of California – Berkeley (http://webcast.berkeley.edu/courses.php)
- University of Washington (http://www.extension.washington.edu/openuw/)
- Utah State University (http://ocw.usu.edu/)
- Yale University (http://oyc.yale.edu/)
- Stanford University (http://itunes.stanford.edu/)
- University of Notre Dame (http://ocw.nd.edu/)
- Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health (http://ocw.jhsph.edu/)
- Berklee College of Music (http://www.berkleeshares.com/)
- Gresham College (http://www.gresham.ac.uk/)
- University of California – San Diego (http://podcast.ucsd.edu/)
These online courses are very solitary and one of the most rewarding aspects of learning is to have debates or follow-up conversations. Sometimes just knowing something is not enough, we are humans that have a need to share and interact with other humans.
Luckily here in Ashland, WI we have access to educational opportunities. Yes they do have costs associated with the courses but nothing enhances your life like a little more knowledge.
- Northland College (www.northland.edu)
- Ashland County University of Wisconsin-Extension (http://www.uwex.edu/CES/cty/ashland/)
- Wisconsin Indianhead Technical College (http://www.witc.edu/)
Software Picks
One thing for sure it takes time and planning to become an autodidact. Here are some great online applications to help keep you organized and productive:
- Remember the Milk (http://www.rememberthemilk.com/)
- Toodledo (http://www.toodledo.com/)
- Teuxdeux (http://teuxdeux.com/)
- Task.fm (http://task.fm/)
- Ta-Da List (http://tadalist.com/)
- SpringNote (http://springnote.com/)
- Evernote (http://www.evernote.com/)
One more thing, Jott (http://jott.com/jott/jott-assistant.html) is must app for anyone who wants to keep organized. You just call a simple phone number, speak your notes, messages, or updates and hang up. Jott takes the spoken messages, turns them into text, and sends them to the right destination via email, text message, or web update.
Tech Talk wants to know what interests you. There is a quick survey for readers (www.soketnetto.com) to help Tech Talk mold future articles to meet your needs.