We’ve never had access to so much information. Our connection to the World Wide Web provides us with almost innumerable platforms to learn: classes, tutorials, podcasts, webinars, lectures and more. Plus, a quick scour of YouTube will reveal all you need to know to colour correct your photographs, cast a concrete countertop or create an online how-to video.
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The following examples of online education resources were started several weeks, before the
2018 Binary Shift Conference, but the informative sessions delivered by
Digital Springboard, a program from
Infoxchange and
Google, reaffirmed the value of sharing these platforms with our fellow Gippslandians.
1
Digital Garage (Google)
Digital Garage provides video tutorials on digital marketing from Google-certified experts. By completing the 26 topics, you’ll build skills to promote yourself and your business online.
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learndigital.withgoogle.com/digitalgarage-au
2
edX
Founded by
Harvard University and
MIT in 2012, edX aims to “increase access to high-quality education for everyone, everywhere”. edX collaborates with over 130 partners, including world-leading universities, non-profits and institutions. Most courses are free to attend, or you can pay if you’d like a completion certificate.
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edx.org
3
Hack Design
You receive an email each week that features links curated by some of the world’s best designers. The emails include the best and most useful blogs, books, games, videos and tutorials that helped the featured designers learn critical elements of design. You work at your own pace and rapidly build a collection of great resources that you can apply to your projects.
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hackdesign.org
4
Blueprint (Facebook)
Free online courses to learn about Facebook advertising and marketing, Messenger and Instagram. You can set your business goal, for example ‘build awareness’, and the site will suggest a program of courses. If you’re already a pro with Facebook, there is a certification program designed to assess your skills to become a Facebook advertiser to then assist others.
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facebook.com/blueprint
5
Udemy
Home to a library of over 80,000 courses taught by expert instructors. Courses range from free of charge to over $100. You can learn to your own timeline and the website is easy to navigate. Main course categories are web and code development, design, business, IT and software, personal development, marketing and photography.
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udemy.com
6
CS First (Google)
CS First is a free web-based program that exposes students to computer science and coding through video tutorials and modules on different themes such as sports, art and fashion. Each theme contains eight lessons of 60–90 minutes. The program is designed for kids in grades 4–8.
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csfirst.withgoogle.com
7
Funbrain
Created for kids in kindergarten to year eight; there are hundreds of games, books, comics and videos that develop skills in math, reading, problem-solving and literacy. Funbrain is well-established, having been around since 1997, and we’ve personally found the ‘Pig Pile’ game very addictive!
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funbrain.com
8
Future Learn
A diverse selection of courses from leading universities and cultural institutions from around the world
(it’s owned by The Open University, which has even more courses!). The courses are available on your mobile, tablet or desktop, and feature topics like science writing, physical theatre
or end-of-life care for people
with dementia.
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futurelearn.com
9
Wingaru Kids
This is a digital resource to assist teachers to deliver Aboriginal Studies to all students. Wingaru Education is an Aboriginal owned and operated business, and the content is created by Aboriginal people to ensure the provision of authentic and accurate knowledge. Wingaru sees education as the basis for true reconciliation between Aboriginal and Non-Aboriginal people.
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wingaru.com.au
10
Khan Academy
The Khan Academy are a non-profit organisation that strive to provide free world-class education for anyone, anywhere. The academy utilises practice exercises and instructional videos to empower learners in their studies of subjects like math, science, computer programming, history, art history, economics and more.
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khanacademy.org
11
UnSchool
The UnSchool aims to activate and seed creative leadership for positive, impactful social and environmental change. There are 12 core courses in their Disruptive Design Methodology that are based on the three knowledge pillars of systems, sustainability and design, as well as numerous books, retreats and fellowships.
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unschools.co
12
TED
TED (Technology, Entertainment and Design) is a non-profit that’s devoted to spreading ideas, usually in the form of short, powerful talks. The topics extend from science to business to global issues and are available in more than 110 languages. TED is a cool place to spark ideas, but be wary of falling into a wormhole of #inspo videos that can last for hours.
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ted.com