LIFELONG LEARNING
Top 5 Online Learning Sites for Older Adults The COVID-19 pandemic has been tragic, disrupting and altering everyday life on a global scale. Beyond the obvious threat to our health and wellbeing, there were countless social, economic and interpersonal challenges that became part of everyday life. However, one of the biggest silver linings to come out of this unforeseen, once-in-a-lifetime event is the acceleration of access to online learning. With the entire world forced indoors, universities, community colleges and internet-startups alike all had to adapt and construct new methods of e-learning. These platforms have only grown since 2020, and now provide older adults countless opportunities to learn new skills, earn degrees and turn their spare time into useful knowledge.
According to a 2021 article by ThinkImpact, which aggregated e-learning studies done by several different organizations, the rapid growth of online learning is already paying dividends for people of all ages: → → → →
E-learning helped students retain between 25% and 60% more information Nearly half of all students felt online learning was as effective as face-to-face interaction Since 2020, 98% of universities now offer online classes Since 2020, it is believed that 98% of corporate learning will take place online, with 67% of companies offering courses via mobile devices
If you are just looking to dip your toe in the water with e-learning, don’t sleep on the thousands of global instructors on YouTube. What started out as a place for videos focused on entertainment, music and gaming has now become a professional hub for lessons on any topic you can imagine. You can also explore thousands of the free apps available for download to your phone, like Duolingo, PictureThis and Brainly.
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GROWING BOLDER / APRIL 202 2 DIGE S T
