8 FREE ONLINE COURSES FOR TECH

Introduction to Linux
Have you always wanted to learn more about Linux but never had the extra cash to
inveset. This course offered through edX might be just what you're looking for. The
Linux Foundation partnered with edX to offer this free Introduction to the Linux that
covers familiarity with the graphical interface and command line as well as a look at
all the major Linux distributions. The course gives an over view of the day to day
working environment of a Linux administrator and covers pertinent tools and skills.
The designers of the course estimate that a total of 40- 60 hours of study are
required to accurately cover the material. Students have the option of auditing the
course, at no cost. You get access to course materials, tests, assignments and
activities. Those who audit and complete the course will receive a certificate of
achievement, but for those wanting to add it as a bullet point on their resume there
is a verified certificate available for a fee.
Google Analytics Academy
With the proliferation of the Web, online shopping and social media marketing,
competition for organic search traffic has gone through the roof. Understanding your
website's analytics can help you make better data-based decisions while at the
same time improving the customer experience. Google knows this and would love
for you to use its product, Google Analytics. So much so that they've created this
online learning center that offers courses to help you better use the hidden data
located within your site.
Building Mobile Experiences
Another MIT offering through edX, Building Mobile Experiences, looks at the
foundation for building mobile experiences. Mobile app traffic accounted for 55
percent of Web usage, surpassing desktop to become the dominant percentage of
internet traffic, illustrating the need for today's developer to become acquainted
with the process, design and skills necessary to build the next "big thing."
Based on a poplar MIT class that's been taught since 2006, Building Mobile
Experiences' primary focus explores the analysis of mobile user behavior and the
implementation of those findings in the design process. The course length is 12
weeks and requires roughly 10-12 hours of study per week. While there is some
code writing required, the bulk of the course will be designing and evaluating what a
"unique mobile experience" is.
Students can pay to receive a verified certificate of achievement or audit the course
for free and receive and Honor Code Certificate.
Microsoft Virtual Academy
Microsoft Virtual Academy offers a host of courses on mainly -- you guessed it -Microsoft products. They offer courses on everything from game to cloud to app
development and many more. There is no cost to participate but you must use a
Microsoft account and create an MVA profile. Once you're logged in you can take

courses or attend live events as well as build a learning plan and track progress
towards your goals.
Udacity
Udacity got its start when Stanford University starting offering free computer
classes in 2011. In April 2014, it boasted more than 1.6 million users. Its free tech
offerings include HTML , Python, Intro to Data Science and many more. In fact,
Google recently partnered with Udacity to bring Android development to the
masses. Individuals who access the courses for free get access to course materials,
like instructor videos and project instructions.
Alison
Alison offers an array of free online technical courses covering everything from,
building an online business, to C programming to several flavors of Adobe training.
One of their more popular tech courses is, ABC IT - Computer Training Suite which
teaches users the basics of computing.
Altogether the e-learning provider reports more than 3 million have used its
solutions to get educated and they offer more than 600 courses. They have roughly
106 technology courses available in their Digital Literacy and Skills section.
Design and Development of Educational Technology
Massachusetts Institute of Technology offers a course entitled, Design and
Development of Educational Technology via Edx, a service offering interactive online
classes and MOOCs from some of the world's most distinguished universities. The
course runs six week and requires 4-6 hours of study each week. The course itself
covers the evolution of educational technologies and how it's being used en masse.
Enrollment for the most recent ended October 8th and the course will run for 6
weeks. It's unclear at this time whether it will run again before 2015.
Harvard's CS50 Computer Science
Harvard offers this introduction to computer science. Those who participate will get
a foundation in basic coding and learn aspects of C programming, HTML, CSS,
JavaScript and SQL. This is a great, free way for individuals who want to learn to
code to get their wish. You can enroll for Harvard credit or earn a certificate of
achievement for a fee. You can also audit the course for free. Those who audit the
course and achieve a satisfactory level of work will receive an Honor Code
certificate.