THE WORLD’S BEST ONLINE LEARNING RESOURCES

Let’s face the facts. Not everyone can afford tuition at the best learning institutions in their country or just at the average learning institutions as a matter of fact. Firstly the fees are recurring (per semester, per term etc.) and secondly increments are sporadic. You may be paying a thousand today but trust me you will end up paying 3, 000 or 4, 000 tomorrow for the same course duration, anyway you get the point. So what now? Do you forget about your dreams? Let them go and accept that life is what is? I say NO! When I was in college doing my Diploma in Mechanical Engineering I wondered if my dreams of becoming a Filmmaker will ever be realized. Of course I googled about online schools and alike but still how would pull that one off when I am full time dependent surviving off my mother’s wallet? God Bless her soul. And to my mother, learning something that no one is making a monthly salary from is pointless. Now I may be reporting live from the “utopia of dreamers” as my tone implies but I kid you not the learning resources listed below will help you find a middle ground between dreams and reality because after you acquire the essential knowledge from these resources you will be well on your way to becoming whatever it is you aspire to be.

DISCLAIMER: These resources have helped me and other creatives and entrepreneurs succeed or at least set someone on the right path to success depending on how focused and determined they are. The may not help you but then I’d wonder what is you’re trying to be. If you probably want to be an Astronaut, then dude please go to college PERIOD.

 But if your heart is set on becoming either of the following: Filmmaker, Editor, Cinematographer, Special Effects Designer, Animator, Graphic Designer, Programmer, Photographer, Entrepreneur or anything in those lines then HALLELUJAH! This post will mean something to you.

I’d also like to add that if you do not have the disciplines that the academicians have then your learning process might be a little jarring because you have to be consistent and willing to learn. This means sitting in one place staring at a computer and taking down notes for a long period of time. But if you are driven by your enthusiasm and passion like I am, then let’s get to it.

      1. GOOGLE
A little obvious I know but here’s why; google is the world’s most popular and most used search engine. It has access to almost every single piece of information about everything in the world I think. The best way to utilize google is by searching for free downloadable pdf files. Let’s say you want to know how to be an Entrepreneur you’d then google something like: Entrepreneurship fundamentals pdf. Unlike just reading about it online you can download a pdf document to read at your own time. May seem obvious but not everything is obvious to everyone.

     2. YOUTUBE
Again this may be obvious but I felt the need to mention it. On youtube you can search for anything you wish to learn and easily download the video. Learning through video tutorials is almost just as interactive as being in a lecture hall. And in my opinion, better because when you miss an important detail or piece of information you could simply rewind and listen. Unlike real life interactions where you may feel a little shy to raise your hand and ask your lecturer about a point you didn’t clearly understand. Youtube is where my journey as Film Director, Screenwriter, Cinematographer, Video Editor, Graphic Designer and Entrepreneur begun. Safe to say that youtube is more than just a video streaming site for people with aspirations like mine but don’t have the bucks to enroll into a college that offers courses related to my field of study.

      3. LYNDA.COM
Yes, yes I know it seems like I may be endorsed by them due to the biased pick but honestly I’m not. After all it’s not like I am a famous filmmaker. Reason I have it on my list is simple, it the most organized online learning resource I have ever come across. Their tutorials are sound, effective and above all professional. If you are a member you can even download their courses and in addition they put out free downloadable videos from time to time. Their video tutorials are compressed but still high definition. The order in which each course is prepared is simply amazing and the tutors are all professionals I believe. My personal favorite tutorials by Lynda include: Entrepreneurship Fundamentals with Whitney Johnson, Fundamentals of Video cameras and shooting with Anthony Q. Artis, Small Business Marketing with Brad Batesole, Up and Running with DSLR Filmmaking with Chad Perkins & Brian Liepe and many more that I can’t mention in one post. Go to their website and search for whatever is you want to learn. If your interest is in the creative arts, business or technology then you need to look no further than Lynda. And if you are a staunch adobe software enthusiast and evangelist like me then you will fall in love with this learning resource.

4     4. UDEMY
Website coders and programmers in general will obviously have one or more tutorials from this site. It has in-depth information about everything in the world of coding basically it’s the new programmer’s information paradise. It also has great courses in Animation, App Development, Photography, Project Management, Business Studies etc.

     5. PODCASTS
May not be an official course, but podcasts are incredible and easily digestible. For aspiring entrepreneurs this is a great resource. And now with the growing popularity you can find podcasts that are dedicated to almost about anything you can think of. Podcasts usually have updated information and I’d advise you to search for podcasts related to whatever it is you want to learn.

My learning experience from these resources has being absolutely worth every penny and every second that I invested. I’ve spent less than 300 dollars acquiring knowledge that would cost you a hundred times more if you enrolled into a college. Not saying that college is obsolete, pssh c’mon! I’m just trying to let people who can’t afford going to college know that there is a way to acquire the same knowledge for cheap. And of course no one will give a degree or diploma afterwards but you will have most the knowledge those people have and your passion and drive will determine whether or not you become successful. I am a hundred and ten percent sure I will become successful in my field of study after utilizing these learning resources.

Now these are the most effective learning resources for me and many individuals in a similar class of studiess. Check them out for yourself and I dare you to come up with a better list. Please leave a comment agreeing or disagreeing to my assertion.