Senior citizens and retirees who find themselves with excess time on their hands might consider investing their time in free courses. While these courses might not provide credit toward degrees, studies suggest that they can have health benefits. Seniors who participate in free courses might find their memories and cognitive abilities improve, perhaps reducing the risks of depression.
Elderhostel, which is now Road Scholar, in a 2007 survey of people ages 55-plus, suggested that active learners were also happier. Nearly half of the men and women in the survey attended classes at least once a month and described themselves as having higher levels of optimism and life satisfaction than others, according to the survey. Alzheimer's, the report noted, is especially on the minds of aging Americans now that 78 million baby boomers born between 1946 and 1964 are approaching retirement.
Articles regarding free online college course might be available at retirement communities, assisted living facilities and senior centers, but they're also offered by colleges, universities and technical schools. Some states offer seniors tuition waivers for attending courses at public colleges and universities. There, seniors might find themselves in the company of many baby boomers, a population segment that a New Horizons for Learning report suggests is crowding classrooms even while holding down jobs and keeping involved in their communities.
A university in Hawaii is one of several institutions throughout the country that offers what's known as a "visitor" program for seniors. Through it, the state's senior citizens can sit in on courses free of charge, and many apparently do. About 300 seniors take advantage of the offering each semester, the university's website reports.
These days, seniors with computers can take courses for free from the comfort of home. Many free courses are available on the Internet. Even a few years ago, a Harris Poll found that baby boomers and seniors comprise 44 percent of the online population, according to an article on seniorjournal.com.
Seniors might consider searching for courses in which they're interested at an OpenCourseWare Consortium website. This particular website offers opportunities to search for courses from institutions throughout the world and in different languages. In the United States, OpenCourseWare provides information and links to an array of free online courses from MIT (Massachusetts Institute of Technology). Seniors might also enroll in online courses for free from Ivy League universities.
Many institutions provide free course instruction via audio and video. Many colleges and universities make lectures available on YouTube and iTunes U. Assignments, lessons and exams might also be downloaded from a course website in PDF format.
Seniors might also find free online courses on websites such as the Research Channel, Videolectures.net and Academic Earth, the AARP Bulletin article notes. An Open Culture website provides links to free foreign language courses offered by radio networks, cultural organizations and the Peace Corps. In instances where seniors want to explore contemporary issues or religion, they might consider a free course in Sustainable Living from a California university or a New Testament history and literature course for free from an Ivy League institution.
Elderhostel, which is now Road Scholar, in a 2007 survey of people ages 55-plus, suggested that active learners were also happier. Nearly half of the men and women in the survey attended classes at least once a month and described themselves as having higher levels of optimism and life satisfaction than others, according to the survey. Alzheimer's, the report noted, is especially on the minds of aging Americans now that 78 million baby boomers born between 1946 and 1964 are approaching retirement.
Articles regarding free online college course might be available at retirement communities, assisted living facilities and senior centers, but they're also offered by colleges, universities and technical schools. Some states offer seniors tuition waivers for attending courses at public colleges and universities. There, seniors might find themselves in the company of many baby boomers, a population segment that a New Horizons for Learning report suggests is crowding classrooms even while holding down jobs and keeping involved in their communities.
A university in Hawaii is one of several institutions throughout the country that offers what's known as a "visitor" program for seniors. Through it, the state's senior citizens can sit in on courses free of charge, and many apparently do. About 300 seniors take advantage of the offering each semester, the university's website reports.
These days, seniors with computers can take courses for free from the comfort of home. Many free courses are available on the Internet. Even a few years ago, a Harris Poll found that baby boomers and seniors comprise 44 percent of the online population, according to an article on seniorjournal.com.
Seniors might consider searching for courses in which they're interested at an OpenCourseWare Consortium website. This particular website offers opportunities to search for courses from institutions throughout the world and in different languages. In the United States, OpenCourseWare provides information and links to an array of free online courses from MIT (Massachusetts Institute of Technology). Seniors might also enroll in online courses for free from Ivy League universities.
Many institutions provide free course instruction via audio and video. Many colleges and universities make lectures available on YouTube and iTunes U. Assignments, lessons and exams might also be downloaded from a course website in PDF format.
Seniors might also find free online courses on websites such as the Research Channel, Videolectures.net and Academic Earth, the AARP Bulletin article notes. An Open Culture website provides links to free foreign language courses offered by radio networks, cultural organizations and the Peace Corps. In instances where seniors want to explore contemporary issues or religion, they might consider a free course in Sustainable Living from a California university or a New Testament history and literature course for free from an Ivy League institution.
About the Author:
Virtually every course imaginable offered through a free college education, from those just for the joy of learning to those that can earn credit toward a degree. Everyone with a computer, can participate in free college programs that will help in every aspect of their career.
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