As you near retirement forget about sitting on the couch and allowing your mind to turn into a muddled mush. Instead, go back to school. But this time, instead of learning junk you have no interest in, take a class on a subject which will enrich your life. I’m going to show you how to find FREE or low cost classes to take at your own pace using your laptop.
This is 100% legit with no strings attached. You might be tempted to think this is going to be cheesy. There are some really great courses with qualified teachers. Don’t dismiss this until you’ve checked it out. I’ve tried it and benefitted from it.
Years ago I made the commitment to be a life long learner. I’m one of the oddballs who loved school. If I could make a living being a professional student sign me up! But most people aren’t like that. Too many individuals have had boring classes shoved down their throat. But it’s different now. YOU get to choose what classes to take.
What are you passionate about? What subjects interest you? Have you always wanted to take a class on:
- Photography?
- Starting a blog?
- Bootstrapping a business?
- Time management?
- Simplifying your life?
- Cooking?
- Dog training?
Maybe it’s time for you to go back to school and pursue something you love. I know. There’s no money in the budget for such a luxury. But wait! In a few moments I will show you how to find and sign up for a free class. There are many more classes available if you are willing to spend a little money. But for some readers “free” is the sweet spot.
Here are the 5 easy steps to get you started on taking a course which will enrich your life.
1. Go to udemy.com.
There are other websites similar to this one but I’ve used Udemy and found it to be helpful and effective. When you arrive you will see a screen similar to the one below.
2. Next, enter into the search box the subject you want to learn about.
When you enter the subject you will see a screen like the one below. I entered photography as an example.
On the left, notice the word “Budget” and under it the words “Free” and “Paid.” Unless you don’t like free things click the box and watch the magic happen.
The screen will now show you all the courses on Udemy which teach photography for free. Pretty cool, huh? In the left column there are other options you can check. Click any option which interest you.
Look now at the classes listed in the free section. Here’s a few pointers on picking the right class.
Be sure to examine the reviews given by others who have taken a course. There are 3 things to hone in on as you look at reviews.
- Pay attention to the number of reviews. The more reviews the more popular the course.
- Take note of the over all review rating. You don’t need me to tell you higher is better!
- Click on the reviews and take the time to read several. Time invested in reading the reviews is well spent because it helps avoid the unpleasant experience of getting into a dud course.
At the bottom of each course description you will find the number of reviews, the number of lectures, how many hours of video, and if the course is designed for a certain level.
Once you find a course which interests you google the author’s name. Sometimes this is helpful but sometimes not. You are checking to see if the teacher is someone who has made a name in the field in which he or she is teaching. If nothing turns up don’t automatically drop the course but proceed with due caution.
3. Now click on the course you have been checking out.
I’ll use Karl Taylor’s FREE Photography Course because it has 699 reviews and a rating of over 4.5. Once you click on it you will see a screen like this:
Here’s where you learn all about your course. Often there is an introductory video you can watch to see if this course is for you. On the right is a recap of some of the information you saw on an earlier screen. Be sure to scroll down and read the course description, requirements, and objectives. On down a bit further you will see the course curriculum. Study this section with care. There is also an instructor’s bio for you to examine. And at the very end are reviews for you to read over. If this class is not right for you now is the time to go back and find a different course.
4. Now you’ve found a course for free and want to take it. What’s next? In the upper right of the screen click on the words “Sign Up.”
Simply fill out the required information in the box which pops up. And did you notice? There is no need to provide any credit card information. Once you sign up it will take you to the course you were viewing.
5. Start the course by clicking on the blue button labeled “Start Learning Now” as shown below.
Here’s a hot tip. If you see courses you want to take and are out of your price range, don’t despair. Not long ago Udemy sent me an email announcing every course would be $27 for a limited time. I didn’t believe it. But I checked it out and they weren’t lying. I grabbed a $300 course for the $27 price tag.
So there you go. Challenge yourself to start and finish a course in the next 30 days. It will enrich your life. If you have any questions let me know.
Thanks for the info, I see you are doing fine, hope you like your new digs….God bless