Online courses, e-learning
Various websites offer open educational resources (OER), including tools for online learning, platforms that provide teaching and learning materials, and even podcasts. This guide highlights a selection of these educational resources, categorized into e-learning platforms, universities and institutions, podcasts, and language e-learning platforms.
The focus of this guide is primarily on resources that are provided for free.
This section provides an overview of multiple e-learning platforms, including the primary focus and features of each. Many of these learning platforms were created to provide high-quality educational resources to students around the world through Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs) in order to give broader access to higher education materials. The variety of websites described here gives students the possibility of accessing learning materials for free, but obtaining a certificate for a course may include a charge (one-time or subscription fee).
If you need to find a course on a specific topic but aren't sure which platform to choose, use
Class Central
Class Central is a course search engine founded in 2011 that searches edX, Coursera, and many similar platforms. It also provides information about courses offering free certificates. Search by topic or institution. Filter by language, discipline, level, duration, and free or paid content.EdX
EdX is an online learning platform established by Harvard University and MIT in 2012, and it has since grown to provide over 4,600 online programs with collaborations and partnerships worldwide. Registration is required to access learning materials. Course content is free, but payment is required to receive a completion certificate. EdX also offers professional certificate programs that consist of a series of courses designed to deepen knowledge in a specific field for a fee. EdX also offers Master’s, MicroMaster’s, Bachelor’s, and MicroBachelor’s programs. These programs typically require payment, and the amount varies according to the program and educational institution.
Khan Academy
The Khan Academy is an extensive platform that offers many programs, courses, and learning resources for students, teachers, and parents. Although some Khan Academy content is available in different languages, including Czech, many courses are only available in English. The platform offers learning materials for a wide range of students, including elementary and high school levels and test preparation materials. It covers a diverse set of topics, from humanities and career advancement courses to mathematics and the natural sciences. Khan Academy is a non-profit organization, and there is no fee to access its content. There are no completion certificates but learners can earn badges. Android and iOS apps are available.
Kadenze
Kadenze is a learning platform that offers courses and micro-courses. Free and premium accounts are available, and the premium account enables learners to receive feedback and credits from educational partners. Purchasing an individual course, including a completion certificate when course requirements are met, is also possible. Kadenze offers a variety of courses on topics such as web development, fashion, photography, and entertainment technology.
FutureLearn
FutureLearn is a learning platform that offers courses on a wide range of topics (economics, healthcare, law, language, psychology, and teaching) from many universities and colleges. The platform provides a free limited access plan for the majority of short courses but does not offer certificates. Fees vary according to the level of access to the learning materials.
Google Grow
Google Grow is a learning platform that offers free courses from Google and other companies, such as Avast. Some courses include a certificate of completion. Content mainly covers data analytics, digital marketing, design, programming, and AI, but personal development and communication materials are also available.
Microsoft Learn
Microsoft Learn is a free platform that provides courses, learning materials, and forums primarily for Microsoft products. Choose from courses in many different areas of technology. Microsoft Learn is a free platform. Earn achievement badges or credentials upon completing courses. Registration is required for enrollment.
OpenLearn
OpenLearn is a learning platform provided by the Open University that offers a number of free courses, each complete with a participation certificate (and digital badges to share on LinkedIn or other networks). It provides courses on various topics such as health, sport, psychology, law, and politics. Registration is required to access the learning materials.
SWAYAM
SWAYAM (Study Webs of Active-learning for Young Aspiring Minds) is a learning platform from the Indian Ministry of Education. It hosts a wide variety of courses at different levels and on various topics. While access is free, obtaining a certificate usually involves a fee, and sometimes requires a monitored test.
Coursera
Coursera is an extensive learning platform that offers a wide range of courses. Access to many courses is free, but payment is required to access graded assignments, receive feedback, or obtain a certificate. Coursera also offers professional certificates and full-degree programs.
W3Schools
W3Schools is a web development site that provides courses in programming such as HTML, CSS, JavaScript, Python, SQL, PHP, jQuery, C++, W3.CSS, and Bootstrap. It offers an upgrade to the paid W3Schools Plus, which offers an ad-free experience, support, and hosting for static websites.
Codecademy
Codecademy is a learning platform focused mainly on coding, web development, computer and data sciences, and web design. Codecademy offers some free content, mostly covering the basics. Certificates of completion are usually included in fee-based plans. Codecademy also provides learning videos on its YouTube channel.
FreeCodeCamp
FreeCodeCamp is a free learning platform for coding. Search for a specific topic or go through the certifications offered on the main page. There is also a mobile app available for both Android and iOS.
Numerous universities around the world provide access to courses and learning materials created by their instructors through Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs). Below is a list of selected universities that offer such resources with links to their official YouTube channels, where available. These channels often feature recordings of lectures, short talks, presentations, and debates with researchers.
MIT
The Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) offers a free collection of materials for thousands of courses covering a wide range of disciplines, from IT to the humanities, available through MIT OpenCourseWare. No enrollment or registration is required, and courses are accessible with no start or end dates, online or for download (although there may be issues with some older courses that include a link to materials that are no longer accessible). Browse to find a course or materials, or search by keywords. MIT OpenCourseWare also offers educational materials on its YouTube channel.
Harvard Courses
Harvard University offers a wide range of courses via the edX platform (enroll after registering with edX). While you can audit these courses for free, obtaining a verified certificate usually involves a fee. Subjects include programming and data science, neuroscience and anatomy, entrepreneurship, history, human rights, and many more. Harvard also provides courses on its own website, though these typically require payment. Harvard Online also features a variety of mostly short courses on its YouTube channel on many different topics (e.g., solar religion, mental health and well-being, industrialization and economics).
Stanford University
Stanford University provides its own learning platform (although many of the courses are also available through different learning platforms such as edX and Coursera). Stanford also offers a variety of programs divided into: professional education and graduate education (these courses typically require payment), custom transformation (customized programs for organizations), and free courses on many topics.
Columbia University
Columbia University offers a variety of courses and learning materials through learning platforms such as edX, Coursera, and Kadenze. Additionally, several schools at Columbia University provide online degree programs (including the School of Engineering and Applied Science, the School of Professional Studies, the School of Social Work, Columbia Business School) and hybrid online/on-campus programs (including the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences, the Columbia Law School).
Yale University
Yale University offers several online courses and both degree and non-degree programs. Yale’s non-degree programs provide a certificate of completion upon fulfilling the requirements. The degree programs offer diplomas and require payment. Yale University also offers a wide range of courses (e.g., law, economics, public health, history, sociology) available through Coursera and YouTube.
Princeton University
Princeton University has been providing online learning materials since 2012, when its first online courses were launched. Since then, the number of courses has increased, and a variety of online courses and lectures are now available through Coursera, edX, and Kadenze. Princeton also offers various educational videos on a wide range of topics (e.g., Iranian cosmopolitanism, economics, and the climate crisis) on its YouTube channel.
Other institutions
There are several institutions that also provide videos and lectures on technology and the natural sciences via YouTube. ETH Zürich offers videos on geothermal energy, the development of drones, and robotics; TU Delft (Delft University of Technology) provides many short-length lectures and talks on technology, including, for example, artificial intelligence, data, and digitalization; and CERN offers videos on physics and AI.
Below is a selection of podcasts provided by universities, museums, and research facilities. These podcasts cover a wide range of topics, from scientific research and historical insights to debates on ethics, AI, business, well-being, leadership, early-career research strategies, and more. Search by category or browse the list of institutions and universities.
Technology, innovations, and sciences
The Federal Institute of Technology Zurich (ETH) presents the "ETH Podcast", which explores a variety of trending research topics in healthcare, AI, quantum engineering, astronomy, and beyond. ETH also hosts "We are ETH", a podcast featuring discussions about research, career development, and life. Both podcasts are available on the ETH website.
Microsoft presents its original podcasts on its website and various streaming platforms focusing mainly on technology, innovations, interviews, and discussions about the latest tech advancements and practices.
"Curiosity Unbounded" is a podcast from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). It features conversations between MIT President Sally Kornbluth and guests. The podcast explores a wide range of topics, including research, innovations in healthcare, literature, and discussions about repressive regimes.
"CERN Sparks" is a podcast created by CERN that focuses on what technology for healthcare might look like in the future and what ethical questions need to be answered along the way.
NASA also offers several podcasts through various streaming platforms, covering technology, physics, space, many different curiosities, and recent discoveries. You can choose from the following podcasts: "Houston We Have a Podcast", "NASA’s Curious Universe", "On a Mission", and "Small Steps, Giant Leaps".
Software development
"JavaScriptJabber" is a podcast created by JavaScript experts and developers, focusing on coding skills and technologies. Listen via Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or Amazon.
"RealPython" provides podcasts on programming, data engineering, and technology, as well as various tutorials. Listen via numerous streaming platforms such as YouTube or Spotify.
Business and Leadership
"The Parlor Room" is one of the podcasts created by Harvard University. Hosted by Chris Linnane, the online creative director of Harvard Business School, it features engaging conversations with guests on topics including business education, leadership, AI, and impact. Additionally, "Harvard Magazine" also offers a podcast covering day-to-day life, research, climate change, diplomacy, global issues, and more.
"Redefining Leadership" is a podcast from Brown University covering cybersecurity, psychology, and more. Another podcast from Brown is "Meeting Street: Conversations in the Humanities", which explores AI and the humanities, mental health, history, and even virtual reality (VR). Additional podcasts on various topics such as medicine, public health, and career development are available via the Brown University website.
"Leaders on Leadership" is a podcast created by "Academic Search", a search firm specializing in recruiting leaders for higher education institutions. The podcast host, Jay Lemons, and his guests provide insightful stories about leadership in the academy.
Career, education and research
"Career Conversations" is a podcast created by the Yale School of Management. Through debates with business school graduates, the podcast explores topics such as work-life balance and creating a meaningful impact on the world.
"The Early Career Researcher Podcast" offers advice from academic experts. Learn how to get the most out of attending conferences or how to start a new research investigation.
Other topics: a variety of podcast topics offered by various universities and museums
Stanford University offers a variety of podcasts on its website and through popular platforms such as Spotify and YouTube. Choose from many of the "Cool Stanford Podcasts", covering topics such as law and democracy, entrepreneurship and ethics, medicine, neurology, psychology, and many more. Stanford University also features podcasts about technology, the possibilities of AI, technological innovations, and beyond.
Explore a variety of podcasts from Yale University. Listen to conversations with Yale president, Peter Salovey, and his guests discussing the climate crisis, health, education, economics as well as podcasts on athletics, history, and management.
Columbia University also offers several podcast series on economics, history and climate change, social justice and sustainable development, athletics, biology, books, and more.
The Smithsonian Institution offers a variety of podcasts through its website and other streaming platforms. Choose from different topics such as technological discoveries, history, innovations, and much more.
"The British Museum Podcast" features discussions on the history and research of the museum, as well as topics such as art, archaeology, and exhibitions.
Language e-learning platforms offer opportunities to learn a language effectively. These platforms provide interactive tools, resources, and personalized learning experiences tailored to different proficiency levels. Below is a list of selected language platforms and applications.
BBC
BBC Languages, although archived and no longer active, offers a free selection of online language lessons with audio, grammar explanations, and exercises. Registration is not required.
Memrise
Memrise offers a choice of several languages, including Korean, Indonesian, and Hindi. Basic learning materials are mostly free, but registration is required. To access to advanced courses, students can choose from several subscription options.
Language Transfer
Language Transfer offers free language courses with audio recordings that you can stream online or download. Choose from languages such as French, Swahili, Italian, Greek, Turkish, German, Arabic, and more.
Duolingo
Duolingo offers free language learning materials. The premium version, Duolingo Plus, provides additional features for a fee. Choose from several languages, including German, Italian, Spanish, French, and more. Additionally, Duolingo has created a community where you can interact with other learners and practice with native speakers.
FSI Language Courses
FSI Language Courses provides free audio recordings, instructional pages, and other learning materials for download. Choose from Spanish, German, French, Chinese, Russian, Portuguese, and Italian.
OpenLearn
OpenLearn offers free language courses with video/audio and textual materials. To obtain a Statement of Participation upon completing a course, take quizzes, and participate in activities, registration is required.
Livemocha
Livemocha offers language learning materials free of charge. Choose from several languages, including German, Italian, Spanish, French, and more. Livemocha also has a community of students with whom you can chat (i.e., with native speakers).
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