Your smartphone or tablet is good for more than just posting cat videos on social media. Shocking, I know! But, consider this: Mobile devices are one of the most important developments in the history of learning technology. Period. Just think about it. Before the advent of mobile apps, if you wanted to learn anything for free there was only a handful of ways to go about it:
- Learn what you want to learn in school
- Check out a book from the library
- Find someone willing to teach you for free
- Find someone willing to pay for you to learn
- Learn the hard way, through trial and error
Of course, there was learning software long before cell phones were invented, but, like textbooks, you either had to buy it or check it out from your local library. Aren’t you lucky to be alive in the Information Age? Now, here are 5 of the best free mobile learning apps available on Android and iOS.
1. UDEMY
Udemy is an online service that offers a vast array of courses on everything from web development to personal development. Want to learn how to play the guitar? Whether you’re a beginner or a virtuoso, Udemy’s got dozens of courses to help. How about starting your own business? Yeah, they’ve got that, too. Virtually any subject you can think of, chances are Udemy has a course for it taught by an industry expert.
The Udemy app allows you to access all of your courses’ videos and learning materials on the go through your mobile device. Just keep in mind, while the Udemy app itself is free to download, you’ll have to pay for each course you take. Some courses are longer and therefore more expensive than others. The good news is Udemy frequently hosts blowout sales on many of their offerings, allowing you to buy a $100-plus course for as little as ten bucks!
2. LYNDA
Similar to Udemy, Lynda.com boasts a huge variety of courses in a whole slew of different subject areas, such as video production or software development. The Lynda mobile app likewise gives you the freedom to learn at your own pace, whenever and wherever it’s most convenient for you.
Unlike Udemy, however, Lynda’s vast library of courses is offered on a monthly subscription basis, allowing you to take as many courses as you like each month. Not sure if you want to commit to a monthly payment? You can take Lynda for a no-risk, ten-day test drive for free.
3. KHAN ACADEMY
Khan Academy is the non-profit brainchild of Sal Khan (no, not the Star Trek villain) and is one of the best learning apps available. Before founding the world-famous organization, Khan was a teacher, entrepreneur, and hedge fund analyst. In 2012, he was named by Time magazine as one of the 100 most influential people in the world.
What’s different about the Khan Academy app when comparing it to services like Udemy or Lynda, however, is that all its courses are offered 100% for free. Like, literally. You can take as many of Khan Academy’s professionally taught courses at absolutely zero cost to you. Most of the organization’s classes focus on more “academic” subjects, such as math, science, and the humanities, though there are some great courses in computer science, too.
4. TED
Touting itself as a repository of “knowledge in dangerously addictive short ideas,” TED is another non-profit organization dedicated to the spread of intriguing or inspirational thoughts, usually in videos of 18 minutes or less. These videos, dubbed “TED Talks” can be on a diverse range of subjects, from art to science to global issues. The TED mobile app gathers the entire TED video library into one place for your education and enjoyment, and all content is free to view.
5. LUMOSITY
If you want to build muscle, you go to the gym and hit the weights. But, what do you do if you want to work out your brain? The Lumosity app provides one solution by offering several series of brain-training “games” designed with the help of scientific experts and game developers. Lumosity’s brain exercises focus on improving your mental faculties, helping you learn new things, sharpen your focus, increase your retention, and solve problems faster and more efficiently. As with other apps mentioned in this list, the Lumosity mobile app is free to download to your device. But, to get the most out of the app, you might consider subscribing to Lumosity’s monthly service.