Back-to-school, for you
Sending the kids back to school may have you longing for a time when your only responsibility was to learn, too.
Why not join them and hit the books this fall? Except this time, you make the rules.
What is something you are curious about? What have you always wanted to try? Thanks to technology and some positive impacts of pandemic life on Zoom, you can dive deep into just about anything without leaving your home and for far less than the cost of a traditional degree. (Bonus: There are no grades!)
Here are our favorite ways to continue learning beyond traditional “school:”
Skillshare-
Skillshare is a subscription-based platform that provides users the chance to learn about a huge variety of topics for just $14 per month with an annual subscription. With a Skillshare account, you can revisit piano lessons, art classes, or learn the basics of coding, all on your own schedule! Even instantly tangible skills like how to care for houseplants or be more productive at home are just a short class away.
Masterclass-
At Masterclass, the founder’s goal was to create a place where anyone could learn from masters of their craft. At a monthly charge of $15 with an annual subscription, users have the opportunity to learn from the best of the best in as short as fifteen-minute increments. Not to mention, with high production value. Check out Thomas Keller’s cooking courses, Shonda Rhimes for television writing (and plenty of Grey’s and Olivia Pope references!), and Marc Jacobs’ class on fashion design.
Night school bar-
Offering high-quality arts and humanities classes, Night School Bar allows your curiosity to wander and thoughts to broaden in their vast array of courses that change semi-quarterly. The live classes meet weekly and are full of students from around the world providing feedback and thoughtful conversation in real-time.
In-person, local classes-
Keep your eyes peeled because Indianapolis is full of educators and courses. Learn the basics of calligraphy with Hoopla Letters workshops. Sharpen your literal and figurative “saw” in woodworking classes at Woodcraft. Or, grab a friend and try a macaron-making class at Circle City Sweets where you will walk away with a new kitchen skill and tons of macarons! Big box stores like Williams Sonoma, Sur La Tab, and West Elm also boast local class schedules–just ask!
Don’t let money be a barrier to continued learning. So much information can be found for free!
Here are a few “no-cost” ways to always be learning:
Coursera-
Coursera is a large online platform designed to provide access to actual courses offered at colleges and by major employers, like Google. There are options for paid content and certifications, but much of the material is free. Be sure to check out the super popular, TikTok viral Yale Happiness course.
YouTube-
YouTube has been around for years but still has thousands of creators posting daily. These creators are teaching anything from how to crochet to how to install a car seat. It’s also a great place for finding at-home workouts without a paywall.
The Library-
A public library is a community treasure. With free common space, free events, free books, and so many other free forms of media it provides major benefits to those who choose to utilize this amazing resource. Get out of the house and into the quiet, clean space of your local library and see where your curiosity takes you!
