Is there an end to curiosity and the ability to pick up new skills? Of course not! That’s why Baby Boomers are often on a quest for life-long learning. They may want to complete a degree they never had a chance to complete, advance their credentials, or simply indulge in their favorite hobbies.
This page was originally posted in May 2018 and updated in Apr 2022.
With the kind of technology we have today, you can now learn whatever you want online in the comfort of your own home using your computer. And now that we’re at home more than we care to be, why not learn something new to stimulate your mind and add more richness to your life?
Life-long learning can change your life
I’ve put together a list of online learning sites and hope you will try some of them out. You may discover a new direction in your life that will bring you more happiness, abundance, and creativity. You’ll also find connections and mentors who will help you embrace your passions and make them realities.
1. Take online college classes to enhance your credentials
edX is a site that offers online courses given by top-tier universities such as Harvard, Berkeley, University of Texas, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, the Sorbonne, and Boston University. You can earn MicroMaster’s Certificates, Professional Certificates, XSeries Programs, and University credits in a huge array of subjects.
Their most popular course is called “The Science of Happiness.” Some classes follow a fixed schedule and others are self-paced so you can complete them at your leisure. You can choose from over 1900 courses and the site serves 14 Million + learners worldwide.
The Edx mission:
At edX, we take our mission of increasing global access to quality education seriously. We connect learners to the best universities and institutions from around the world. Join us!
2. Build your skills and stay up to date
Coursera has over 40 million online learners from all over the world where students can take courses offered by Universities like Yale, Stanford, Duke, and high-tech companies like Google and IBM.
You can purchase a course certificate that provides identity verification and official recognition from the school offering the course. There are also specialization and professional certificates available in high-demand subjects like data science, business, digital marketing, and software creation.
3,900 courses and specializations, 13 + certificates, and 20 + degrees and Mastertrack Certificates.
3. Delve deeper into your interests and expand your world view
If you prefer CD and written courses rather than live online learning, The Great Courses is a site you may want to consider.. I bought their “Art of Travel Photography,” “Writing Creative Nonfiction,” and “Great Tours: Experiencing Medieval Europe” courses.
Teachers include university professors as well as other professionals in their fields. Courses run the gamut of knowledge and include Better Living, Science, History, Fine Arts, Economics, Literature, Philosophy, Religion, Music, Math, High School, and Professional. I was impressed with what I received and believe it’s well worth the investment.
4. Learn from masters in their field
Can you imagine taking a photography class from Annie Leibovitz or learn to direct with Ron Howard? Masterclass offers classes by some of the world’s greatest minds. How about a cooking class from Gordon Ramsay, screenwriting by Aaron Sorkin, or Comedy with Steve Martin? This is the caliber of life-long learning classes that are offered.
The best deal is to purchase their unlimited-access pass and it makes an amazing gift for someone you love.
Masterclass has been recommended by Today, NBC The New York Times, Billboard, ESPN, and Vanity Fair. Some new classes include makeup by Bobbie Brown, creative writing with Margaret Atwood, and self-expression and authenticity by Ru Paul. To find current classes available on MasterClass, click here.
5. Take university courses in quick easy bites
One Day University offers courses given by top college professors that you can now take online. They offer an extensive live streaming one-hour lecture series 5 days per week that you can take with an incredibly affordable monthly payment of only $7.50 per month. Plus, they have a video library of over 300 previous in-person talks that range the gamut of topics such as history, psychology, the arts, and much more.
I love that you can do this in small daily doses whenever your schedule allows and the topics are always fascinating!
Their courses are taught by the country’s finest liberal arts professors focusing on history, politics, art, music, psychology, science, literature, film, philosophy, and they have also added business education.
Start a free trial here using the code BOOMSTER that is good for 1 month.
6. Learn technical and other practical skills
Baby Boomers are reinventing themselves into all sorts of post-retirement businesses and many are working online. You can learn tech skills such as website design, social media, IT, computer software, business skills, as well as photography, health, self-improvement, languages, music, test prep and just about anything on Udemy
They have a library of over 65,000 online learning courses at reasonable prices. Work at your own pace. You can even learn using their fabulous phone app.
7. Love to travel? How many languages can you speak?
If you’re like most Americans you only speak English but that’s a shame because it’s easier to travel if you know other languages. Babbel is a smartphone app you can take with you anywhere. It is a state-of-the-art technology that makes learning a language easy.
It uses dialogue so you can have conversations and employs cognitive techniques to help you remember what you’ve learned better and longer. You’ll be able to use your new skills quickly. Why not visit their website here and give it a try?
8. Do you like to sing?
Encore University offers a multidisciplinary online arts enrichment program for older adults. They include Chorales, Rocks programs, and Sentimental Journey Singers which is a choir for those with early Alzheimers or memory impairment.
In addition, to live programs, they offer online university classes, summer camps, winter retreats, and travel abroad programs. Encore is committed to providing an excellent and accessible arts education program for older adults regardless of ability or experience. Visit their website to see what they have to offer here.
9. Learn to be a writer or blogger and get paid
If you have a desire to become a freelance writer I recommend you take a course from Great Escape Publishing. I attended their travel writer’s workshop in Denver and not only learned valuable skills but met amazing people, some of whom have written posts on this blog and have become online friends.
I decided to stick with blogging but my writing has improved immensely because of it. Many of my classmates are now award-winning writers who have bylines in a variety of publications both print and online. Great Escape’s courses are not cheap, but certainly worth it in both content and contacts.
I’ve been blogging since 2008 and taught myself how to set up sites on WordPress.
If you’d like to know more about how to start a blog using WordPress, click here.
10. Enlighten your consciousness
The Chopra Center offers classes and teaching opportunities in meditation, Ayurveda, and coaching. You can learn online or attend one of their retreats. The Chopra Center is located at the Omni La Costa Resort and Spa in Carlsbad, California near San Diego.
If you are a seeker, dreamer, or interested in the evolution of your consciousness you will love Gaia. It’s an online streaming site that provides video programming for spiritual growth, alternative health, personal development, and expanded consciousness.
Develop your intuition, learn about ancient civilizations and cultures, relieve stress, and even delve into the occult.
What are you doing to add to your own life-long-learning? Please leave a comment below.
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The movie sounds like a female version of the ’80s Rodney Dangerfield movie “Back to School” which, if I recall correctly, was pretty funny. Anyway, as a volunteer instructor at our local Center for Learning in Retirement, I wholly support lifelong learning . . . in fact, taking a history course is in part what inspired me to follow the Oregon Trail this summer.
That’s so cool, Tom and I am enjoying all the pictures. Funny you should mention “Back to School” because the guy I live with was the camera operator on that film. LOL
I agree with what you say about advancing your learning! Studying a new skill like playing the piano or sewing or auditing a course at a college is just invigorating. 3 years ago I took an accelerated course that gave me more letters after my name. It was truly the hardest thing I have done in years. I did it for me, to expand my mind and gain more insight into a field I enjoy but not for employment. That is difficult for some to understand. The commitment of time and money’ just because’ is a luxury of our age that I recommend!
That’s so wonderful that you did that, Haralee. I know it can be time-consuming and expensive but it pays off in the end and keeps your brain stimulated. I learn new things every day. When we stop it’s all over, in my opinion.
This is funny. I had a post ready to go today with educational opportunities but pushed it out when I realized it was Memorial Day. In reading yours though I don’t think we have any of the same on our posts. Isn’t it great that there are so many ways we can continue educating ourselves no matter what our age is?
It is great, Jennifer. There are so many options to learn in so many different topics and you’re never too old.
I adore that you reference current movies to launch musings about how to keep going and growing in our great ‘golden years’ A unique take!
Thanks, P.J. Movies are such a part of our lives and I’ve been seeing a bunch, lately.
I am so with you! My husband and I both love taking classes and learning new things. I think it’s so important in helping keep you feeling young!
I agree, Lois. It’s important to make the time because not only will you learn but you may make great connections as well.
I hae to admit that the majority of my “learning” is learning required by my job – keeping up with industry trends, new software, and now, how to help my employer (in an industry that can be hit hard if a hacker gets hold of our data) stay safe (and it helps me learn to stay safe at home, too). Post retirement, though, I will be looking forward to lifelong learning.
That’s great, Alana and all those skills you are learning now come in handy when you are looking for post-retirement income or projects later on.
I’m planning on starting an online writing course at some stage in the not too distant future Rebecca – because my brain needs to be stimulated every now and then – I get too complacent if I don’t try something new occasionally!
That’s a wonderful idea, Leanne. Taking a writing class has made a difference for me. I had to go back to some of my old posts and fix a few things afterward.
Thank you for compiling this list that is so important for all baby boomers. It’s particularly helpful for me because I’ve been thinking about taking an online course in writing, although I would like to go to a class since working from home is a lonely profession!
Thanks Rebecca for this wonderful article. Great job!
Future Learn is another on-line provider. They have classes from many different universities and it is free though there is an option to upgrade for continuing access which I don’t do!
Thanks for the tip, Michele. It looks like a great site to check out as well. I’m going to check into it.