Free Online Classes for the Masses

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"I was looking for something to do in retirement and it built from there,” she says.

She's gained a wide array of skills — including those from a course on how to reason and argue — which was taken “much to my husband's amusement,” she says.

Wide variety of options

Most MOOCs aren't distributed by the content producers or universities. They are instead available via online learning platforms such as Coursera and edX. Coursera has more than 3,200 available courses and edX has roughly 2,400.

Course time can vary. Individual MOOCs could take one week or 16 weeks, according to Class Central. Most are in the four- to-six-week range.

In the early days of MOOCs, they were mainly free and taken at once by large groups — hence the terms “open” and “massive” in their moniker. But they've evolved.

While it's typically still free to view the video lectures, certain elements – such as getting access to quizzes and having assignments graded — can be behind a paywall. Also, for an extra fee, some providers offer credentialing, such as certificates or even a full degree.

MOOCs can run on set schedules, but many can be done at your own pace.

"You can do it from wherever you are in the world at whatever time you like,” Bowden says. “If you are an early riser, you can get up and watch videos, or you can do it in the middle of the night."

And there's no long-term commitment. “If it's too basic or too hard, you just drop that course and try another one out to find something that suits you,” she says.

Connecting with others

While completing a MOOC is often an individual effort, there can sometimes be a “community feel” as well, says Curt Bonk, an Indiana University educational psychology and technology professor and an editor of MOOCs and Open Education Around the World.

For instance, participants can join course discussion forums to weigh in on a certain topic or pose questions. Some instructors also use social media feeds to share information and foster discussion.

At times, learners can meet in person.

"Some MOOCs have places where you can meet,” Bonk says. “Coursera actually has designated Meetup spaces for their MOOCs. You can meet others who have taken it and talk to them about what you're learning. So it doesn't have to be such a solitary experience."

Getting started

Those interested in MOOCs can use keywords to search for course topics on sites such as Coursera, edX and Udacity, or use the search engine on Class Central.

Class Central also has lists divided into subject matter areas, such as business, computer science and personal development. In addition, it has a ranking of the highest-rated online courses across platforms.

Both Bowden and Pickard recommend the course Learning How to Learn: Powerful mental tools to help you master tough subjects, which is available through Coursera.

"I loved it,” says Bowden. “And a lot of people love it. More than two million people around the world have enrolled."