We tend to think of learning a new skill or "going back to school" as something you'd do when looking to change careers, or to upgrade within your current one.But lifelong learning has incredible benefits, both personal and professional, say researchers. It makes communities more productive and innovative, and gives employees the ability to cope with constantly changing workplaces.Lifelong learning helps us stay sharp as we age, and is also important for a successful economy.It helps us communicate better, socialize more effectively, and achieve greater success.Whether you're looking to learn how to code, build leadership skills, or otherwise improve yourself, here are 21 awesome places to learn the critical skills that will change your life:1.LifehackerOne of my favorite sites on the planet, Lifehacker is theplace to learn how to do just about anything better, faster, and smarter.2.Library of CongressMost of our national library's texts are now available online. Whatever skill it is you want to learn, you can read up on it there.3.BoundlessRemember taking on a second part-time job just to pay for your college textbooks' Boundless is shaking up the textbook industry by offering textbooks online, for free.4. UniversitiesMost universities now offer online learning courses in addition to theon-campus lifelong learning programs. Some have established entire online schools, likeColorado State's Osher Lifelong Learning Institute. If you're looking for a more traditional educational experience, check out what the universities are offering.5.Google Arts and CultureExplore the ancient and modern worlds in an incredible online resource powered by Google's Street View and mapping technology.6. TED TalksTED is another fantastic place to find actionable advice and learning opportunities created by genuine, experienced people. I've curated my favorite TED Talks for entrepreneurs, leadership training and creativity in business -- check them out for yourself. You can also visit TED Ed for its own selection of great lessons.7.Reddit LecturesThis crowdsourced collection of top lectures from professionals, academia, governments, and leaders of all stripes is unique in that the resources are upvoted or downvoted by users, in typical Reddit fashion.8.Internet Sacred Text ArchiveIt's the largest archive of free books on religion and spirituality on the internet. Read up on mythology, religion, folklore, alchemy, parapsychology, and more.9.MeetUpSee what's happening in your area and meet up with like minds to learn new skills, often free of charge. Meetups are a great way to trade experiences and learn new perspectives.10.Trivium EducationCritical thinking is an incredibly important skill, but it's not often taught in public school curriculum. Brush up on your rhetoric, grammar, and logic with Trivium's free resources.11.HubSpot AcademyHubSpot, that online marketing software giant out of Boston, offers comprehensive, user-friendly digital marketing courses. Understanding marketing is critical for any entrepreneur, whether it's a function of your daily duties or not. HubSpot Academy was one of my own top five digital marketing course picks.12.University of the PeopleBilling itself as the world's first non-profit, tuition-free, accredited, online American university, UoPEOPLE offers degree programs in Business Administration, Computer Science, and Health Studies.13.PBS VideoWatch well-researched, in-depth documentaries from PBS, free of charge online.14.Project GutenbergStudy classic literature for free with over 50,000 titles available to download from the Project Gutenberg library.15.PocketSave articles, videos and other interesting and educational content you come across online to consume later. Pocket lets you save from your browser, or from apps like Twitter or Flipboard, and you can access the content later without an internet connection.16. MIT OpenCourseWareThe iconic university offers totally free programming courses, including an introduction to computer programming course that's fantastic for entrepreneurs and beginners. It was my top choice among the nine best places to learn how to code for free.17.FutureLearnPacked with free online courses from over 40 universities, FutureLearn is a U.K. site that serves over 3.6 million learners worldwide.18.Rescue TimeLearn more about where and how you spend your time, allowing you to find efficiencythroughout the day.SEE ALSO:25 websites that will make you smarterJoin the conversation about this storyNOW WATCH: What Google, Facebook, Apple, and other popular websites used to look like
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