Cheap or free online learning courses?

wisemonkeyuk

Hi everyone. This is my first post on this forum but been reading for a while.

I was just wondering if anybody knew of any cheap or free online learning courses? I've looked into sites such as the Open University & Learning Direct, but the prices they charge are simply prices I cannot afford at this moment in time.

I'm prefferably (sp?) looking for IT courses, but I also want to start learning new things in life as I'm only 21, stuck in a dead-end job and my exam results from school weren't exactly the best.

I'm basically looking to study in my free-time with perhaps some kind of coursework involved. I dont mind anything that doesn't involve IT but because of my computer-related job, it would be nice. Anything like the above 2 (OU & LD) would be great. I understand that with free/cheaper courses qualifications will probably not be possible, but just looking to study in my spare time and learn some more things.

If anyone can help me I'd really appreciate it.

Thanks in advance, WM

calleyw

Have you tried here

http://www.vision2learn.net/channels/index.asp

Everything from IT courses to money management.

All free. If you lucky you might have a college near you. All you need to do is to commit to three hours a week.

If you are feeling really generous I could refer you. But better not tout for business as I will get told off :rotfl:


All the best.


Yours


Calley

Dr.Lou

Try your local college for online courses. I have recently signed up to the ECDL course and it is all online. At the time there were other online IT related courses too.

ozzyfan_2

Thanks very much for the link calleyw

I've just signed up for the 1st steps in IT course, I wanted to do the money management course but it's not available in my area at the moment!

Just have to wait for a letter now so I can get started! :T

heppy23

Get in touch with your local colleges. They will have some many courses, some of which are heavily subsidised.

Round here (north yorkshire) we have an organisation called the workers educational somethingorever and they put on a lot of very cheap short courses.

LookingAhead

See below for my reply! Perhaps MSE needs someone who can sort out their bl**dy server!!! :mad: :mad:

iwanttosave_2

You could qualify for free courses at the OU, I have, and you also get a £250 grant that you dont have to pay back I assume for your avatar you are not in scotland, so you can try here and it will tell you if you are entitled

http://www3.open.ac.uk/courses/about/p6_2.shtml

LookingAhead

Hello wisemonkey! Can I just say, if you have some computer experience now, you may wish to apply for even the most basic IT Helpdesk type role. It is THE best way to get into IT because you can then work your way up from the inside and companies pay for you to go on courses and on the job training is invaluable.

Please don't spend too much money on courses because without experience they won't get you very far. There will be Lord knows how many graduates out there with varying degrees in computer related subjects that will be finding it hard enough believe me.

If we are talking about general desktop engineer/analyst work then take any job that will build your experience of working with computers and fixing problems/learning what type of problems there are...and take it from there. You only need 1 - 2 years experience of that sort of thing and you can look to move up.

I can say this with some degree of knowledge as I literally fell into that area of IT (used to be a secretary!) in 1997 and with the exception of one confused year I haven't been out of it since. I started out answering phones on the IT Helpdesk with a keyboard and somewhere to type in people's questions....I was terrified but it was FINE and I learned masses. (Won't bore you with the rest this is your thread not mine!)

Just a quick question though...do you know which field of IT appeals?

I only ask as it's a big area: networking, writing code, project management, hardware/desktop engineer, business analyst.....masses to choose from and you can't learn it all unless you plan to live to be about 135 and have a brain the size of a planet...and then when you have learned it all, it all will have become newer technology anyway and you'd have to start again! So you need to choose an area.

Good luck. :j

wisemonkeyuk

Hi, thanks for your replies everyone.

Big thanks to calleyw. I tried the Vision2Learn site that you mentioned and signed up for an IT course. I received my sign-up forms through the post this morning and have since posted them back

LookingAhead - In my current job I work within a document management company. No specific IT skills are needed as the work we do on our PCs is somewhat basic (copying files, running programs, backing-up data ect). I've signed up for the "Next steps in IT" course on the V2L website in hope that I can work my way through the courses and hopefully find something suitable for my needs.

I have been looking into IT helpdesk work recently, but before I consider doing anything like that, I need to brush up on my IT skills. When I left school in 2001 I went to college for one year and done courses in IT, business, HTML & Mathematics. Since my college days though I havent really 'needed' these skills as I've been stuck in the same job for a while using the same basic IT skills day-in day-out.

Thanks again for your replies, wm

GreyPilgrim

Hi, welcome to the forum! I always try to keep doing something on the PC as I think it will keep me out of the pub and keep my brain working. A couple of years ago I set out to do the MOUS (Microsoft Office User Specialist) exams. You can study for the 'instructor led' style at a training centre but thats quite expensive - instead I picked up a couple of books and read through them. I'll try and dig out the ones I used as they were great. the exams are focused on MS Office applications (Word, powerpoint, excel and access). Really good books, and since there are certified exams at the end you're able to benchmark your progress. Really helps you find loads of useful stuff within the packages that you probably never realised where there, and they're great if you're using the packages in your job (or if you hope to eventually).

As well as the certification, you also get a lapel badge when you pass the exams. Whoo Hoo.

GP

Floss

Try your local college too - they may have courses which are free or almost free for lower incomes. They'd be recognised qualifications too.