The Internet holds information on just about anything you'd ever want to know. Armed with a good search engine, there are no limits to the number of things you can learn. In fact, just using Google Maps, you can explore the oceans, look at the moon and view the most famous and influential works of art in human history. If you know where to look, you can find classes on just about any topic and keep current on just about anything.
Even though all of this knowledge exists, most of us use the Internet to comment on our friends' statuses and look at video of cats. I know that I'm just as guilty of it as anyone else. That being said, whether you're making small talk during an interview or contributing to a discussion at a networking event, having knowledge about a wide variety of topics will make you more interesting and you'll be able to impress friends, colleagues and hiring managers.
It's amazing what you can learn, if you know where to look. In order to help, here is a list of seven websites that will help you learn something new, become more interesting and impress nearly anyone:
The Art of Manliness – You don't have to be a man to appreciate this site. It's filled with tips, tricks and interesting posts about all things manly. They have instructions for how to build the perfect Dagwood sandwich, how to shave like your grandfather and tips for men about how to dress for interviews and how to successfully navigate social situations. If networking events and meeting new people scare you, this site can really help.
Coursera.org – This site combines various open source courses from many major Universities. Although you won't earn a degree here, you can attend an online course in just about any subject you want for free. If you're trying to brush up on your skills in a specific area, this is the place to look.
Lizard Point – While it isn't fancy, this site offers many different worksheets and test that focus on math and geography skills. Although it's targeted toward students, most adults would find the tests challenging.
Litro.co.uk – If you want to find a good book to read, read a great short story or join a virtual book club, this site provides all the resources you'll need.
TED.com – TED talks are becoming increasingly popular and by now, you may be familiar with them. TED gives a forum to anyone who wants to present information about a topic. On this site, you can find presentations from celebrities, leaders in industry, motivational speakers and even regular people like you or me. TED's goal is simply to share individual wisdom with the world.
Justinguitar – If you've ever wanted to learn to play the guitar, this site will help you. It's run by Justin, who has prepared and posted over 500 free guitar lessons.
Memrise – Memrise will help you learn a new language, memorize state capitals or virtually anything else you need to know. The site allows you to create flashcards and uses a mathematical formula designed to maximize your memory.
With a high-speed Internet connection, the desire to learn and the right websites, you can learn almost anything without ever having to step foot into a classroom. Take a chance. What will you learn today?
Have you ever taken an open source course or used one of these websites to learn a new skill? Please share your thoughts in the comments.
Image source: MorgueFile
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