100 Best Websites for Free Adult Education

Posted by Site Administrator in Learning Tools Mar 10th, 2009

Whether you want to go back to get your GED or simply want to gain additional skills to use on the job, it’s never too late to pursue the great variety of adult educational resources out there. Online education makes it easier than ever to bring courses, lectures and instructional videos right to your own home so you can learn without breaking the bank or even leaving the house. Here are 100 great adult education websites and resources we’ve pulled together to help you get the information you need for personal or professional development.

General

These sites address a wide range of adult education issues, providing valuable tools, courses and materials for adults to use.

1. Interactive Instruction for Adult Learners: The resources listed on this site are designed to get adult learners actively interacting with their learning material.
2. About.com Continuing Education: Find out more on the topic of continuing education and get pointed in the direction of some great resources here.
3. Free-Ed.net: What’s better than free? Here you’ll find a range of completely free educational resources.
4. Adult Learning Web Resources: Check out this collection of resources all pulled together to specifically help adults learn more, better.
5. E-Learning Resources: Want to know more about the basics of e-learning? Gary Harriman’s site contains an assortment of articles to help you learn what kind of online resources would be best suited to your needs.
6. GCF LearnFree.org: This site is home to courses on classes that address issues from everyday life, finances, computer training and more.
7. ULiveandLearn: Here you’ll find a range of professional development courses. Some are free and others require an enrollment fee.
8. Free and Affordable Distance Education: Check out this site for links to great online courses, tutorials and resources.
9. About U: Visit this About.com resource for a wide range of free courses that can help you learn about everything from creating anime to writing a great cover letter.
10. World Lecture Hall: This University of Texas, Austin site is home to loads of lectures, course materials and more that can help you learn about hundreds of different topics.

Free Courses

Give these sites a visit to gain access to thousands of courses, even some from Ivy League institutions.

11. MIT OpenCourseware: MIT was the first school to offer open courses and as one would expect they have one of the largest collections of available materials including everything from engineering to business education.
12. Tufts OpenCourseware: Pay this site a visit to gain access to courses in the areas of medicine, nutrition and the arts and sciences.
13. Open Yale Courses: Even if you can’t actually go to Yale you can experience some of their educational resources like those on this site that offer education in classics, philosophy, religion and more.
14. UC Irvine Open Courses: From courses created to help you complete high school to those offering insight into running a spa, this college offers a great selection of resources.
15. Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health: Those interested in learning more about the health care field will be well served by the free course materials offered by Johns Hopkins.
16. UMass Boston Open Courseware: This Boston school offers courses in nursing, history, math and much more.
17. Webcast Berkeley: Give this prestigious school’s guest lecturers and courses a look see on this totally free site.
18. University of Notre Dame Open Courseware: From PoliSci to Arabic Languages, you’ll find all the resources here you need to begin enjoying a free online education at any age.
19. The Open University: This UK-based school offers courses that are both academic and practical in nature.
20. Capilano College: Venture north to Canada to take advantage of the online education offered at this school, including courses in Studio Art and Art History.
21. University of Southern Queensland: Here you can take career focused classes that address issues like programming, science and tourism.
22. Columbia University Interactive: There is quite the selection of resources on this site that allow learners from all over the world to discover more about the arts, sciences and everything in between.
23. Berklee Shares: Get access to numerous music education courses here.
24. Carnegie Mellon Open Learning Initiative: You don’t have to be top tier to take these online courses from this prestigious school. You’ll find courses in French, physics, engineering, science and more.
25. United Nations University: Adults interested in science and technology and the global impact of these can take a wide range of courses from the UN.

Free Lectures and Webinars

If your local community doesn’t have a college that offers free lectures and seminars, then take advantage of these online resources that will educate, inform and inspire you.

26. Harvard Extension School: With lectures from some of the biggest names in the arts and sciences, this site simply can’t be missed by those looking for cutting edge research and study.
27. Duke Law Center for the Public Domain: Those interested in the law and the application of it will find a range of interesting and free lectures here.
28. WGBH Forum Network: From understanding the brain to decoding the economy, you’ll find lectures from the world’s top minds on this site.
29. LectureFox: This site brings together lectures from prestigious schools and institutions around the world and makes them easy to sort through.
30. Learn Out Loud: Here, adults can find everything audio, from lectures and speeches to free audio books.
31. Princeton University Webmedia: Take advantage of the learning opportunities from Princeton on your own computer, with lectures from experts in a wide range of fields.
32. TED: Check out this site for the latest and greatest ideas from people who have made waves in their fields and around the world.
33. Issac Newton Institute for Mathematical Sciences: Those with an interest in math can expand their knowledge with the free Webinars offered by this Institute.
34. Free Science Lectures: Learn more about psychics, chemistry, biology and more through the free lectures on this site.
35. The Teaching Company Free Lectures: While the great majority of resources on this site come at a price, there are a number of free lectures you can take advantage of as well that explore the history of the Olympics, why the dinosaurs went extinct and the election process.
36. NASA Multimedia: Learn more about space exploration, our solar system and beyond from the free lectures and videos provided by NASA.
37. London School of Economics: For anyone interested in economics or finance, these free lectures, podcasts and webinars from the LSE are a great resource.

GED Resources

If you never finished your high school education and want to head back, these websites can help with tools to test you and help you learn all the basics.

38. GED Study Guide Zone: Here you’ll find tools to help you practice reading, writing, math, science and more to prepare for the GED.
39. GED Online: Take practice exams and talk to others studying to take the GED on this community-oriented site.
40. GED Preparation Resources: Check out this site for links to a wide variety of resources for students wanting to prep from the GED.
41. GED for Free: This site is home to a completely free GED preparation course.
42. 4Tests: From practice exams to helpful answers to your questions and concerns about the test, this site is a great resource for adult learners.
43. Free Ed: GED and College Prep: Get ready to take your GED and head off to college with the resources provided through this site.
44. GEDSource: Save some money and use the free GED resources provided by this site to study instead of paying for expensive books.
45. David Hardesty ABE/GED Resources: With resources on literacy, math, science and more, you’ll find the tools you need to study for your exam on this site.
46. Adult Learning Resource Center GED Resources: The Virginia Adult Learning Center has brought together a helpful collection of resources that can aid adults in prepping for the GED.
47. GED Practice: Don’t just go into your test blind, practice beforehand with these questions and exams.

Language Learning

For many adults, learning a different language has always been a dream. Whether you need to expand your skills for work or just a fun vacation with the family, you’ll find loads of free resources and classes on these sites.

48. BBC Languages: The BBC offers language instruction in French, Spanish, Chinese, Greek, German, Italian, Portuguese and more.
49. LiveMocha: Learn languages with others from around the world on this free interactive site.
50. The Internet Polyglot: Here you’ll find language learning tools to help you speak, read and understand a range of languages.
51. Madinah Arabic: Check out these language courses to get a handle on this ancient language.
52. Learn Greek: Follow along with this podcast to learn how to speak Greek and also to learn more about Greek culture.
53. The French Podcast: Even if you don’t understand every word this podcast will help boost your French listening skills.
54. ChinesePod: While advanced lessons are at a cost, basic classes and a free trial are available as well, allowing you to learn the basics of Chinese without spending a dime.
55. A Taste of Russian: This educational podcast series will help you learn some essential phrases in Russian and much more.
56. Cherokee Language Project: Gain a better appreciation of Native American culture by learning the Cherokee language through these online courses.
57. Yucatec Maya Language Study: Study this ancient language spoken by people living in Southern Mexico and Guatemala today.
58. Sanskrit Self-Study: Whether you want to study ancient texts or just want to better understand this important language, you’ll find the resources you need to teach yourself here.

Workplace Education

These sites are all about building professional skill sets to help you perform better on the job.

59. Small Business Association Online Courses: Learn how to start and run a successful business through these free government sponsored courses.
60. Online Typing Course: Those who didn’t grow up typing away on a compute may have more trouble mastering typing skills. This online course is a free way to boost your skills with the keyboard.
61. Emergency Management Institute: Sponsored by FEMA, this site can help those who work with the public prepare for disaster or help business owners learn more about how to be prepared.
62. HP Learn and Use: These how-tos and courses will help you better understand HP products but can also give you some insights into better business management overall.
63. News University: Register for this site and you’ll get access to courses geared at journalists of all kinds. Of course, improving writing can help more than just those in journalism, so give the site a visit to learn more.
64. Bean Counting 101: This online course is designed to teach anyone and everyone the basics of good business accounting.
65. School for Champions: Here you’ll find a series of tutorials designed to help you learn to succeed in business whether starting your own or moving up in a large company.
66. My Own Business: Check out the course offered on this site if you’re looking for education on how to be a great entrepreneur.
67. Small Business Tax Workshop: Who better to learn about business taxes from than the IRS? You’ll find loads of helpful pointers through this course.
68. Financial Management Training Center: From managing your own finances to that of a business big or small, you’ll gain some valuable skills through these multi-part courses.

Educational Podcasts

Check out these podcast series to learn more about loads of important ideas and cutting-edge concepts.

69. Yale University Podcasts: Check out these podcasts for speeches and courses from a variety of departments at Yale.
70. Stanford on iTunes: With great faculty lectures, interviews, sports commentary and free concerts, this podcast is a great way to keep up on culture.
71. Berkeley on iTunes: Here you’ll find lectures and resources that cover everything from the arts to politics.
72. Western Kentucky University: These podcasts are often closely related to courses being taught at the University, making it easy to learn about topics that interest you.
73. Cambridge University Podcasts: With podcasts of lectures from faculty and prestigious scholars as well as updates about the museums and departments within the school, these can be an asset to those looking for educational material.
74. Boston College Front Row: Get audio and video recordings of lectures and seminars from Boston college through this podcast.
75. GeorgeTown University Forum: This weekly radio program highlights the work being done by faculty members at the university.
76. Harvard Business Review: Leading-edge thinkers in business and management express their thoughts in these educational lectures.
77. Northwestern University iTunes: With top-tier schools in business and journalism, visitors to this podcast series can learn more about all kinds of research and development at Northwestern.
78. Classics Podcasts: Haverford College hosts this podcast where ancient texts and up-to-the minute news are read in Latin.
79. Oxford University Podcasts: Adult learners can take advantage of the chance to learn about the faculty and research at this prestigious university through their podcast series.

Free Online Books

Why pay big bucks for reading material when you can get it for free? These sites offer a wide range of totally free books.

80. Project Gutenberg: This large, non-profit project is home to loads of public domain works, even some that are rare and exquisitely decorated.
81. Textbook Revolution: With hundred of free textbooks, novels and other educational materials, this site makes learning for free easier than ever.
82. Perseus Digital Library: This Tufts site is a great place to find just about every ancient Greek and Roman text you could want.
83. eMedicine: Whether you’re an aspiring medical student or just someone who wants to know more about the jargon on Grey’s Anatomy, you’ll find everything you need on this free online text.
84. Electronic Text Center: here you’ll find tons of digitized texts that you can use free of charge, courtesy of the University of Virginia.
85. FreeTechBooks: Techies will love this site that provides free technical textbooks as well as links to helpful programming and engineering resources.
86. ManyBooks: Check out this site for titles that have been adapted to work with your PDA, iPod or ebook reader.
87. Authorama: This site hosts texts are that older and now part of the public domain, though many are classics well-worth reading.
88. Oxford Text Archive: With hundreds of titles dealing with topics in literature and the arts, this collection of free books is a must-visit.
89. Text Archive: The Text Archive is a collection of free and open source texts gathered from all over the net.
90. World Public Library: With over 75,000 ebooks to choose from, this site is a great online repository for free reading.

Tutorial Sites

In search of some education on everything from fixing things around the house to running a better business? You’ll find that and a whole lot more on these sites.

91. LearnThat.com: With tutorials in business, home repair, finance software and more, this site is a great resource for learning about practical topics that affect your everyday life.
92. FindTutorials: Here you’ll find instructions on things like web programming, learning a language, automotive repair, home maintenance and more.
93. Accredited Online Bachelors Degrees: Learn about the latest educational iphone apps, twitters, and blackberry apps on this site’s blog.
94. Expert Village: With instructional videos in yoga, cooking, plumbing, playing the guitar and the periodic table, you’ll find just about anything your heart could desire on this site.
95. VideoJug: This video site is home to detailed instructions on culturally sensitive topics like having good manners in a foreign country as well as on cooking, relationships and health.
96. How-to Geek: Those adults who are less familiar with technology will appreciate the resources on this site, designed to explain the basics of a variety of computer troubleshooting issues.
97. Tutorial Ninjas: From boosting the popularity of your blog to synching your iPhone, this site is full of techie tutorials.
98. TrickLife: Here you’ll find tutorials running form the practical to the ill-advised.
99. Instructables: Explore user-submitted videos on this site that will help you learn to do things like manage cranky children and do science experiments at home.
100. Productivity Portfolio: Check out this site for quick run-throughs of how to use a variety of computer technologies.

Top 100 Edu Tweeters

Posted by Site Administrator in Features Mar 9th, 2009

 

Twitter is a growing tool for personal, business, and educational conversations. Not surprisingly, many schools, educators, and other educational entities have jumped on the bandwagon, and they have lots to share. Check out this list to find some of the best educational sources on Twitter today.

Schools

Find school news, updates, and research through these Tweeters.

1. @coloradodaily: You’ll learn about the University of Colorado and Boulder at large from Colorado Daily.
2. @UH_News: UH News is the official Twitter source for news about the University of Houston.
3. @OpenUniversity: The Open University offers university education to everyone, and shares tips, news, and developments through this Twitter stream.
4. @JohnsHopkins: Johns Hopkins shares news from the University, research, and beyond.
5. @UofMaryland: Learn about research, university developments, and more from UofMaryland.
6. @vtnews: Get campus updates, news, and information about Virginia Tech through @vtnews.
7. @ESPP: ESPP reports on environmental science and policy research at Michigan State University.
8. @HarvardU: Follow @HarvardU, and you’ll learn the latest about Harvard University.
9. @everest_college: Check out tweets from Everest College to find college updates, educational technology news, and more.
10. @ClemsonTigers: Read instant news and updates from all of the top Clemson Tigers sites on this Twitter stream.
11. @UTAustin: @UTAustin delivers news about the University of Texas at Austin.
12. @RMIT: Learn the latest about RMIT University in Melbourne, Australia from @RMIT.
13. @maysbusiness: Learn more about the Mays Business School at Texas A&M from @maysbusiness.
14. @DrexelNews: Find speakers, events, and more from @DrexelNews.
15. @LondonU: Follow @LondonU to learn about the latest from the University of London.
16. UniofBath: You’ll find news from the University of Bath in England here.
17. @KeeleUniversity: Find news, updates, and events from Keele University here.
18. @CoventryUni: Follow CoventryUni to find educational news, events, campus news, and more.
19. @LifeAtPurdue: If you’re interested in what’s going on at Purdue, be sure to follow LifeAtPurdue.
20. @AstonUniversity: Read educational articles, research, campus news, and more here.
21. @GVSU: Grand Valley State University’s tweets aim to educate students in order to shape their lives, professions, and societies.
22. @cornellnews: Get news from Cornell University and research from this Twitter stream.
23. @casenews: Learn about developments at Case Western Reserve University here.
24. @OhioState: The Ohio State twitter stream highlights students, faculty, events and more from Ohio State.
25. @warwickuni: Follow Warwick University for updates on campus events, association news, educational resources, and more.
26. @univmiami: Get updates on developments from the University of Miami here.
27. @pennstatelive: Find tweets full of news about Penn State in this Twitter stream.
28. @ohiou: You’ll find university news and related items on Ohio University’s Twitter.
29. @USCedu: Read the latest news from the University of Southern California through this Twitter stream.
30. @UOregonNews: UOregonNews offers updates from the Office of Media Relations at the University of Oregon.
31. @MissouriSandT: Follow this Tweeter to learn about science and technology developments at Missouri University.
32. @k_state_news: On this Twitter timeline, you’ll get a look into news from Kansas State.
33. @AuburnU: You can stay on top of the events, research, and more at Auburn through this Twitter stream.
34. @UABNews: Follow UABNews to learn about research at this university and health care center.
35. @MarquetteU: Get updates from Marquette in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and learn how to be the difference.

Publishers, Libraries & Librarians

These Twitter timelines will keep you updated on the latest in educational libaries and publishing.

36. @librarycongress: Follow the activities of the largest library in the world through @librarycongress.
37. @chriskeene: Chris Keene of the University of Sussex Library is on a mission to read the Internet (again).
38. @LibraryJournal: Get book reviews, library news, and more from Library Journal staffers.
39. @yalsa: Read @yalsa to get updates from the Young Adult Library Services Association.
40. @yalescilib: Get news from the science libraries at Yale here.
41. @heyjudeonline: Judy O’Connell wants to transform education and libraries.
42. @OkStateLibrary: Follow @OkStateLibrary, and you’ll get news from the Oklahoma State University Libraries.
43. @Librarian: This tweeter works to "reach the parts other libraries have yet to reach."
44. @msauers: Michael Sauers discusses technology innovation in libraries.
45. @LJBookReview: Get book reviews and book news from the editors at Library Journal.
46. @sljournal: Get reviews on children’s and young adult material from the School Library Journal.
47. @uncw_library: Follow developments at the Randall Library at University of North Carolina, Wilmington through @uncw_library.
48. @eagledawg: Nikki D is an academic medical librarian obsessed with health informatics.
49. @alscblog: Follow @alscblog to get updated on the Association for Library Service to Children.
50. @ScrantonLibrary: The Scranton Library encourages followers to check out books.
51. @utpress: This Tweeter offers news from Canada’s oldest and largest scholarly publisher.
52. @UMinnPress: Read updates from University of Minnesota Press, publisher of groundbreaking work in social and cultural thought, critical theory, media studies, and beyond.
53. @yalepress: Follow one of the oldest and largest American university presses through @yalepress.
54. @DUKEpress: Read Duke Press’ Twitter to find out how they are disseminating knowledge beyond the University.

Educators

Professors, deans, and more have lots to offer on Twitter.

55. @therefore: Dean Terry is a professor in the School of Arts & Humanities at University of Texas at Dallas, teaching new media and emergent communications.
56. @jmilles: Read tweets from James Milles, a professor of law at the SUNY University at Buffalo Law School.
57. @drkent: Dr. Kent Gustavson stays busy as a PhD classical composer and a professor at two New York universities.
58. @lauranicosia: Check out Laura Nicosia’s Twitter timeline to read the thoughts of an English professor and Director of English Education at Montclair State University.
59. @BarbaraNixon: Barbara Nixon is both a public relations professor and PhD candidate at Georgia Southern University.
60. @MarketingProfs: Ann Hadley heads up the marketing education content on Marketing Profs.
61. @mweller: Martin Weller: Martin Weller is an Open University professor, focusing on education, technology, and more.
62. @berniedodge: Learn more about educational technology from Bernie Dodge’s Twitter timeline.
63. @AllergyNotes: Here you’ll read about allergies from Ves Dimov, MD, a board-certified Internist, Allergy and Immunology Fellow, former Cleveland Clinic Assistant Professor of Medicine, and NEJM Advisory Panel member.
64. @tp_da: Thomas Pleil teaches PR at the Darmstadt University of Applied Sciences.
65. @coolcatteacher: Vicki Davis is a teacher, blogger, technology geek, and mother.
66. @courosa: Alec Couros is a professor of educational technology at the University of Regina.
67. @jayrosen_nyu: Jay Rosen teaches journalism at NYU.
68. @metromediaqueen: If you’re interested in Photoshop, graphic design, arts, or video production, check out Tricia Thomas.
69. @hmason: On Hilary Mason’s Twitter stream, you’ll read about new media and computer science, specifically web applications, virtual worlds, and data mining.
70. @Justale: Check out Alessandra Tussi’s tweets to learn about marketing, productivity, and teleworking.
71. @stevekatz: Steve Katz is a Director of Educational Technology.
72. @vargasl: Lauren Vargas is a marketing communications professor at Northwood University.
73. @hermida: Alfred Hermida leads the integrated journalism program at the Graduate School of Journalism at the University of British Columbia, focusing on new styles of narrative.
74. @jonbecker: Read Jonathan Becker’s tweets to learn about educational leadership, technology, and more.
75. @designmeme: Stuart Robertson is a faculty member in the Media Studies department at the University of Guelph-Humber.
76. @patricstrother: Patrick Strother is an adjunct professor of advertising and public relations at University of Minnesota’s journalism school.
77. @billgx: Kansas State University professor Bill Genereux discusses computers and digital media.
78. @rmack: Rebecca MacKinnon is on leave as an assistant professor at the University of Hong Kong’s Journalism and Media Studies Center, and is currently an Open Society Fellow working on a book about Internet freedom.
79. @paulawhite: Paula White is a teacher that supports gifted resources and more.
80. @paulbradshaw: Learn about online journalism and web design from Paul Bradshaw, a lecturer at Birmingham City University.
81. @billso: William Sodeman is an associate professor of information systems in the College of Professional Studies at Hawaii Pacific University, teaching courses in MSIS, MBA, and Executive MBA programs.
82. @jimmacmillan: Jim MacMillan boasts an impressive educational resume, as a fellow, seminar leader, professor, and more at various Universities.
83. @elemitrt: Check out Tina Coffey’s tweets to learn about Instructional technology resources.
84. @doctorious: Matthew Gilbert offers an education in business communication, English, and IT.

Resources & Support

Find great resources for education by checking out these Tweeters.

85. @dannynic: Danny Nicholson discusses education, Whiteboard, science, and more.
86. @donorschoose: Donors Choose is a nonprofit that offers funding to public schools.
87. @pbsteachers: Check out PBS Teachers, and you’ll find resources and professional development for grade school educators.
88. @edventures: John Martin is a technology architect for higher education.
89. @alicebarr: Check out Alice Barr on Twitter to learn about instructional technology.
90. @josiefraser: Follow Josie Fraser to learn about educational and social technology as well as digital literacy.
91. @CollegeBloggers: The College Blog Network works to make it easier for college students, faculty, and alumni bloggers to connect.
92. @digidirections: Digital Directions follows trends and advice for K-12 technology leaders.
93. @maggiev: Maggie Verster shares the journey of using ICT and web 2.0 tools in the classroom.
94. @higheredu: Higher Edu works to get colleges and universities on Twitter.
95. @TheCollegeGrad: Get tuned in to an entry level job board for collegians here.
96. @eduguru: Follow edguru to learn about Internet marketing and web development for higher education.
97. @upromise: Get the scoop on tips, deals, and savings through Upromise.
98. @PBSTeachersinSL: Find standards and research-based educational resources from this Tweeter.
99. @educationweek: Read tweets from Education Week to find news about American education.
100. @Communiversity: Communiversity offers a look into the latest in college life.

25 Surprising Ways You Are Harming your Brain

Posted by Site Administrator in Features Mar 4th, 2009

Taking hard drugs, not wearing a helmet during a drag race and snorting paint are of course harmful to your brain and might even be deadly in some cases. But did you know that getting too much sleep, not having any friends and not reading food labels is also harmful to your brain? Read on for 25 surprising ways you’re not protecting yourself the way you should.

Personal Habits

From negative thinking to letting your brain gelatinize, these harmful personal habits have got to go.

1. Not getting enough sleep: Besides making you feel sluggish and unfocused the next morning, a consistent lack of sleep affects the body and brain by "disrupting hormones that regulate appetite," according to the Washington Post. This evidence supports scientists’ theory that chronic sleep deprivation also contributes to obesity. Besides the appetite connection, too little sleep also affects memory loss and your brain’s ability to process information, as your mind requires down time to preserve memory and retain information.
2. Getting in a rut: Just like any muscle or any organ in the body, your brain needs to be flexed and exercised in order to stay in top shape. If you haven’t challenged yourself in any way by trying a new sport, Smoking: Smoking is an unhealthy habit that stresses out your entire body, including your brain. WebMD even maintains that "smoking cigarettes affects [the] brain like heroin," because of its stimulated production of opioids, which "known to play a role in soothing pain, increasing positive emotions, and creating a sense of reward," like heroin.
3. Lack of practice: Keep your brain sharp and in practice by doing crossword puzzles, playing brain teasers and games, or taking a class. Time even suggests that this activity can reduce your chances of developing dementia.
4. Too much sleep: Just as too little sleep is harmful, too much sleep can also cause health problems. Oversleeping too much can shorten your life span.
5. Botox: Botox is actually a very deadly poison, but has been approved for cosmetic use because it isn’t likely that it can enter the bloodstream and affect nerve cells or the brain. Newsweek reports, however, that "contrary to what turned up in preclinical testing, botulinum toxin [Botox] can travel along neurons from the injection site into the brain, at least in lab animals." This discrepancy poses a threat to humans who receive Botox injections, and at least 28 people have died since 1989.
6. Stress: Even if you think procrastinating leads to an adrenaline rush of panic, scientists believe that stress clouds the brain, especially among males.
7. Urban life: Boston.com’s Jonah Lehrer reported in January 2009 that urban life actually "impairs our basic mental processes," affecting memory and focus. One of the factors attributed to this finding is the lack of nature in city environments. Apparently, the more trees and natural surroundings we see, the better our brains function.
8. Watching TV: TV is a common scapegoat for laziness, obesity, ADD and the inability to focus, but this report details a study that may prove watching TV under the age of 2 is harmful to brain development. The 2004 study "suggested that TV might overstimulate and permanently ‘rewire’ the developing brain," according to an Associated Press story published on MSNBC.com.
9. Head-banging: The myth that head-banging kills brain cells might not be completely true, but the rocker move is still hazardous to your health and "can put you at risk for brian injury, whiplash, and even stroke," according to Discover Magazine

Social and Mental Factors

Work on your attitude to amp up your brain health.

11. Isolating yourself: A lack of social interaction doesn’t just damper your mood, it can drastically affect your overall mental health and happiness. The AARP reports that "experts say that how socially connected a person tends to be is one of the most important ways of predicting his or her health and independence in later years." Even if you’re shy or content to be alone, try reading a book at a coffee shop or joining a club to buoy your spirits and preserve your health.
12. Temper tantrums: If you’re constantly losing control and throwing a temper tantrum, you could be shrinking memory censors, according to AARP.
13. Not exercising: Exercise is paramount to brain health, as it increases blood flow, oxygen intake and manages depression. The Mayo Clinic’s Gabrielle J. Melin, M.D. writes that "exercise definitely can improve your depression and this has been proven in many scientific studies," due to the production of endorphins, "the feel-good chemical that all human bodies make."

Diet and Nutrition

This list of brain foods includes coffee, blueberries, and other low-calorie foods.

14. Cutting out caffeine: Too much caffeine can cause irritability and cause sleep problems, but cutting it out altogether isn’t wise, either. As it turns out, coffee "may cut the risk of dementia by blocking the damage cholesterol can inflict on the body," according to a report from BBC News.
15. Not getting enough omega-3 fatty acids: The best brain food contains omega-3 fatty acids, like salmon, walnuts and eggs.
16. Not getting enough berries or other antioxidants: Besides omega-3 fatty acids, the brain also needs lots of antioxidants, which keep the brain young. The best antioxidants contain vitamins C, E, and beta carotene, according to the AARP. Antioxidant-rich foods include strawberries, blueberries oranges, kale, spinach and red bell peppers.
17. Overdoing alcohol: Red wine in moderation can help your heart block cholesterol, but indulging in too much alcohol is bad for the brain, and may even shrink it, according to CNN.
18. Too many calories: Medical News Today reports that low calorie diets "may help prevent Alzheimer’s." Low calorie diets are also supposed to improve memory, as long as it isn’t taken to extremes. Malnutrition can impair focus and energy.

Toxins and Chemicals

Understand how toxins and chemicals like MSG are harmful to your brain.

19. Aspartame: Aspartame is a chemical used in artificial sweeteners like NutraSweet. It is approved by the FDA but is controversial because of its affects on babies, and after a recent study, its capacity to cause brain seizures. Opt for natural sweeteners, like natural honey, when mixing your coffee or tea, not chemically enhanced sugars that contain aspartame.
20. MSG: MSG, a chemical used to add flavor to certain foods, can cause severe headaches, fatigue and vomiting in humans, as well as other animals. MSG is also thought to negatively impact memory and the brain’s learning sensors. A 2008 study conducted by a high school student in India even showed that MSG slows brain growth.
21. Not using proper ventilation methods: Gasoline, toxic cleaning supplies and other approved products and chemicals can cause severe headaches and perhaps cause damage to brain cells if you do not properly ventilate the area and take breaks. If you must work around chemicals for a long period of time, wear a face mask and open windows to increase air flow.

Check-ups and Health

Make a point to visit the doctor regularly and ask about the risks of medical treatment in order to promote brain health.

22. Ignoring headaches: Headaches are caused from all types of conditions, including fatigue, stress, hunger and dehydration. But severe chronic headaches could signify a much more serious problem, like a brain tumor, severe sinuses, or another underlying condition.
23. Missing check-ups: Missing check-ups means that you have less face time with your doctor to talk about any health concerns or irregularities. It also means that you will miss tests that can catch health problems early on and will only worsen in the future.
24. Taking Warfarin: The blood-thinning drug Warfarin "can increase the risk of death from a brain haemorrhage," according to the Telegraph. The paper reports that a U.S. study found that Warfarin–usually prescribed to patients at risk from eschemic stroke caused by a blood clot in the brain–risks the chance of making blood too thin, resulting in a brain hemorrhage.
25. Chemotherapy: Chemotherapy is now a standard treatment for many types of cancer, but it also poses a risk to the brain. A University of Rochester Medical Center study found that chemotherapy and other "common drugs used to treat cancer may be more harmful to healthy brain cells than the cancer cells that they are intended to destroy." The Mayo Clinic also reports that chemotherapy can cause memory problems.

100 Free Open Courseware Classes on Journalism, Blogging and New Media

Posted by Site Administrator in Features Mar 2nd, 2009

There was a time when writers and artists were at the mercy of a few decision-makers who said what was published and what was cast aside. The ease of getting your work online has made those days a distant memory. Blogging about your world, reporting what goes on around you, and even publishing your own art is as easy as setting up a blog or purchasing a domain name and creating your own website. The following free open courseware classes will help you learn about new media, writing, reporting, or even just understanding the culture or your rights as an online publisher.

New Media and Comparative Media

Study everything from blogs and wikis to videogame theory to American pro wrestling and how they affect culture in these classes.

1. Blogs, Wikis, New Media for Learning. Learn about web 2.0 technology in this class that covers such topics as blogs, RSS feeds, wikis, bookmarking tools, podcasts, and more. [Utah State University]
2. Introduction to Media Studies. Get to know the basics about new media in this class which covers many topics, including blogging, intellectual property, and game modification. [MIT]
3. New Media Literacies. Examine literacy in the light of new media by exploring online social networking, videogaming, collective intelligence, and other related subjects of media literacy. [MIT]
4. Workshop I. This graduate-level media studies class provides a hands-on opportunity to learn technical skills from the theories learned in Comparative Media Studies classes. [MIT]
5. Videogame Theory and Analysis. Learn how video games relate to cultural, social, and educational functions in current society in this class. [MIT]
6. Topics in Comparative Media: American Pro Wrestling. Explore how new technologies and changes in television helped pro wrestling in America evolve. [MIT]
7. American Soap Operas. Study the transformation of American soap operas, then make comparisons with recent incarnations of these types of shows by comparing with popular shows like 24 and Friday Night Lights. [MIT]
8. The Anthropology of Sound. Learn about the human experience of sound and study such topics as sound art, music, and environmental recordings as you explore the relationship between culture, technology, and people. [MIT]
9. History of Media and Technology: Sound, the Minority Report — Radical Music of the Past 100 Years. Students will examine the history of avant-garde and electronic music from the early 20th century to present day. [MIT]
10. Popular Narrative: Masterminds. By creating a class "cyberconversation," students will participate in an ongoing reading journal discussing popular literary masterminds. [MIT]

Media Arts

These classes cover digital art, holographs, HTML, Flash, and more to help you gain a great foundation in the media arts.

11. Media Art I. Explore "time-based art practices" in this class where students will learn sound, installation and video art. [Capilano University]
12. Media Art II. Study the visual arts while learning black and white chemical photography and digital imaging. [Capilano University]
13. Media Art III. This class looks at digital sound, digital video art, and performance art as it pertains to the visual arts. [Capilano University]
14. Media Art IV. Round out this series while creating an independent project in this class that examines both technical and conceptual aspects of media art. [Capilano University]
15. Special Topics in Multimedia Production: Experiences in Interactive Art. Using visiting artists’ lectures and discussion on the history of interactive art as springboards, students create their own interactive art project in this class. [MIT]
16. Holographic Imaging. Explore the science behind holographs and learn how to create your own in this class. [MIT]
17. Relational Machines. Social psychology, human-computer interaction, and design come together in this course where students design their own interactive robot. [MIT]
18. Ambient Intelligence. Study Human-Computer Interaction (HCI) and create your own project in this course. [MIT]
19. Designing the user interface: text, colour, images, moving images and sound. Discover the best way to incorporate these elements so that users can best interact with websites and software. [The Open University]
20. Learn and Apply HTML. Learn the basics of HTML and how to use it to help you build a website without needing expensive software. [Utah State University]
21. Blender 3D Design. Create 3D designs by using Blender software in this class that explores modeling and animation. [Tufts University]
22. Interactive Multimedia Production. Learn the fundamentals of building a Flash 9 project in this class. [Utah State University]
23. Flash. Using Flash 8, learn how to create a project for your portfolio. [Utah State University]
24. Fundamentals of Computational Media Design. Get the basics of media design in this class that offers hands-on design opportunities. [MIT]

Technology and Media

Art and technology meet in these classes that cover topics such as the anthropology of computing and the evolution of the printed word to digital format.

25. Communicating in Technical Organizations. Focus on both writing in a technical environment as well as using technology-assisted communication in this class. [MIT]
26. Feeling and Imagination in Art, Science, and Technology. Study philosophy, psychology, and literature to learn about the ways emotion and imagination play into the creative process. [MIT]
27. Art and Technology. Learn about the relationship between art and technology as it is occurring today and as it was throughout history. [Capilano University]
28. Technologies for Creative Learning. Examine ways new technologies can help stimulate learning and creativity in this hands-on course that uses the Lego Programmable Brick and Computer Clubhouse as an example. [MIT]
29. Media Industries and Systems. Learn about the trends, audience, and creative process as forces shaping content in media industries and systems. [MIT]
30. Technology for Professional Writers. This course teaches important technology skills with a focus on the writer’s perspective. [Utah State University]
31. Intro to Tech Communication. This course offers the basics of writing for an information-based audience and is especially valuable if you come from a more technical background than a literary one. [MIT]
32. Introduction to Technical Communication: Ethics in Science and Technology. Take a look at how ethical dilemmas and how they are handled when they arise in technology-based situations. [MIT]
33. Introduction to Technical Communication: Explorations in Scientific and Technical Writing. This course offers the basics in technical communications with topics including graphics, web page writing and design, and email. [MIT]
34. Common Sense Reasoning for Interactive Applications. Study the relationship between humans and computers with an emphasis on increasing communication in this class. [MIT]
35. The Anthropology of Computing. Take a look at the people behind computing from the early days to the modern world while exploring such issues as hackers, privacy, and more. [MIT]
36. Affective Computing. Study the relation between computing and emotion in this class that examines how emotions are elicited via the computer. [MIT]
37. Signals, Systems, and Information for Media Technology. This graduate-level class explores audio/visual signals and how they are received by humans. [MIT]
38. From Print to Digital: Technologies of the Word, 1450-Present. Study texts, printing technologies, and reading communities from 1450 to the present to learn how printed texts have evolved into the current digital texts so popular now. [MIT]

Photography and Photojournalism

No matter if you just need to learn the basics of photography and graphic design or want to find out how to make the most from an image for photojournalism, these classes will have you shooting great photos.

39. Documentary Photography and Photo Journalism: Still Images of A World In Motion. Get an introduction to documentary photographers and photojournalists while also creating your own photo documentary. [MIT]
40. Multimedia Reporting: Covering Breaking News. Examine the journalism of six online news agencies during Hurricane Katrina to learn more about reporting breaking news in a multimedia environment. [News University]
41. Photography and Truth. This class examines how photography works to document and communicate as an art form and as a research tool. [MIT]
42. Language of the Image. Learn the important task of communicating through an image with the lessons in this class. [News University]
43. Handling Horrible Images: eSeminar Replay. Photojournalism can be a gruesome job. Learn how journalists make difficult decisions when it comes to including some images in their stories. [News University]
44. Numeric Photography. Photography and computation meet in this class that explores digital art through weekly projects and a final group project. [MIT]
45. Stories Without Words: Photographing the First Year. Learn to see a new environment through photography with this class that utilizes the freshman experience to teach storytelling with photography. [MIT]
46. Audiovisual Production Learning Club. Join this community-based class to learn how to produce and distribute a variety of multimedia including photography, videography, music production, and more. [The Open University]
47. Introduction to Photography. This beginning class covers camera basics, black and white techniques, digital photography, developing, printing, and more. [MIT]
48. Photography and Related Media. Learn how images are produced both technically and culturally in this photography class that also teaches practical applications appropriate for both beginners and advanced photographers. [MIT]
49. Sensing Place: Photography as Inquiry. Learn how to see and investigate landscape in order to express ideas with this class. [MIT]
50. Literary Interpretation: Literature and Photography: The Image. Study literature, photography, and film to explore literary themes and history. [MIT]
51. Reading visual images. Learn about history and social science through photography in this course. [The Open University]
52. Picturing the family. This class provides an in depth analysis of historical family photos including technical details as well as several cultural aspects captured in the photos. [The Open University]

Video and Film

Learn to tell a story with video or study films to learn how others have told their stories in these classes.

53. Producing Films for Social Change. Create your own documentary focusing on social issues while learning the basics of filmmaking in this hands-on course. [Tufts University]
54. Philosophy of Film. Learn how film creates meaning by exploring such issues as appearance and reality, visual effects, and communication and alienation. [MIT]
55. The Film Experience. Study the history of film, especially looking at early American works, but with a glimpse into France, Italy, and Japan as well. [MIT]
56. Studies in Film. Examine the intersection of film and literature to learn about narrative in film. [MIT]
57. Film as Visual and Literary Mythmaking. Learn how film and literature have contributed to making classic myths of the Western world. [MIT]
58. Philosophy in Film and Other Media. Take a look at philosophy and some of its important themes by exploring film, as well as literature and opera. [MIT]
59. Introduction to Video. Work on projects that will develop your skills as a videographer and video editor, including a final assignment of personal storytelling. [MIT]
60. Five Steps to Multimedia Storytelling. Learn about audio, video, and graphics in this class that focuses on recording, taping, and editing for Internet content. [News University]
61. Advanced Projects in the Visual Arts: Personal Narrative. A continuation from Introduction to Video, this class teaches students about creating a movie through exploring narrative in cinema via student projects. [MIT]
62. Topics in Cinematic Storytelling. Learn the basics of communicating a storyline through visual mediums. [MIT]
63. Understanding Television. Explore the cultural evolution of television and its impact on society in this course. [MIT]
64. Good Shooting Guide: the basic principles. Students will get the basics on shooting video footage that is not only usable, but well-done. [BBC Training & Development]

Writing

Writing is integral to any type of journalism, whether it’s newspaper, radio, or blogging. If you never got your English degree, take these classes to become a stronger and more effective writer.

65. The Creative Spark. This course teaches about the creative process–what it is, how it’s valued, and how it grows–through journal writings and studying artists of various media. [MIT]
66. BBC News Style Guide. This class covers the style guide used at BBC News to help writers become better storytellers and more effective writers. [BBC Training & Development]
67. Cleaning Your Copy. Learn to correct your grammar, spelling, and stylistic mistakes with the information in this class. [News University]
68. Beat Basics and Beyond. Find out the basics about working a beat and get tips from veteran reporters as well. [News University]
69. Writing and Experience: Culture Shock! Writing, Editing, and Publishing in Cyberspace. Practice writing for an online audience through an exploration of American pop culture. [MIT]
70. Writing about Nature and Environmental Issues. Learn traditional nature writing and the environmentalist essay in this class where you will keep your own nature writing blog. [MIT]
71. Principles and Practice of Science Communication. If you plan to do any science writing in your journalism career, this class is a must-have where students learn to develop skills to bring together "authors, audiences and media." [MIT]
72. The Science Essay. Study how segments of popular science evolved, how they relate to the general population, and how to write about science so that the concepts are clear and understandable to those without a science background. [MIT]
73. Communication Skills for Academics. This class teaches how to craft a well-written academic papers as well as other academic communications. [MIT]
74. Expository Writing: Social and Ethical Issues in Print, Photography and Film. This course teaches students to expand their writing skills to create well-reasoned arguments and a polished product through the study of film and literature. [MIT]
75. Expository Writing – Food for Thought: Writing and Reading about Food and Culture. Strengthen writing skills while also studying the impact of food on culture in this class. [MIT]
76. Consumer Culture. Practice writing while also taking a look into the world of American consumerism. [MIT]
77. Becoming Digital: Writing About Media Change. This class explores the shift to digital media, exploring the shift in such areas as business, communication, and entertainment have changed significantly. [MIT]
78. Digital Poetry. Students study digital poetry in various forms including soundscapes, hypertext poetry, animation, code poems, and interactive games. [MIT]

Exploring Self and Others

Reporting on the world around you requires that you learn to take a good look at people, cultures, and even yourself. These classes will help you learn to do that.

79. Composing Your Life: Exploration of Self through Visual Arts and Writing. Using a variety of media, students will explore and express themselves in this class. [MIT]
80. Understanding media: the celebrity in the text. Whether you plan to produce, analyze, or just learn about celebrities, this class takes an in depth look at how the information about celebrities is disseminated. [The Open University]
81. Social Visualization. Practice visualizing the online user audience and learn about the psychology behind this crowd through their online activities and interactions. [MIT]
82. Special Topics in Vision Science. Learn about both human and computer vision in this class that explores the psychology of vision. [MIT]
83. Understanding Online Interaction. Explore how people communicate online and also learn how to design environments on the web that are conducive to learning. [Utah State University]
84. Communicating Across Cultures. As globalization has become a reality, learn its effects on society and find out how you can become more culturally sensitive to those around you. [MIT]
85. Visualizing Cultures. This course examines cultural perceptions with regards to racism, nationalism, war, propaganda, and more through the exploration of the opening of Japan by Commodore Perry as a real-life example. [MIT]
86. American Dream: Exploring Class in the U.S.. This course looks at class in American and how it relates to other differences such as race and gender. [MIT]
87. Media in Cultural Context. Learn how culture defines itself through TV programs and how international markets are impacted by these media identities and the perceptions of others. [MIT]
88. Seminar in Deep Engagement. Learn about human engagement, how it works, and how to create the deeper engagements people strive to obtain through various forms of media. [MIT]
89. Media in Cultural Context: Popular Readerships. Explore popular reading genres ranging from the Oprah Book Club to comics and their relationships with western culture. [MIT]

Politics

Stay up on current events and learn important elements of politics with these classes so that you have a solid background to speak knowledgeably about what’s happening in the world.

90. International Politics in the New Century – via Simulation, Interactive Gaming, and ‘Edutainment’. Learn about politics through such media as political gaming, blogging, and simulations. [MIT]
91. Current Events and Social Issues. The topics covered in this class from 2004 are still relevant and offer an opportunity to explore important social issues as they relate to current events. [MIT]
92. Feminist Political Thought. This course studies the evolving roles of women in society touching on such topics as politics, equality, sexuality. [MIT]

Copyright, Ethics, and Freedom of Information

Anyone who is writing on the Internet should polish up on legal and ethical issues so that costly mistakes are avoided. These classes will help you learn about copyright, ethics, and your rights.

93. Online Media Law: The Basics for Bloggers and Other Online Publishers. Bloggers and other online writers will appreciate learning about defamation, privacy, and copyright as it pertains to online publishing in this class. [News University]
94. Introduction to Copyright Law. This course covers the basics of copyright law with a heavy emphasis on Internet-related topics. This is an important class for anyone writing or working on the Internet. [MIT]
95. Information Law and Policy. Learn about copyright law, protecting databases, licensing of information, privacy and more in this course. [UC Berkeley]
96. Ethics and the Law on the Electronic Frontier. Law, policy, and technology come together in this course that discusses several topics concerning the Internet and law. [MIT]
97. Introduction to Ethical Decision-Making. Learn about ethical choices journalists sometimes face through this class that includes more than 30 case studies. [News University]
98. Communications and Information Policy. Study public communication policy and its history in this course. [MIT]
99. A Fair(y) Use Tale. This video introduces copyright and fair use policy. [Novell]
100. Freedom of Information. Learn about the Freedom of Information Act, Public Records Laws, and your rights to information. [News University]