Links to On-Line Learning

Villagers who enjoy individual self-directed on-line learning should check these sources. Most require a fee for purchase, but some are free. Contact the source directly for more information on any course offering of interest.

TENNESSEE ELECTRONIC LIBRARY (TEL)

The Tennessee Electronic Library (TEL) is a free virtual library that can be accessed from your home PC, your school library computer lab, or your iPhone – anywhere with an internet connection. TEL provides access to over 400,000 electronic resources, including magazines, scholarly journals, podcasts, videos, e-books, test preparation materials, federal census records, Tennessee primary source materials, and more!
All types of not-for-profit libraries participate in TEL and benefit from the wide range of information TEL databases offer, including homework help to new readers, consumer health information, business resources, leisure reading suggestions, current event essays, academic and civil service test preparation help, and genealogy and family history sources. Over 1.2 million searches are performed each month across the various TEL databases. Since 1999, the Tennessee Electronic Library has been dedicated to providing equal access to this expansive collection of electronic resources for all Tennesseans.

TEL is administered by the Tennessee State Library and Archives, a division of the Tennessee Department of State. Access this library at http://tntel.tnsos.org/about.htm.

OSHER FOUNDATION COURSES AT VANDERBILT

The Osher Foundation financially supports lifelong learning programs through one major university in each state. Vanderbilt University manages this program in the Nashville area. Many of their courses, taught by Vanderbilt faculty, retired faculty and other area expert professionals, are videotaped and available for free viewing at your individual leisure. For a list of these courses and a direct link to them, visit their website. Most of these videotaped lectures are about one hour – more or less – in length.

The concept of the Great Courses programs is to invite some of the most successful college professors in the country to create lectures on their topics of particular areas of expertise in an engaging manner for the adult learner. Topics include every area imaginable: science, math, fine arts, languages, literature, religion, philosophy, history, business disciplines, better personal living, and professional skills. These courses could be interesting listening for long road trips or air flights. http://www.vanderbilt.edu/olli/video/past-video-playlist.php

THE GREAT COURSES

The Great Courses programs invite some of the most successful college professors in the country to create lectures on their topics of particular areas of expertise in an engaging manner for the adult learner. Topics include every area imaginable: science, math, fine arts, languages, literature, religion, philosophy, history, business disciplines, better personal living, and professional skills. These courses could be interesting listening for long road trips or air flights.

TVU may be able to purchase some of these courses in the future, pending funding. Recommendations or requests are welcomed. http://www.thegreatcourses.com/greatcourses.aspx

COURSERA

Coursera is an education platform that partners with top universities and organizations worldwide to offer courses online for anyone to take for free. Courses are developed and delivered on-line by partner institutions around the world. Their approach allows learners to be involved in a course at their own pace, obtain feedback from assignments, and receive interaction with others as they wish. Their list of over 400 courses is impressive. https://www.coursera.org/

KHAN ACADEMY

Khan Academy is an organization on a mission. It is a not-for-profit organization with the goal of changing education for the better by providing a free world-class education for anyone anywhere.

All of the site’s resources are available to anyone. It doesn’t matter if you are a student, teacher, home-schooler, principal, or an adult returning to the classroom after 20 years. Khan Academy’s materials and resources are available to you completely free of charge. https://www.khanacademy.org/

SENIOR LEARNING NETWORK FOR INDEPENDENT LEARNING

SLN provides some free and low cost video programming on a wide range of topics that are of interest to seniors as part of their lifelong learning. Some programs require membership.

Tellico Village residents may find interesting, free and /or affordable topics to pursue independently. Individual membership is $50 per year and entitles members to enjoy their programs at no additional cost. http://www.seniorlearningnetwork.com/

TED TALKS

TED is a nonprofit devoted to spreading ideas, usually in the form of free short, powerful presentations by qualified speakers. TED began in 1984 as a conference where Technology, Entertainment and Design converged, and today it covers almost all topics — from science to business to global issues — in more than 100 languages. Meanwhile, independently run TEDx events help share ideas in communities around the world. Each “talk” is relatively short – usually about 18 minutes. And best of all . . . it is all free – all on-line. You may find some interesting mini lectures on various topics here that satisfy your need for something intellectual. http://www.ted.com/about/our-organization

DUOLINGO

Duolingo is a free website that contains on-line instruction in many foreign languages. https://www.duolingo.com/

LEARNING ADVISOR

Learning Advisor is in partnership with AARP Life Reimagined resources. There is a list of on-line courses taught by college professors. Specific information about the professor and his institution is provided by clicking the photo representing the course. Read more about this interesting and free source of on-line courses at http://learningadvisor.com/courses

ED2GO

ed2go provides high quality online continuing education courses that are affordable and easy to use through a network of more than 2,100 top colleges and universities. As a virtual online college, they offer the latest instructor-led online courses from the top professionals in their field. Courses are offered in Accounting and Finance, Business, College Readiness, Computer Applications, Design and Composition, Health Care and Medical, Language and Arts, Law and Legal, Personal Development, Teaching and Education, Technology, Writing and Publishing. http://www.ed2go.com/AboutUs.aspx

Links to On-Line Learning