Supercharge Your Education with eLearning

Jul. 18, 2024

The internet is a remarkable thing full of more diverting content and exciting products than you know what to do with – so much so it can be easy to forget just how powerful a learning tool it is also. 

After all, the internet is home to more information in one place than all the libraries and schools in the entire world, combined. Nowadays it’s almost instinct for people to fire up a search engine like Google in a bid to have their questions answered – but for those wanting to go deeper on a certain topic, there are arguably better ways. 

The world of eLearning has never been broader or more comprehensive than it is today, with big name sites and apps all vying for your attention. But how does it work? If you’re at a loss to know how to take your passive searching and trade it in for deep and bespoke learning opportunities online, simply follow our top suggestions below.

• Go to the Source

Search engines themselves do not know the answers to questions. Rather, they derive their answers from the websites they track, scrape and list in their results. In general, the best result to your question will be the top ranked link on your web search result – but not always. That’s because paid-for ads and SEO boosted sites have increasingly come to skew the picture. But fear not – there’s a simple workaround. 

All you have to do is follow the information back to its source. It’s relatively simple to find out what the leading resources in a given field are, and as this is a position they have attained through developing a good reputation for accuracy and integrity, they’re a fantastic place to learn more about your given subject.

Suppose, for example, you’re interested in learning the ropes of a classic card title such as Texas Hold ‘Em. In this case, you could do worse than seeking out the comprehensive guides on every aspect of this classic on PokerStars, a leading platform in the space. Likewise, those wishing to whip up a new scarf or jumper using crochet would be better served by hitting up the likes of EasyCrochet than relying on search results or third party sources alone.

• Ask the Robot

While talk of a total AI revolution may yet be overstated, there’s no denying the fact that large language models such as ChatGPT and Google Gemini are fantastic resources for learning. That’s because they can meet you where you’re at, and can assist you in diverse ways in meeting your learning goals. 

Suppose you’re studying for a test next week, you can ask an LLM to help you revise by going through flashcards with you or setting your pop-quizzes. Perhaps you need help building a list of references and background reading while preparing for an upcoming module – thanks to integrations with existing research journals, these tools can speed up the process of compiling that information for you to begin working on.

Of course the real utility with these products is in language. If you’re learning a new language, you can have conversations with an LLM in the dialect of your choice, and it can advise you and help you refine your grammar and syntax. 

• Go Back to School

The eLearning renaissance of recent years has been driven forward by the success of dedicated sites such as Udemy and Skillshare who host thousands of bespoke courses on everything from web design, to looking after your indoor plants. With modules, homework and direct feedback with the course curators, they’re an excellent solution for someone serious about picking up a new skill. 

Additionally, there are a wealth of apps in the educational space that are highly regarded, from everyone’s favourite language game Duolingo, to the STEM-focused Brilliant. 

The great thing about eLearning is that there are courses and classes to meet you at whatever level you want. You can even pursue full degrees or post-grad qualifications thanks to the growing body of professional educational institutions and universities now offering distance learning courses for all-comers.