The thought of online learning used to be one that was unique, scary even. As technology pushes forward so do the advances in modern education. Now there are so many online colleges and platforms to learn that it's hard to keep them all straight. With my recommendation for the top MOOCs (Massive Open Online Course) that you can find, you can head in the right direction when pursuing your education.
#1. edX
edX ranks number one for me for a few reasons. It could be because it has a strong interface, or even because I want to take every single class that is offered, but the first reason I choose edX is CS50x. CS50x is the reason I am pursuing a new career path. I'm serious, if you have a desire to learn about computer science and programming take it. I had no experience programming beforehand, and now I love it. Even if you don’t have an interest in computers, this class allows you to sit in on a Harvard class live! Not, many people have that privilege. Did I forget to mention that every class is 100% free? Not a subscription fee, or certification charge to be found. You won’t spend a dime; well, you might, but you don’t have to. These classes even offer the ability to gain certification. The classes are fun, and not to mention the professors are world renowned. World renowned is right, I’m talking about some of the smartest minds in the world. These minds are pooled from, but not limited to, Harvard University, Michigan Institute of Technology, Berkeley, and Georgetown. Some of the most impressive schools, all on one domain. This is for sure one of the elite online MOOC sites, and is number one in my book.
#2. Coursera
Coursera comes in second, this is based off of sheer size alone. With 682 classes, it's hard not to be able to find what you are looking for. From advanced algorithms, to child nutrition, to macroeconomics, Coursea offers it all. That’s not it, not only does it offer a wide range of classes, courser also gives you the ability to take particular courses in fourteen different languages. Chinese, Spanish, Russian, you name it. These courses offer separate sessions so that you can pick one that fits in with your schedule. Even with their incredible size I cannot say that Coursea gave up on quality. Coursera offers courses from Vanderbilt, Manchester, and Princeton. The reason this site falls short of edX in my mind comes down to one key point. All classes are not offered year round. In-Fact Coursera only offers three courses year round. This becomes a pain when searching through their site. Even if you can filter.
#3. Udemy
Udemy proclaims that it is the largest destination for online courses. This is almost as impressive as the coffee shop next to my house claiming “Best Coffee in America”. I have no proof that Udemy is as big as it claims... but hey, I read it on the internet. Now even if this is true, the layout of this site just not up to par. The category's seem like a jumble, and don't even get me started on the course catalog. However, there are so many courses, it's fantastic. If you spend the time to find it you can learn almost anything. However, like all things that sound too good to be true, theres a catch. Udemy allows anyone who has created an online course to apply for their course to be offered. Couple this with the fact that Udemy does not offer all of its classes for free, made me question even including it on my list. However, udemy is a great platform for striving entrepreneurs, and it offers thousands of courses. For these reasons it is landing on my list as number three.
#4 iTunesU
iTunesU. This MOOC is the most unique MOOC in the sense that it is bound by apple. What this means is that it is only accessible by people with iTunes, or an iPhone. I do have both so this does not have much sway in my opinion. However, for people without an iPhone this will take away much of its vanity. For me the great upside of this class is availability to be used as an app through my phone. I can’t lie, this is not my first pick of a MOOC when I am around a computer, but when I am on the run and am looking for some reading, iTunesU is my go to. The reason this does not place higher is the user experience that is offered through iTunes. Miss matched courses, landing next to purchasable products make iTuneU almost seem like one giant click bait. The problems for me seemed to stop there as I found the course and continued onto get lessons and text sent straight to my phone. I do find the user interface to be much less appealing than other MOOCs but I do on the other hand enjoy the ability to use this as an app.
#5 CodeCademy
Codecademy is only debatably a MOOC; for this reason, it will be my 5th place winner. What codecademy is, is a brilliant tool that can teach you multiple programming languages in a unique and interesting way. It takes you step by step through beginner level coding, and progresses you through tasks like, building a webpage, creating your own interactive resume, and even creating browser based games. Acheivement based learning has transformed this site into a form of competition, recognition, and pride amongst programing beginners. With the recent installation of “Hour of Code” I think this is the perfect time to sign up. With these it gives you the ability to create something out of nothing in only one hour. Codecademy is often looking to expand its horizons and is continuously publish new materials. This I'd say a must try for new programmers. Not only would I say that this site is a great learning source, but I would say it is a must for new programmers.
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