Is your bookshelf filled with books on eco-friendly, sustainable living? Is your inbox filled with newsletters on the same subject? Do you have piles of green magazines? And, are you still hungry for more? There are many free green courses offered, both in your local community and online. By taking a free green course, you can broaden your knowledge of environmental issues, and even be able to add it to your resume. These courses are professional and academically backed, so you’ll be getting a true education in environmental issues.
Many universities and colleges offer free seminars and lectures on environmental issues. Such events are often taught by local professors who possess an intimate knowledge with local environmental issues, and other events might be taught by a traveling, world-renowned expert. To find an event, look on the website of local universities, colleges, libraries, and museums.
Public events are great, but most are limited to a one-time session lasting only a few hours. These events can provide you with a wealth of information, but if you’re looking for a more substantial environmental education, consider OpenCourseWare.
OpenCourseWare operates much like open-sourced software, which allows users software for their own personal benefit, and is most often published by universities. Even the most prestigious universities, such as MIT, offer free OpenCourseWare. A quick internet search will lead you to a multitude of free courses.
Courses can be found in a wide range of subjects. There are environmental science courses, as well as environmental ethics and philosophy courses. You can take a course in botany, agriculture, organic agriculture, environmental writing techniques, and more. If you want to learn about it, chances are, there’s a free OpenCourseWare course out there for you to take.
You can’t earn college credits for these courses, but there are many benefits. Unlike a traditional college class, you don’t have to be enrolled in college, and there are no fees or other requirements to adhere to. These free classes are purely for your benefit. You can work as fast as you want or as slow. These programs are great because you can learn whenever your schedule permits and have the support of knowledgeable professors.
One particular website, ocwfinder.org, is a non-profit organization that specializes in finding OpenCourseWare classes. A quick search will point you in the right direction. Even without that site, though, there are so many classes at your fingertips.
Consider participating in an OpenCourseWare class that is published by a local university. That way, you can have access to all of the university’s other benefits, such as their library. If you show proof you’re enrolled in one of their OpenCourseWare classes, you might be able to check books out. You might even be able to sit in on some of the classes at the university that pertain to the course you’re taking, enabling you to connect with others who share your interest. OpenCourseWare is a terrific way to take eco-friendly living to the next level.
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