Learning does not have to end when one leaves university. You are living in a highly technological world. With a few taps on your smartphone or laptop, you can access limitless sources of information.
There is absolutely nothing stopping you from continuously being exposed to new perspectives and gaining new skills that will enable both professional and personal growth.
How the Internet Addresses Barriers to Adult Learning
Learning as an adult is easier now because of the Internet. Barriers that previously prevented people from pursuing further educations have been mostly eradicated by the world wide web.
Online resources are within your reach 24/7. You can do your readings and answer supplemental activities in your own time and at your own pace.
Internet-based platforms offer courses and training that are often more affordable than what universities across the world charge for. Moreover, some businesses encourage employees to deepen their expertise on a certain subject and industry to remain competitive by offering workplace training programs.
There is also an almost endless option for adult learners online. Whether they want to develop soft skills or master a new trade, there are courses, seminars, tutorials, ebooks and audiobooks, and other resources on the Internet.
Coding
Some of the best coders in the world did not even graduate from university. Mark Zuckerberg and Bill Gates, two of the richest people in the world and icons within the tech industry, infamously dropped out of university.
Having a formal education does not make a person good at coding. There are resources online that anyone who wants to venture into the world of technology can gain the necessary skills to make them successful. In fact, Google and Apple are no longer requiring a college degree from aspiring employees.
Of course, having a college degree would not hurt. Universities can provide you access to experts and connections. However, it is not an absolute necessity if you want to learn how to code.
Web Design/Development
Having a strong online presence is important for any business nowadays. As shoppers begin to transition online, there is a huge demand for professionals who can create and update websites.
Web design/development does not require formal education, either. Anyone who has the patience and interest can learn it quickly.
Excel/PowerPoint
Mastery of Excel and PowerPoint is an attractive skill for many employers. The two computer programs are widely-used across almost every field, including banking and finance, education, business, and health. However, not every adult knows how to navigate around the software.
Learning Excel and PowerPoint can improve your chances of getting your dream job. It is also very easy to learn. You can get pretty much all the information you need by reading a handful of articles online or watching videos on YouTube. They are free and accessible to anyone.
Online learning platforms like Coursera and Udemy offer short courses where you can get certificates to prove to future employers that you are an expert in using either or both programs.
Digital Marketing
The Internet is an important tool for marketers. Online, they can reach and target potential customers through social media, pay-per-click content (PPC), search engine optimization (SEO), etc.
Marketers can also use the Internet to learn how to effectively advertise a brand, a product, or a service online. There are courses over the Internet that teaches marketers the best strategies in digital marketing.
In most instances, learning online allows them to be up-to-date with the latest trends in digital marketing. Because it is online, information is constantly being added or adjusted based on the present behaviors or interests of consumers.
Languages
It is easier, nowadays, to learn a new language. The Internet makes the world smaller, enabling anyone to access content in another language and interact with people from places that are very far away.
There are also tons of tools online that are specifically developed to help learners learn a foreign language. Rosetta Stone is an online learning platform that provides lessons on French, Spanish, Germany, Italian, Japanese, Chinese, and English. Duolingo is a paid and free mobile app that provides language training for beginners and is used by millions of people around the world.
Learners can also use their new skills to interact with people online via Skype and FaceTime or social media platforms like Twitter and Reddit.
Life-long learning offers numerous benefits to adults. They can gain new skills to help them achieve a career milestone or jump to a career that will give them better pay or job satisfaction. Because of the Internet, learning is accessible to more adults, bridging the education gap because of economic status, race, and country of origin.
