A Virtual Helping Hand – Free Online Learning Tools
By Rebecca Miller
You have decided to go back to school and have run into some “adult learning” challenges. Between going to school with peers half your age, readjusting to campus life (whether digitally or in-person) and learning to be a student again, going back to school as an adult is tough. To make matters more difficult, home-life, a full-time job and other responsibilities make time, resources and concentration difficult to come by. Free online learning resources can make going back to college less challenging and actually fun.
Remember flash cards? Well StudyStack.com offers virtual make-your-own, premade flashcards, and study games in a variety of subjects including business, culinary arts, computers and the medical fields. The website also allows you to review information at your own pace, “discarding the cards you've learned and keeping the ones you still need to review.” StudyStack.com differentiates itself by offering flashcards that show several pieces of information on each card that can be sorted by each individual tidbit of information. Additionally, you can view study information in the form of flashcards, a matching or hangman game or a word search puzzle. Games and flashcards can also be viewed on your cell phone.
Learners who are at the beginning of their higher education and career journeys looking to gain computer basics, career planning and development skills as well as how to balance everyday life with educational endeavors will want to visit GCFLearnFree.org. Supported by the Goodwill Foundation, the site provides online learning tools in the fields of technology, literacy and math for people of all ages from around the world and offers everyday life tools that assist with budgeting, scheduling, shopping and food preparation and planning.
GCFLearnFree.org also offers tips and techniques in math, money, tax and computer basics as well as online courses in Microsoft Office allowing students to earn continuing education credits. Finally, the site’s work and career tools assist with job searching, resume and cover letter writing, interviewing skills, career planning and money basics.
Studying for the LSATs, CPA exam or Praxis test and need a little pep in your test preparation step? StudyGuideZone.com is a free resource offering test training resources for students and professionals preparing for standardized tests.
Study Guide Zone simplifies the test preparation process with free and easy-to-understand preparation tools for exams and tests in the fields of medical, business, teaching, financial and vocational. Preparation tools include guidebooks, practice questions and test-taking advice. The site also offers college and study tips as well as preparation for graduate, undergraduate and primary/secondary tests.
These are just a few free online learning tools that can make going back to school a little easier. For more help on continuing your college education, visit UniversityDecisions.com for articles, expert advice and the test-drive college experience.