Whether you are looking for a little added information on what you are already studying in school or would like to connect with others who share your interests as a business professional or avid hobbyist, these online communities all offer an excellent opportunity to continue your search for knowledge. From reading to learning a new language to becoming a financial wizard to travel to saving the Earth, these groups offer a chance for learning as well as reaching out to others online.
Books and Reading
These online communities are united around a love for books and reading. Find others who share your passion here.
Goodreads. Organize your books by shelves depending on whether or not you’ve read them, are reading them, or want to read them; share reviews; form virtual book clubs; and test your knowledge of book trivia at this popular social network for book lovers.
Library Thing. Another popular book site, here you can catalog your books virtually, find reviews from others, share your opinion, and more at this online book community.
Shelfari. Get a virtual bookshelf here where you can show the books you’ve read, what you want to read, and share your books and opinions with friends. This site has been rated as one of the most visually stunning social networking sites of any genre.
Bookarmy. Read reviews, get recommendations, read about authors, connect with others, and even read books online with this community that is devoted to preventing having to read bad books.
aNobii. Find members with the same book on their lists that you have and discover how others rate books, too. You can purchase books online and even get code to add to your blog to write about books.
ConnectViaBooks. When you first land on this social network, you discover an interactive map that shows the various activities of members around the world. Connect and share your love of books globally.
Booktagger. Add the books your like and tag them with descriptions, then join a book group or create your own. Make book lists organized by fun categories you create, keep track of books you’ve loaned, and more in this community.
Noting:books. Keep notes about the books you are reading, including the days you started and finished and your thoughts as you read. Share your notes with others and be sure to read members’ notebooks they keep, too.
ReadWhale. Make your book shelf, connect with others, and discuss books, with this social community. Rate your books and compare with others and share your books through Twitter.
Juicespot. Get the juice on books or spill the juice yourself at this social network for those who love books. Read articles and vote on whether you agree with the point made, see what critics have to say, and share your own reviews with others in the community.
Foreign Language
If you are learning a foreign language or would like to help others practice a new language, then check out these communities that are all about sharing a thirst for languages.
italki. This social network offers a combination of free resources and resources for a fee. Connect with other members to practice your language skills or find a teacher who is a native speaker of your target language.
Livemocha. The free options here include tips from native speakers, free online lessons, a community to practice your skills, and much more. Pay to get audio and video lessons as well as access to professional tutors.
MyHappyPlanet. Communicate with members to practice your language skills here. For an extra bonus, you can find lessons designed by other members to help boost your skills.
xLingo. Connect with others on this social network to practice a foreign language. You can also join in forums, blog, and create flashcards for practice.
VoxSwap. Participate in chatrooms and forums or connect with individuals to practice your language skills. You can also watch videos in nine different languages.
Babbel. This network offers fun language learning in English, Spanish, Italian, German, and French with community connections, online courses, videos, and more. Some of the services here are available at a fee.
Busuu. English, Spanish, French, and German are the languages of focus on this social network that provides an opportunity for members to learn together. Language courses and lessons are also available.
palabea. Learn a new language while also exploring a new culture by connecting with others in this online community.
Finance
From investing to personal finances, these online groups will help you learn the information you seek.
Zacks Investment Research. Create a portfolio, connect with community and more at this site that provides mathematically-based research to help you learn about markets and trends. Be sure to check out the Education section for investing guides and other resources.
MarketWatch Community. Members can create profiles to help connect with others, then share information, news, tips, and more to learn about the stock market and investing.
Covester. Covester allows members to watch the investment habits of other members in order to better learn how to make money through investing.
ZeccoShare. If you are learning about investing, then the community here is a great place to join. Get investment tracking, sharing of ideas and tips, and join groups where members can find support each other as they learn about investing.
UpDown. Practice investing with a $1 million portfolio while you gain experience without risking your own money. Get tips from others, and even earn real money along the way, with this community.
Minyanville Financial Infotainment. Join this financial social network to meet other investors while learning about smart investment strategies. Also participate in forums and read blogs and articles about investing.
Tip’d. For those interested in finance and investment, Tip’d offers news, tips, articles, and more. Members can vote for the most helpful resources to ensure only the best information is available.
InvestingMinds. This community offers everything from investing clubs to chat rooms and provides you the chance to learn from others and share your own investing experience.
Wesabe. Learn to manage your money while connecting with others with the same financial goals in this network. Find blogs, read news and reviews, and much more.
Kiplinger.com. Learn how to manage your personal finances wisely in this community with the tools, articles, quizzes, online forums, and more.
Art of Saving. This personal finance social network helps members reach their finance goals, such as saving for retirement or increasing net worth. Learn from experts, other members, and from webinars and events.
My.WallSt.net. Beginners can learn about investing on this social site that helps you find out about stocks, trading, and more through simulated trading. Participate in forums, read blogs and articles, and get to know the movers and shakers in the investment world.
Travel
Many say travel is the ultimate learning experience. If you love to travel, share your experiences, meet others, and plan your next adventure with these groups.
Exploroo. Explore the world via this social group before heading out in the real world. Find blogs, photos, videos, and more from members as they share their travel experiences. You can also find events, participate in forums, and read travel articles.
CouchSurfing. This unique and popular social community has members meeting online, then providing accommodations for each other at their homes after they become acquainted as they travel around the world.
PassportStamp. Track your travels on this social network. You can also get information on travel statistics and find travel tools.
TravBuddy. Share travel advice and meet other travelers on this social network. Share photos and blog about your adventures, too.
Travellerspoint. Not only can you find help planning trips here, you can also connect over past travels with photo and blog sharing as well as offering review and more.
WAYN. Whether you want to plan trips online or meet up face-to-face anywhere around the world, this social network will help you connect with others interested in travel and active lifestyles.
Driftr. Track your travels on the map at Driftr, then share with others via blogs, photos, and reviews.
tripwolf. Imagine a travel guide run by its members. tripwolf is just that, with members offering facts, tips, and more to help other members plan their perfect trip.
TripSay. Rate places you’ve been on the interactive map here and join in the community for discussions about your travels.
Dopplr. Billing itself as the social network for smart international travelers, this group allows members to share travel information, pick up on travel similarities between members, share insider tips on locations around the world, and much more.
Variety of Communities
Social justice, climate change, the arts, biographies and family history, science, and academia are all represented among these online communities.
Care2. This network focuses on environmental and social causes. MEmbers can read articles, participate in discussions, and stay on top of news and events to help promote their favorite issues.
WiserEarth. Find other people who share your passion for a just and sustainable Earth with this group. Create a group or join one that already exists to work towards issues important to you, including low impact development, ethical science, and coastal ecology.
deviantART. This community of artists share their work as well as follow other artists and participate in art critiques.
OneWorld. Filmmakers, video journalists, and anyone interested in social issues and hoping to raise awareness and affect change through visual media will find a home among the members of this network.
OneClimate. Climate change is the uniting issue of the members in this social network. Check out the newsroom, find out what actions you can take, or join groups to meet others interested in making a difference.
lifeknot. No matter what your hobby or special interest, you can find others who share your passion at lifeknot. From animal rights to candle-making to water sports, there is a group that matches your interests.
WebBiographies.com. Tell your life story or share a fascinating biography of a family member on this site that is all about sharing biographies and connecting with others. You can also create a family tree to share.
MyHeritage. A social network aimed at both families and reaching out to the community, MyHeritage allows you to connect with family members online and research your genealogy by reaching out to other members for information as well.
SciSpace.net. Scientists can collaborate and network on this social network that welcomes both scientists and non-scientists to join.
academici. For those in the business of knowledge, academici is a great place to share information, research, and more. Find others in your field of interest or upgrade to a paid membership for more advanced options here.
Whether you’re in school to become a comparative literature professor, fiction writer or just enjoy literature, you’ll find that it’s hard to fit into your schedule every kind of literature course you’d like to take. Luckily, in your spare time, you can take a look at these Ivy-League literature courses, lectures and reading lists to give you an edge in your studies or next book club meeting and allow you the opportunity to explore all the stories, poetry, authors and themes you want.
Classic, Medieval and Renaissance
Study the classics, medieval and Renaissance literature, including works by Homer, Virgil, Dante, and Christopher Marlowe in this list.
Renaissance Literature: By reading works by Christopher Marlowe, Francis Drake, John Donne and Vespucci, you’ll gain an understanding of the era’s major themes. [MIT]
Classics in Western Philosophy: Study the literature and philosophies of Plato, Aristotle and Descartes that ultimately shaped Western traditions. [MIT]
Classics Faculty: Get podcasts from the Classics department at Oxford covering classical literature, Roman comedy, and more. [University of Oxford]
The Bible: Study the Bible as a work of literature. [MIT]
Virgil’s Aeneid: Analyze each part of Virgil’s famous work here. [Stanford]
The Ancient World: Greece: In this course, you’ll gain an understanding of the political, social, religious and economic trends and values that shaped the works of Homer. [MIT]
This grouping of American literature courses covers the colonial era through modern times.
Staying Alive: This course covers the narratives of short stories, poems and novellas mostly from American writers like Stephen Crane, Nathaniel Hawthorne and Eudora Welty. [MIT]
American Literature: This American literature class is also an intensive writing class. [MIT]
American Classics: Take a look at classic American texts like The Constitution and works by Betty Friedan, Allen Ginsberg, Ralph Waldo Emerson and Frederick Douglass. [MIT]
British and Irish Literature
Study Irish writers like James Joyce, as well as iconic English authors like Jane Austen and Virginia Woolf.
Victorian Literature and Culture: Victorian literature includes important works by Dickens, Oscar Wilde, George Eliot, Robert Browning, and others. [MIT]
Tolkien at Oxford: This author profile of J.R.R. Tolkien involves his time at Oxford. [Oxford]
On Beauty: Discussion: Listen to a discussion about Zadie Smith’s On Beauty. [Stanford]
Arthurian Literature and Celtic Colonization: Study Medieval British history and societal themes by working with pieces from Geoffrey of Monmouth, Chretien de Troyes, and others. [MIT]
Women Writers
Discover how women writers have influenced fiction trends around the world.
International Women’s Voices: Study contemporary works of literature by women authors from Asia, Africa, the Middle East, Latin America and North America. [MIT]
Regional and International Literature
Check out this list for literature from France, the Caribbean, South Asia, Japan and beyond.
World Literatures: Travel Writing: Study Columbus’s Diario as a way of understanding travel writing, journaling and exploration. [MIT]
Prizewinners: Take a look at prizewinning authors from the Caribbean and Ireland. [MIT]
After Columbus: Read writings from the New World, Caribbean, South America, and Europe after Columbus opened up the Americas. [MIT]
Major European Novels: Study major works by European authors as a way of analyzing European history and to track the changing style of European writing. Readings include Don Quixote and Madame Bovary. [MIT]
Topics in South Asian Literature and Culture: This course examines topics like identity, politics, gender, castes, globalization and social change in writing from India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, and more. [MIT]
The Film Experience: Discover how stories are told in film and literature by taking this course. [MIT]
Modern and Contemporary Literature
Learn about modern and contemporary writers who have ushered in a new era of literature, like Kafka, Conrad, Nabokov, and others.
Learning form the Past: Drama, Science, Performance: Here you will gain an understanding of how the modern artistic and scientific world evolved through works by Shakespeare, Moliere, Rembrandt and Newton. [MIT]
20th Century Fiction: Discover the changes in identity, theme, sexual experience and virtue in works by Woolf, Faulkner, Nabokov, Kafka and Kipling. [MIT]
Modern Poetry: This course covers new imagery, ideas about identity and nationalism, and more from poems in the 20th century. [MIT]
Playwright Huzir Sulaiman Listen to playwright Huzir Sulaiman discuss the techniques of writing about social change. [Yale]
Remixing Shakespeare: Learn about the trends and techniques involved with modernizing Shakespeare. [MIT]
Studies in Drama: Stoppard and Churchill: Study topics like interpretation and literary history when you examine the works of Caryl Churchill and Tom Stoppard. [MIT]
Whether you are in business school or are a self-learner trying to gather the most information you can about business, blogs are an excellent way to stay on top of the latest news, information, and trends. These blogs come from such influential voices as business school professors, successful entrepreneurs, and other authorities on a wide range of topics relevant to your business education. Whether you want to learn about marketing, business in a global community, finance, economics, management, leadership, or sustainable business practices, you will find information among these blogs.
Marketing
Advertising, Internet marketing, personal branding, and responsible marketing are some of the topics covered in these blogs.
Brand New Day. This blog from BusinessWeek takes a look at advertising, marketing, and media.
John Quelch Marketing KnowHow. This professor from Harvard Business School and leader in the business world discusses marketing.
Marketing Practice. This marketing professor blogs about marketing in Indian.
The Responsible Marketing Blog. The posts here take a hard look at marketing and whether corporations are being responsible in their manner of marketing.
Dr. Neil Hair. This professor writes about marketing and the Internet on his blog, including topics such as personal branding, social media, and marketing to the consumers.
Cyberstrat. Written in French, this blog by Professor Jean-Claude Morand features marketing with a focus on Internet and technology.
Ping!. Yuping Liu discusses how marketing, technology, and consumer psychology work together in her fascinating blog.
Social Media Marketing. Tom Chapman writes about best practices in the world of social media in his blog.
Marketing Profs Daily Fix. This collaborative blog of marketing professionals discusses topics that range from social media to consumerism.
Global Business
These blogs offer a sampling of business from Japan, India, and Latin America.
Yoko Ishikura’s Blog. This b-school professor in Japan writes about business in the global community. Her blog is available in both English and Japanese.
Made in India. Navi Radjou writes about global business and innovation on his blog.
B V Krishnamurthy Bangalore Calling. This distinguished professor from India discusses international business with an emphasis on India and the U.S.
Santiago Iniguez. The dean at the international IE Business School blogs about the school and business education in his blog. Posts are in both English and Spanish.
Human Resources
Understanding human resources is an important part of any business, so keep in the know with these blogs.
Perfect Labor Storm 2.0. Learn about the trends that affect employers and their business practices with this blog that focuses on a variety of topics.
Performance and Talent Management Blog. This blog focuses on how companies can make the most of their employees, with special attention paid to strategic HR techniques.
Work-Related Blogs and News. This lecturer at Heriot-Watt’s School of Management and Languages writes about issues surrounding business and the workplace. He also includes an impressive list of workplace blogs organized by profession.
Beyond HR. Striving to go further, this blog highlights typical HR issues and offers innovative solutions.
Slow Leadership. The idea behind this organization is that management should slow down and think through decisions rather than reacting to situations and their blog includes topics to help accomplish this mission.
HR Lawyers Blog. Writing about the legal issues surrounding HR, this blog offers news and advice for those interested in the legal side of business.
Strategic HR Lawyer. This blog from an HR lawyer provides news, information, and links to additional information that pertains to HR and the law.
Past Five. Get advice about workplace and career development with this blog that takes you beyond just the 9 to 5.
Gruntled Employees. Prevent your employees from becoming disgruntled with the posts on this blog that are focused on keeping a happy workforce.
Work Smarter. Find tips for productivity, personal management, and managing others on this blog written by Gina Trapani.
Economics
Economics are the focus of these blogs written by professors and other leading authorities.
Carpe Diem. Mark J. Perry, professor of economics and finance, writes on a variety of topics at his popular blog.
The Wages of Wins Journal. These three professors of economics look at the economics of sports in their blog.
Division of Labour. This collaborative blog is focuses on US and global economics.
Organizations and Markets. Four professors from America and Europe collaborate on this blog which touches on various aspects of global economics.
CoreEconomics. Written by Joshua Gans and Mark Crosby, this blog looks at economics and strategy.
Economist’s View. Mark Thoma writes such topics as economic growth, financial markets, and more on his blog.
The Borjas Blog. Professor George Borjas specializes in labor economics and blogs about global issues surrounding immigration and labor.
The Transportationist. David Levinson and the Nexus Research Group on Networks, Economics, and Urban Systems write about urban traffic economics.
Finance
From the importance of understanding finance to investing trends, these blogs will help keep you informed about the world of finance.
Financial Literacy and Ignorance. Striving to educate, Annamaria Lusardi writes about personal finance and how much, and how little, people know about it.
ProfessorVC. This professor of entrepreneurial finance blogs about business and other interests.
Financial Intelligence. Karen Berman and Joe Knight strive to teach how financial success is measured and its impact on business. This blog is an extension of that goal.
Investing Insights. Investing trends and information for large and small investors alike appear on this blog.
Technology
Technology and business are the focus of these blogs.
Harga-Blog. Andrew Hargadon writes about technology innovation and management with an emphasis on sustainable technology.
Having IT Your Way. This blog from Susan Cramm offers technology business leadership and innovation information.
Tom Davenport The Next Big Thing. A professor at Babson College, Tom Davenport blogs about management innovations and productivity.
John Sviokla The Near Futurist. Management, innovation, and technology feature highly in this blog by a professor from the Kellogg School of Management.
The Change Master. Named one of the 50 most powerful women in the world by The Times of London, Rosabeth Moss Kanter shares her ideas on business and management.
Management IQ. Raise your management intelligence by keeping up with the posts on this blog from BusinessWeek.
Getting Ahead. Get tons of tips and advice for managing others, managing yourself, and communicating effectively in the business world with Daisy Wademan Dowling’s blog.
Upstarts and Titans. Anthony Tjan provides a wealth of advice on topics ranging from managing during a recession to running shorter and more effective meetings.
Across the Ages. Read topics touching on almost any imaginable perspective when it comes to managing in a business with Tammy Erickson’s blog.
Make Your Case. Sharpen your critical thinking skills as a manager with the case studies here that ask you to problem solve tough situations.
Management Essentials. The advice found in this blog offers opportunities for growth no matter if you are a veteran manager or a newbie.
Leadership
Make sure you have the tools and knowledge you need to become a strong leader by following these blogs.
Ed Batista. This leadership coach at Stanford’s Graduate School of Business writes about leadership and interpersonal skills.
Michael Watkins The Leading Edge. From IMD in Switzerland, this professor looks at leadership, especially at the beginning stages, here.
Professor Michael Roberto’s Blog. This professor from Bryant University focuses on leadership and strategic management in his blog.
Leadership at Work. Leadership consultant John Baldoni writes about ways leaders can build their presence and effectiveness in the workplace.
Inverted Wisdom. Management and leadership with a bit of technology are the topics among these blog posts by Vineet Nayar.
How We Work. Peter Bregman blogs about leadership, failure for success, changing corporate culture for the better, and more.
Redesigning Leadership. With a focus on creative leadership in business, John Maeda and Becky Bermont offer their experience and insight.
Frontline Leadership. Discover what business leaders can learn from the military with this blog that explores leadership in both camps.
Ask the Coach. An authority on leadership coaching, Marshall Goldsmith shares his advice on this blog.
Entrepreneurship, Innovation, and Strategy
These blogs examine issues important to entrepreneurs as well as business people interested in innovation and strategy for growing successfully.
Rita McGrath Dynamic Strategies. This professor from Columbia Business School looks at innovation and entrepreneurship with a focus on taking the risk out of both on her blog.
Innovation Insights. Scott Anthony blogs about innovation, strategy, and technology in his blog.
Experience Matters. Peter Merholz communicates his thoughts and experience with experience strategy on his blog.
Edge Economy. Umair Haque shares his thoughts on innovation and strategy for the new world of business here.
On Innovation. Headed by an entrepreneur and business professor with contributions from two business leaders, this blog focuses on problem-solving through innovation.
Free the Nonprofits. Dan Pallotta blogs about his specialty–innovation in the non-profit industry.
I Quit–Now What?. Leadership, HR, entrepreneurship, and innovation all make an appearance in this blog by Steven DeMaio.
Practically Radical. Bill Taylor examines the radical shifts occurring in business with the current economic downturn and what practical solutions may succeed.
Women in Business
Business has traditionally been seen as a man’s world. Not only is this no longer true, there are many phenomenal women making their mark on the business world. These blogs offers a sampling of issues surrounding women in business.
Winning the Talent War. Sylvia Ann Hewlett and her contributors write about women in business and the issues surrounding them.
Women’s Leadership. This blog from Babson takes a look at many topics relevant to women in leadership roles.
Lip-Sticking. The posts on this blog are written by women and examine women in business, marketing to women, and more.
Women on Business. The women writers here discuss a wide range of business topics–all with a woman’s perspective, but not all pertaining just to women.
After 55: At the top of our game. The posts here not only focus on women in business, but more specifically, older women in business.
Woman at Work. Aliza Sherman blogs about issues important to women entrepreneurs such as hiring an assistant, balancing personal and professional life, and utilizing social media.
Green Business
Sustainability and going green aren’t just buzz words. These blogs illustrate how many are making a positive impact on the environment while maintaining and growing their businesses.
sustainable business design. Written by N.E. Landrum, this blog demonstrates how sustainable business makes good sense economically and socially.
Leading Green. This blog takes a look at ways to lead your business into a greener, sustainable, and successful business.
Green Advantage. Andrew Winston discusses ideas, trends, and practices supporting green business in his blog.
GreenBiz.com Blogs. Green marketing, solar incentives, and sustainable innovation are just a few of the topics covered on the blogs found here.
Green Inc.. This blog at the New York Times examines sustainable business practices around the world.
Miscellaneous
From tips for CEOs to ideas behind recent events in the business world to research from business schools, these blogs cover quite a range of topics.
Memo to the CEO. This blog from Harvard Business Review is temporarily focusing on strategies and techniques to help CEOs better manage during an economic downturn.
HBR Editors’ Blog. The editors from HBR offer their opinions, insight, and news from the world of business.
Words at Work. Communication in the business world is the focus of David Silverman’s blog.
The Monitor Talent Group Blog. An excellent place to keep up with the latest trends and possibilities for the future of business, this blog offers cutting edge insight.
Conversation Starter. Take a look at some of the ideas (good and bad) behind recent events and trends in the business world.
Public Offering: The Columbia Business School Blog. This blog covers a wide range of news and information that will be of interest to those in business school as well as those keeping up with the latest news in the business world.
Kellogg Insight. This blog features the results of the latest research from the professors at Kellogg School of Management.
BizDeans Talk. Posts here come from several deans of business schools and focus topics surrounding business school education.
A non-profit dedicated to bringing "Ideas Worth Sharing" to the world, TED offers some of the best and brightest sharing their perspectives on technology, entertainment, and design. Many of those who speak at TED discuss topics relevant to education. The following talks include thoughts on creativity, play, technology, the future of entire countries through their children, projects to nurture learning in at-risk students, and much more. Educators from all backgrounds will find something of value from these incredible TED talks.
Ken Robinson says schools kill creativity. This creativity expert speaks about nurturing creativity in the educational setting rather than continuing with a system that kills creativity in students. This humorous talk is loaded with serious information about children being born with creativity and the educational system teaching the children to lose this creativity.
Michelle Obama’s plea for education. The first lady speaks to a girl’s school in the UK on her first official foreign business. She speaks about the importance of strength, dignity, and compassion and the importance of applying these qualities to education. She speaks to these girls about making a difference to the whole world through their education and about empowerment they can gain through education.
Patrick Awuah on educating leaders. After leaving Microsoft, Awuah returned to his home in Ghana and has helped to open a liberal arts college there. This polished speaker shares his experience in Africa and uses this experience to plead his case for the importance of incorporating a liberal arts education in order to create true leaders.
Richard Baraniuk on open-source learning. A professor at Rice University and the founder of Connexions, an open-source education system, talks about the benefits of open source for educators. Specifically, Baraniuk speaks about the drawbacks of texts books and how using online open-source information provides more current and relevant material.
David Hoffman shares his Sputnik mania. This filmmaker shares a part of his documentary, Sputnik Mania. Through this movie, Hoffman explains how it contributed to the space and arms race that, in turn, lead to an inspirational movement of math and science education.
Mae Jemison on teaching arts and sciences together. A Renaissance woman herself, Jemison discusses the importance of teaching arts and sciences together–providing an education that balances intuition and logic. Jemison asserts that by educating students in this comprehensive manner, we create strong thinkers. Without this type of education, she says, we are not responsibly looking out for the future of our society.
Sugata Mitra shows how kids teach themselves. Mitra has run several experiments in a project called "Hole in the Wall" that show children, when curious, will learn on their own without any guidance or formal teaching. Mitra speaks about his experiments, the implications of this power of learning on education, and what educators can learn from this.
Neil Turok makes his TED Prize wish. While accepting his TED prize, this physicist shares his wish to provide opportunity for the future of Africa through opening and nurturing the creativity available in the young people there. Turok uses his math and science background to understand why and how Africa has been left behind–and how we can change it.
Bill Joy muses on what’s next. Looking to the future, this co-founder of Sun Microsystems discusses how society and individuals have reacted to situations in the past. He then explores the path we can take to ensure positive growth in the areas of health, education, and technology.
Joseph Lekuton tells a parable for Kenya. This member of parliament in Kenya discusses education, both his own and the importance of education to children in Africa. He has a vision for making this education possible and shares it passionately.
Woody Norris invents amazing things. This inventor shares two of his inventions that can change the way we think about sound and also discusses his perspective on invention and education. He claims that "virtually nothing…has been invented yet" and supports education though hands-on learning.
Bill Strickland makes change with a slide show. This man grew out of a tough neighborhood where few were expected to rise above their surrounding and went on to live a successful life. Strickland found his future through ceramics, and he has watched the power of fine arts and beauty inspire at-risk children. He now advocates the arts as an important part of inspiration and education.
David Merrill demos Siftables. This MIT grad student demonstrates his invention, Siftables, which are tiny computers. These tiny computers interact in amazing ways. The educational possibilities with these "toys" is endless, including art projects, English, math, music, and more.
Ben Dunlap talks about a passionate life. This college professor shares the story of a Hungarian Holocaust survivor and his life both in Europe and America. His speech focuses on passionate living and passionate learning as learned through this Hungarian man and two other men he has known through life. Dunlap is eloquent and shares his passion well.
Jose Abreu on kids transformed by music. The founder of a Venezuelan youth orchestra, El Sistema, Abreu speaks about his wish to spread music throughout Venezuela and the world as a tool of social change and empowerment. Abreu speaks in Spanish (with English subtitles) with such passion about his vision for the future of the world.
Gustavo Dudamel leads El Sistema’s top youth orchestra. Watch this video of Dudamel and his students as they perform Shostakovich’s Symphony No. 10, 2nd movement and Arturo Marquez’s Danzon No. 2. The power of this performance is a testament to why El Sistema works.
Dave Eggers’ wish: Once Upon a School. Surrounded in a culture of educators, Eggers grew up realizing the importance of education. He talks about his tutoring center, 826 Valencia, and how it has helped and inspired others to become involved in education. The power of this tutoring center is inspirational to those concerned with education.
Tim Brown on creativity and play. Brown explores the relationship between creative thinking and play, and how this relationship can be nurtured. Using activities presented in the talk, he illustrates his points that are useful for all who work with children as well as those who want to nurture creativity in adults.
Paul Sereno digs up dinosaurs. This paleontologist describes his work and what he’s learned about prehistory and science. He also presents a teaching project designed to recruit students that might typically fail in science and technology. Project Exploration in Chicago has a great track record of helping students failing or near failing go on to college.
Jonathan Drori on what we think we know. This expert on culture and educational media offers four questions to the listeners as a starting point to explore how we get ideas in our heads and how difficult it is to shake ideas once they are there. Drori also reviews some "bad practices" that serve to reinforce wrong ideas and some better ways of helping students learn correctly.
Alan Kay shares a powerful idea about ideas. Kay talks about techniques for educating children by using computers to illustrate experiences. By looking at simplicity and complexity, traditional teaching modes that rely on complex adult ideas, and approachable methods of teaching students in ways that are more simple and intuitive.
Ann Cooper talks school lunches. Known as the "renegade lunch lady," Cooper discusses how she serves local, sustainable, and organic food to the students at Berkeley schools as the head of nutrition. She speaks about the reasons why we should care how we are feeding our children. Discussing big business, childhood obesity, sustainability. She also outlines how to change children’s relationship to food in a positive way.
Stuart Brown says play is more than fun. Brown describes why play is important and how it contributes to happy and healthy adults–not just children. Using examples from the natural world, Brown shows how play is an integral part of life and how it can change behaviors.
Nicholas Negroponte on One Laptop per Child. The founder of the MIT Media Lab, discusses his program called "One Laptop Per Child." This project hopes to build $100 pedal-powered laptops and distribute them to children in developing countries around the world in an effort to promote education. Coming from the perspective of children being the most important natural resource of any country, Negroponte’s project hopes to provide students with opportunities for their future and the future of their countries.
Bill Gates’ talk on mosquitoes, malaria and education — transcribed. In a written transcript of a speech Bill Gates gave, he talks about his project to eliminate malaria, then moves on to his second topic–how to make a teacher great. The answer is to learn from the best teachers in the country, model their teaching techniques, and provide all teachers with the tools necessary for success. He discusses the work of the KIPP charter schools and a book Work Hard, Be Nice based on the work done in these schools.
Twitter offers a real-world education, right at your fingertips. It is a wonderful tool for collecting information, much of it educational. You can find educators, librarians, museums, and more on Twitter. Read on, and you’ll find 100 of the most educational feeds on Twitter.
Educators
Here are Twitter’s professors, teachers, and other educators.
@therefore: Read @therefore’s tweets to learn about emergent communications and new media.
@mweller: @martinweller is an Open University professor.
@drkent: Check out @drkent to learn about classical composition.
@ProfCarol: Carol Dickson-Carr is a part time economics professor.
@levarburton: LeVar Burton of Reading Rainbow is an actor, director, and educator.
@lessig: @lessig offers a look into the posts of a Canadian law professor.
@hermida: You can learn about integrated journalism and new narrative styles from Alfred Hermida.
@vargasl: Learn about marketing communications from Lauren Vargas.
Open courseware classes offer a great opportunity for educators to expand their knowledge base while working at their own pace–and without spending any money. The following classes provide an opportunity for you to learn creative approaches to teaching various disciplines, reach special populations among students, bring technology in the classroom, and strengthen your abilities as an administrator or teacher.
Creative Approaches to Teaching Core Curriculum
These classes let teachers go back to school in order to bring fun ways of teaching the standards. From chemistry in the kitchen to using visualization to teach math, these classes will help you learn new ways to present old material.
Kitchen Chemistry. Practice cooking experiments while learning basic chemistry principles that you can share with your students in this course. [MIT]
Advanced Kitchen Chemistry. A follow-up to Kitchen Chemistry, this class examines topics such as cheese making, joys of tofu, and the science of spice. [MIT]
Lego Robotics. Design, build, and program functioning robots using Lego robotics, then take your knowledge back to share with your students. [MIT]
Introduction to Robotics. Find out what the class at MIT built, then learn to design and build your own robotic system in this class. [MIT]
Toy Product Design. Learn to design and prototype toys in the mechanical engineering class. Modify what you learn to create hands-on projects in your classroom. [MIT]
How to Make (Almost) Anything. Using several types of CAD/CAM machines, learn how to make almost anything in this design class. [MIT]
Practical Electronics. Learn to create practical electronic devices in this class that teaches how to create such items as remote controls, timers and clocks, and light or sound activated devices. [MIT]
Concept-Centered Teaching. Find new ways to engage your science students by helping students to better understand key concepts and eliminate student misconceptions of science education when you take this class. [MIT]
Using visualisation in maths teaching. Learn the basics of visualization, how it affects learning in mathematics, and strategies to implement visualization in the classroom. [The Open University]
Incorporating the Arts
Take these art classes that will allow you to bring something special and creative to your classroom.
Furniture Making. Study the history of furniture making, then learn how to design and build a functional piece of furniture of your own creation. Take what you learn back to your classes for a great hands-on project. [MIT]
Introduction to Sculpture. Using a variety of mediums, you will learn about sculpture while you create a piece of your own. Share this knowledge with students to expand your history, social studies, or English classes. [MIT]
Creating musical sound. This class makes a scientific exploration of the many ways sound is made on musical instruments. Incorporate what you learn in science, history, and social studies. [The Open University]
Documentary Photography and Photo Journalism: Still Images of A World In Motion. Gain an introduction to documentary photographers and photojournalists while also creating your own photo documentary in this class. This is great for sharing with students who may be working on family history or community projects. [MIT]
Picturing the family. A good class to help learn about history and culture, this course provides an in depth analysis of historical family photos including technical details as well as several cultural aspects captured in the photos. [The Open University]
Introduction to Video. Learn about video recording and editing and about telling a story through videography in this course. [MIT]
Producing Films for Social Change. Here you will learn how to create a film promoting positive social change and also gain production and editorial skills in the class. [Tufts University]
Using film music in the classroom. Use familiar film music as a tool to teach various aspects of music to students or to open up discussion on art and culture. [The Open University]
Reaching Special Populations
From early childhood to bilingual students to those in special education, learn how to connect with students in a new way.
Infant and Early Childhood Cognition. Learn how infants and young children’s minds perceive the world while also learning about research within this field. [MIT]
Understanding dyslexia. Learn about dyslexia as well as treatment and management techniques in this course. [The Open University]
The Linguistic Study of Bilingualism. Learn about the roots of bilingualism, various implications of bilingualism, and educational repercussions of bilingualism in this class. [MIT]
What children’s perspectives tell us about inclusion. Meet children learning in inclusion classrooms and learn their perspectives on such issues as play and learning, gender, and mixed-abilities within the classroom. [The Open University]
Inclusive education: knowing what we mean. This course explores the definition of inclusion, the various models, and several inclusion topics–including determining which students should be involved in inclusion and the potential implications of inclusion. [The Open University]
Autism Theory and Technology. Learn about autism, working with autistic students, and current technology that works to improve opportunities for autistic students in this course. [MIT]
Accessibility and eLearning. Study accessibility, assistive technology, and how it enhances the educational experience of student with disabilities. [The Open University]
Technology in the Classroom
These classes will help you bring technology into your classroom to enhance your students’ learning experience.
Art and Technology. Find out about the relationship between art and technology both throughout history and as it presents itself today. [Capilano University]
Blogs, Wikis, New Media for Learning. Learn the basics for many different web 2.0 technologies that you can implement in your classroom such as blogging and using wikis. [Utah State University]
Understanding Online Interaction. Explore how people communicate online as well as learn how to design environments on the web that are conducive to learning. This is a great course for teachers who enjoy incorporating blogs or web sites in their classes. [Utah State University]
Take these courses to help strengthen your abilities as an administrator. Both your students and teachers are sure to benefit from your new knowledge.
Economics of Education. This course studies the implications of various educational issues on economics and explores such issues as the effectiveness of mid-career training for teachers and the implications of college financial aid. [MIT]
School business manager: developing the role. This British course explores the reasons that managing the school as a business has become necessary as well as effective ways do so. Much of this class can also apply to American school systems. [The Open University]
Technological Tools for School Reform. By looking at progressive charter schools, examine a case study of school reform using technology as the basis of change, look at the state of school reform, and think about ways to positively shape school reform. [MIT]
School governors: planning for improvement. This course offers suggestions for ways to plan for improvement in your school while taking into consideration the needs of all those involved from teachers to students and beyond. [The Open University]
School governors: organisation and practice. This model from the UK offers an overview and roles of each player in the school governance body and provides tips on effectively using each to the best of their ability. American teachers don’t have to worry about the British content as much of the information carries over. [The Open University]
Communicating Across Cultures. As globalization has become a reality, learn its effects on society and find out how you can become more culturally sensitive to those around you, including students and teachers at your schools. [MIT]
The Art of Teaching
Teaching is an art form in itself, so take these classes to continue learning and shaping the talent you already share with your students.
Gender Issues in Academics and Academia. Gender differences in learning and how it impacts the classroom experience is the focus of this class, as well as how gender issues affect those in academia. [MIT]
Thinking about how I work with other professionals. This course allows self-exploration as you examine the ways you work with other teachers and administrators. It also allows for self-reflection on how to improve your working relationships while maintaining your values and beliefs. [The Open University]
Introduction to Teaching and Learning Mathematics and Science. This course takes the student through the experience of teaching and offers hands-on opportunities to learn about both teaching and the students’ learning in the classroom. This may be a good refresher course for teachers who have been out of school for a while. [MIT]
Working with young people: roles and responsibilities. Learn about the different roles adults play in the life of young people, discover the role you play as a teacher, and learn to develop the role model you wish to be for your students. [The Open University]
Teaching for good behaviour. This course explores the ways you can set up your lessons to engage students while minimizing problem behavior. Learn to adjust lesson format, delivery, and content for great results. [The Open University]
Evaluating school classroom discussion. Discussion is an important part of the classroom experience. Find out how to successfully implement discussion in your classroom to better facilitate the learning process for your students. [The Open University]
Enhancing pupil learning on museum visits. It’s no big news that students learn in different ways. This class helps you embrace these differing learning styles while on museum field trips. [The Open University]
Teach Global. Learn about the Teach Global program in this course where you can also find resources about the program and learn about other similar courses. [The Open University]
Introducing observational approaches in research with children and young people. Observation and research are the focus of this class where you will learn about observation as a research tool, the differences between quantitative and qualitative research, and learn the difference between describing and explaining in a research study. [The Open University]
Exploring K-12 Classroom Teaching. This course takes a look at methods of teaching student-centered classrooms while examining various student needs within those classrooms. [MIT]
How to Learn (Almost) Anything. This class looks at learning as a process through hands-on activities. You will participate in a variety of learning situations as a part of the class. [MIT]
The Creative Spark. This course teaches about the creative process–what it is, how it’s valued, and how it grows. Students will create journal writings and study artists of various media to explore creativity. [MIT]
Librarians need to be on the constant cutting edge in terms of technology, researching, web tools and even architecture and design. But libraries are also a great place to educate the public and your students about the environment, from eco-friendly lifestyle choices to organizations that promote green causes. Here are 100 ways to make your library a little greener.
Maintenance and Green Building
Keep your library clean and eco-friendly with these tips.
Turn down the heat one or two degrees: Care2 writes that "each 1-degree drop for an eight-hour period reduces your fuel bill percent," saving you money and cutting down on electricity usage.
Use fans: If you can, install ceiling fans to cool down the library without overusing the A/C.
Take advantage of windows: Strategically placed windows will provide natural light and may help with heating or cooling costs.
Use eco-friendly light bulbs: Switch to eco-friendly light bulbs that save money and electricity.
Use Energy Star products: Products with the Energy Star have been approved by the U.S. government as energy-saving products.
Switch to safe cleaning products: Use cleaning products that are safe for your library materials, your patrons, and the environment.
Use recycled paper: Put recycled paper in the printers, and use recycled notebooks, poster board, napkins, and more.
Keep up with the U.S. Green Building Council: Join a local chapter, find building guidelines, look for builders, and more.
Recycle ink cartridges: Recycle your library’s ink cartridges instead of just throwing them in the trash.
Re-insulate your library: Re-insulate your roof, windows and any other openings to cut down on excess electricity costs.
Fix leaks: Stop wasting water by fixing any leaks in bathrooms, kitchens and in the basement.
DIY your own green remodeling project: Even if you don’t have the budget for a whole new building, follow these guidelines for small but significant steps you can take to remodel your library so that it’s greener.
Hardware
Learn how to choose the right computers and resources by reading this list.
Purchase eco-friendly computers: When you need new computers, search for eco-friendly versions.
Use laptops: Laptops use less electricity than desktop versions.
Know how to clean your computers: Eco-friendly, safe computer cleaning tips include using biodegradable dust cloths and old t-shirts.
Recycle computers: Safely recycle computers instead of harming the environment when you throw them away.
Buy recycled items: Buy recycled ink cartridges and other supplies.
Consider the Kindle 2: It’s expensive and may upset some reading purists, but the Kindle 2 is an eco-friendly reading tool. Purchase one for the library to spread awareness to readers.
Turn off computers: Save energy and money by turning off computers at night.
Special Events and Projects
Host special events like contests, and go after environmental grants to raise awareness and become a greener library.
Apply for grants: Certain grants awarded by environmental agencies or the government will help your library with funding for green projects and renovations.
Start a paper drive: Ask the public and your students to bring in old newspapers and other papers to recycle: they may even be turned into books one day!
Hold recycling contests: Hold recycling contests between grades, individuals, or against other libraries.
Apply for green awards: Find out if your state or community offers an award for libraries who go green.
Put up a display about reducing your carbon footprint: Put together a presentation or display to discuss each person’s carbon footprint.
Sponsor a field trip: Whether you’re a public library or an academic or school library, sponsor a field trip to an environmental agency or project in your area. Car pool if you can.
Invite special guest speakers: Educate your patrons by inviting professionals who work for environmental causes to give a presentation.
Make your own paper: Show kids and patrons what it takes to make your own recycled paper.
Start an arts and crafts event: Show patrons the cool items you can make out of recycled items, including recycled books.
Sponsor an essay contest: Sponsor a kids’ essay contest, and ask them to write on any environmental issue they care about.
Write a petition: If your library needs help raising money or supporting an environmental cause, ask your patrons to sign a petition.
Support local artists: Sponsor an artist’s fair at your library every so often as a fundraiser and a way to show off artists’ eco-friendly designs.
Awareness
Spread awareness about your green policies through these projects.
Sell Fair Trade coffee in your snack area: Fair Trade coffee is used in many academic libraries and is made in humane, eco-friendly conditions.
Go all out for Earth Month: It’s not just about Earth Day anymore. Use the whole month of April to showcase your library’s green progress.
Sell eco-friendly snacks and drinks: Sell drinks and snacks that are bottled and packaged in eco-friendly materials.
Use an eco-friendly car as your bookmobile: If your budget allows for a bookmobile, lobby for an eco-friendly vehicle to drop off books.
Abide by the 100-mile rule: Provide food that is from within 100 miles of your community to ensure that you’re supporting local farmers and cutting down on pollutants from shipping food.
Start a blog: Spread awareness about your library’s green activities by blogging about it regularly.
Honor your "greenest" library patrons and professionals: Instead of Employee of the Month, fuss over the employees and patrons who are the most supportive of your green policies each month.
Support the EPA National Library Network: The Environmental Protection Agency is building up its resources on environmental protection, the basic sciences, engineering, and more.
Celebrate reading: Reading is a relatively eco-friendly activity, especially when books are made out of recycled materials and are checked out by more than one person.
Highlight environmentally-conscious writers: Authors who write extensively about nature, land and the environment–like Steinbeck or Wordsworth–deserve recognition, as do more contemporary writers.
Customize your home page: Customize your library’s home page to underscore all that you’re doing to go green.
Using the Web
Take advantage of all the web tools and sites you can use to cut down on paper.
SecondLife: Hold meetings and organize training workshops online through the virtual world SecondLife instead of requiring employees to drive to retreats.
Move accounts online: Cut down on paper notices and make it easier for patrons to keep up with their accounts by making them accessible online
Create an online catalog: Cut down on paper by moving your catalog onto your website.
Send e-mail updates: Instead of mailing out paper newsletters, create e-mail campaigns to announce special events and keep in touch.
WorldCat: Connect with other libraries around the world to share information electronically.
Move archives online: Put newspaper and magazine archives online to help preserve the originals.
Monkey on Your Back: Send memos and reminders via this online service, rather than wasting paper and sticky notes.
Backpack: Use Backpack to share information, announcements, task lists and files with those who work in your library. It’s all online, cutting down on paper and clutter.
Facebook: Create a Facebook page for your library to keep in touch with patrons, list events and announcements, post pictures, and more.
Basecamp: Basecamp is another online tool that lets you organize your team.
Outdoors
Don’t forget to turn your outdoor environment into a greener, more sustainable spot.
Start an organic garden: Grow a garden to spread awareness on sustainability and provide a healthy eating option for participating library patrons and workers.
Plant flowers: Show pride in your environment by planting in-season, local flowers and shrubs.
Use safe pesticides: Safe and/or natural pesticides will help keep your plants healthy without damaging your health or the environment.
Compost: If you’re allowed, get rid of waste by composting.
Minimize formal landscaping: Cut down on excessive landscaping that rips up the natural environment.
Plant trees: If you do need to eliminate trees from your building project, plant a new one in a better spot.
Host events outdoors: Get people outside and aware of their environment by hosting special events, like reading days, outside.
Be aware of dumping and runoff laws: Make sure your library isn’t leaking any pollutants into a nearby water source, and that you dump trash in zoned areas.
Pick up trash: Keep empty trash cans around your premises so that it’s easy for patrons to properly dispose of garbage.
Networks
Make sure your library is tuned in to the latest environmental news and trends by networking with these organizations and through these platforms. You’ll find materials for educating and engaging your patrons, too.
Care2: Care2 is a social network that organizes people who want to make a difference by living green.
TreeHugger: Learn about the latest trends in green design, food, fashion, building, travel and technology.
U.S. Fish and Wildlife: Learn about environmental contaminants, pollutants that hurt animals and natural ecosystems, and how you can help.
United Nations Environment Programme: This network discusses natural disasters and global conflicts, ecosystem management, pollutants, resource efficiency, climate change, and more.
EnergyStar: Learn about environmentally safe electronics, lighting solutions, heating and cooling resources, and more.
National Audubon Society: Discover how your library can support this wildlife protection agency through special projects, field trips and sponsorships.
Natural Resources Defense Council: This organization tackles everything from global warming and green living to environmental policies and more.
The Nature Conservancy: The Nature Conservancy has lots of information about protecting the environment. Your library can pick from lots of different causes to support, like the Atlantic forest, the fresh water initiative, global warming, and more.
National Geographic Society: The National Geographic Society is an educational organization that has plenty of tools and materials for learning about the environment and discovering how to care for it.
Earth 911: Get your patrons involved on this site, which explains how to recycle different materials and where to find recycling centers in your area.
Must-Read Resources
Librarians conscious about green projects will need to keep up with these blogs and resources.
The Green Library Blog: Read this blog to learn about green library news and to get tips on how you can improve your library.
Encourage employees to car pool: Help your employees set up a car pool or van pool so that they can cut down on pollutants.
Support local businesses: Try to buy supplies and other items for businesses in your area.
Turn out the lights: Turn out lights when they’re not being used, especially in conference rooms, special collections rooms, and study rooms.
Recycle paper into notebooks: Use these recycled notebooks for memos and scratch paper.
Purchase recycled books: If you can, start purchasing books made out of recycled materials for your library.
Hook up several computers to the same printer: This popular method saves electricity, paper (since you don’t have to continuously stock several different printers), and money.
Use eFax: This online version of a fax service cuts down on wasted paper.
Reward green drivers: Reserve the closest parking spots for those who car pool and drive eco-friendly cars.
Use hand sanitizer: Put out hand sanitizer to cut down on over-washing your hands in the bathroom.
Set up a bike rack: Set up a large bike rack in front of your library to encourage patrons to ride their bikes instead of drive to the library.
Write on both sides of the paper: Use up every inch of scratch paper before throwing it away.
Subscribe to newsletters, magazines and special catalogs online: Many catalogs and newsletters offer an online or eco-friendly option that saves wasted paper and eliminates junk mail.
Set up recycling bins outside: Besides encouraging patrons to recycle indoors, turn your parking lot into a community recycling center, with bins for newspapers, aluminum, glass, and more.
Buy pillows and furniture made of eco-friendly items: Support local furnishers and companies that use eco-friendly, humane methods for manufacturing eco-friendly items.
U.S. Presidents have to manage a mind-boggling range of issues, from international affairs to domestic cultural issues to the environment to national security to economics. And just as no presidents deal with the same exact issues in the same circumstances, no presidents have prepared for the job in the same way. Some presidents enjoyed long careers in politics and studied political science, U.S. history and international relations, but others had careers in journalism, education and even geology before entering into politics. Read on to discover the 10 most surprising majors in presidential history.
William Henry Harrison: William Henry Harrison is unfortunately most famous today for dying in office after contracting a bad cold virus. The ninth President of the United States, and the last president born before the American Independence was also a medical school dropout, and only boasted 32 days in office.
Ronald Reagan: Ronald Reagan’s legacy includes the end of the Cold War and the toppling of the Soviet Union, as well as the U.S. Republican Revolution, which re-strengthened the Republican party for decades. Before getting into politics however, the 40th President of the United States was an Illinois-born actor who enjoyed a successful film career in Hollywood in the 1930s - 1940s, even serving as 3rd Vice President of the Screen Actors Guild after serving in the military. His dual major at Eureka College in sociology and economics no doubt helped him for each of his future careers.
Jimmy Carter: Jimmy Carter, the 39th President of the United States, is still regarded for his peace-keeping projects and sensibility. The Georgia-born Carter was actually the first president born in a hospital, in 1924. He attended Georgia Southwestern College and Georgia Tech, studying mathematics but never graduating from either. Ultimately, Carter enrolled in the U.S. Naval Academy and graduated 59th out of 820 students.
Warren G. Harding: Warren G. Harding, the 29th U.S. President, does not have a very positive political legacy and favored friends from his Ohio circle when picking Cabinet members. But before entering politics, Harding was a prominent newspaper publisher in Marion, OH. He attended Ohio Central College in Iberia, where he studied printing and journalism.
Lyndon B. Johnson: LBJ is one of U.S. history’s most controversial presidents, due to his failure in Vietnam. But LBJ also played a significant role in progressing the civil rights movement and NASA. Johnson–who, as Vice President, succeeded President John F. Kennedy when he was assassinated–had humble beginnings and was born in a farmhouse in south central Texas. Johnson studied education at the Southwest Texas State Teachers’ College and favored teaching Mexican immigrant children in Cotulla and Pearsall, TX, before taking a position as a public speaking teacher in Houston. As President, Johnson continued to support education and even signed the Higher Education Act of 1965, which created scholarships and increased the amount of federal money given to colleges and universities.
Herbert Hoover: Though when he was sworn in to office as the 31st President Hoover had no previous experience as an elected official, Hoover was a Renaissance man for the times. He was an author, a mining engineer and had served as the United States Secretary of Commerce under Presidents Harding and Coolidge. He was also in the first class at Stanford University in 1891, where he studied geology. As for his legacy, Hoover was harshly criticized during and after his Presidency for his treatment of the 1929 stock market crash and heavy taxation laws.
George H.W. Bush: George H.W. Bush was the 41st U.S. President and had served as Vice President under Ronald Reagan and as Director of Central Intelligence under Gerald R. Ford. He was part of the Republic Revolution inspired by Reagan but was unable to get reelected against Democrat Bill Clinton after his first term. After World War II, during which Bush served as a naval aviator, he attended Yale University, where he studied economics, perhaps a surprise since Bush’s economic legacy was used against him by the Clinton camp during the 1992 presidential campaign.
George W. Bush: George W. Bush, 43rd President of the U.S. and son of President George H.W. Bush, enjoyed serving for two terms but has an uncertain legacy as the Commander in Chief who started the second Iraq War, detained prisoners at Guantanamo Bay and pursued the phantom Weapons of Mass Destruction. Bush, considered to be the cowboy president, is also the only president to have an MBA, which he earned in the 1970s from Harvard Business School.
Harry S Truman: Harry S. Truman was Franklin D. Roosevelt’s Vice President and succeeded him after he died during his third term, in 1945. When Truman became President, he was almost immediately in charge of making the decision to drop the atomic bomb in Japan. Though Truman studied law for a couple of years and had solid experience in politics–serving as county judge, U.S. senator and Vice President before becoming President–he never earned a degree from college.
Woodrow Wilson: President Wilson, most famous for helping resolve the post-WWI treaties and helping start The League of Nations (which the U.S. never joined) also has a Nobel Peace Prize and was the President who first declared national Mother’s Day. Earlier in life, however, Wilson was an esteemed faculty member at Bryn Mawr College and Wesleyan University, as well as the first Constitutional Law lecturer at New York Law School, which is better known today as New York University School of Law. The Woodrow Wilson School of Public and International Affairs at Princeton University is also named for him. Wilson was himself a dedicated student. He graduated from Princeton in 1879, attended one year of law school at the University of Virginia, and ultimately earned a Ph.D. in history and political science from Johns Hopkins University in 1883. He is the only U.S. President to have earned a doctorate degree.
Personal development can affect all aspects of your life, from controlling your negative thoughts to gaining the self-confidence to excel at work. If you’re in need of some inspiration to get you on the right road to improving yourself, the Internet is full of blogs that can offer guidance, advice and support to aid you in your journey. We’ve brought together 100 here, in no particular order, to help you get started.
Must Read
These are some of the most popular personal development blogs out there, so make sure to add them to your bookmarks.
Lifehack.org: Check out this site to find tips, how-to’s and insightful articles to help you develop your inner strength, perform better at work, boost your productivity and much more.
Zen Habits: Blogger Leo offers his insights into how to live more simply and purposefully in this blog.
David Seah: This designer and author blogs about productivity and empowering yourself.
Dumb Little Man: Don’t be fooled by the name of this blog, the posts in it are hardly dumb. You’ll find advice on saving money, being productive and finding a happier you.
43 Folders: Productivity expert Merlin Mann gives advice on this blog on all kinds of things tat can help you get more done, from fighting procrastination to changing the way you use technology.
Steve Pavlina.com: This well-known blogger has a site full of great articles to help you in your personal development. From making goals to helping yourself to achieve them, you’ll find advice and support every step of the way.
LifeHacker: Want to streamline your life? This site provides tips on using technology to save you time as well as some great general ideas for boosting productivity and living healthier.
Cultivate Greatness: Follow the tips and advice in this blog to find more satisfaction and success in your life.
Personal Development Blog: Gleb Reys chronicles his own personal development in this blog as well as providing tips to others who want to improve themselves.
The Positivity Blog: Learn to look on the bright side with this blog. You’ll also learn to improve your communication skills, fight procrastination, and more.
Web Worker Daily: Whether you work on the Web for your job or just want to learn how to use it more productively, this site is a great repository of articles.
The Lazy Way to Success: Why do more when you can do less? This blog explains how to get more done in less time and leave yourself with time to do the things you really love.
Work Development
Learn to take control of your career and get things on the right track with a little help from these work-related sites.
Slacker Manager: This blog is all about helping you figure out ways to be more productive when you are working so you have more time for all the other important things in your life.
Instigator Blog: Blogger Benjamin Yoskovitz provides readers with tips and advice on being more successful in work and making more money on this blog.
Ian’s Messy Desk: Here you’ll find some assistance in getting your work life organized, being productive and meeting your personal goals.
Escape from Cubicle Nation: If you’re dreaming of a job that doesn’t involve spending 40 hours a week in a tiny cubicle, check out this blog. You’ll find helpful advice on getting motivated and getting that dream job (or at least one that doesn’t involve a cubicle.)
Business Hackers: Check out this site to find small tips on saving money at work, getting more done and being more successful.
Open Loops: Even if you have a fully booked schedule, this blog will help you find ways to squeeze in time for yourself with productivity and time management advice.
Trizoko: Whether you’re looking to build up your confidence as the owner of a start-up or just stop procrastinating on that big project you’ll find helpful advice here.
Manager Tools: With tips on using technology, overcoming obstacles at work and boosting management skills, this blog is an essential read for managers looking to get ahead.
All Things Workplace: Blogger Steve Roesler uses this blog as a platform for "teaching smart people practical ways to become extraordinary."
Managing with Aloha: If you love the Hawaiian way of life and think it has something to offer your workplace environment, check out this blog.
Slow Leadership: This blog understands that big chances don’t come overnight. Posts focus on the slow and steady path to a better you at work.
Dave Cheong: If you’re in a need of some small tips to improve your work performance, check out this blog. You’ll learn how to stop procrastinating and get more done.
The Cranking Widgets Blog: Here you’ll find tips and tools for becoming a more productive person at work, but the advice is good for any situation where you need to get things accomplished.
Sparkplug CEO: Don’t just be a CEO, be extraordinary at it with a little help from this blog.
Pimp Your Work: This blog is all about improving your work day efficiency and finding a good work-life balance.
Get Organized
It’s hard to get much accomplished when you’re living in clutter. These blogs are dedicated to helping you get organized.
Organize IT: From organizing your closet to living a simpler life, this blog can be a big help in getting your life more organized and under control.
My Simpler Life: Get some tips on creating a "saner, simpler life" from this site, with tools like a clutter calendar and simplicity tips.
Neat and Simple Living Blog: Here you’ll find support on letting go of the clutter, organizing your home and getting more done.
Unclutterer: From sorting out emails to create organized storage closets, this blog is full of tips and ideas to quit the clutter.
Organised Life: When you’re organized, you’ll get more done as blogger David MacKay explains on this site.
Orderly Manor: Even if your home doesn’t fall under manor status you can still get some valuable organization tips from blogger Patty McPherson here.
Organized Home: Find tips on cleaning decluttering and organizing your home on this blog.
Get Organized!: This blog is home to tons of motivational and instructional posts to help you get on the track to total organization.
The Clutter Diet Blog: Professional organizer Lorie Morrero provides tips, advice and loads of helpful articles on this organization blog.
Organized With Style: Being organized doesn’t have to be boring. Learn how to do it with a style of your own with this site.
Make Use Of: Organization isn’t just about your home. This site can provide lots of software and online tools to get your digital life tidy as well.
Your Life. Organized: Organizing expert Monica Ricci provides helpful advice on organizing your home, office and more on her blog.
Financial Development
These blogs will help you get your finances in order and put your mind at ease.
Wise Bread: This blog will help you learn to live within your means and save where it matters most.
The Simple Dollar: Here you’ll find tips and tools to help you bring your financial life under control.
Get Rich Slowly: From financial hacks to tools to help you calculate your finances, this site is a great place to find advice on building a solid personal finance plan.
Frugal for Life: If saving money is your goal, this site is full of tips and ideas on living simply and spending less.
My Money Blog: This blogger shares their net worth, investment advice and tips on when to save and when to spend.
Bargaineering: If you want to "engineer a richer life" check out this money-focused blog.
PFBlog: Check out this network of personal finance blogs to get tons of ideas, advice and information on money management.
Free Money Finance: Get tips on growing your net worth and managing your finances from this blog.
The Frugal Duchess: This blogger is all about sharing her tips for saving you money on just about everything.
A Penny Saved: Take your personal wealth building penny by penny with this blog.
Consumerism Commentary: If you’ve fallen into the trap over being too much of a consumer and not enough of a saver, check out this blog for advice on taxes, saving and budgeting.
Coaches and Consultants
Get some advice from these professionals in personal development.
Matt’s Idea Blog: Matthew Cornell, productivity consultant, writes in his blog about ways readers can get more work done, find time for personal interests and much more.
Life Coaches Blog: Written by a group of life coaches, this blog is a great place to find ideas on better time management, getting more done and finding happiness.
Your Life- Inspired: Life coach Shannon Wilkinson offers her advice and support on building a happier, healthier life on this blog.
Achieve IT!: Brad Isaac aims to help readers set and meet their goals, with helpful posts on everything from being happy at work to creative productivity.
Passion Meets Purpose: This blogger and life coach provides tips and tools to help you learn to manage time, get more done and make the most of your work.
Craig Harper: Craig Harper is a motivational speaker and life coach, and he shares the same messages from his speeches in his blog to help you reach personal fulfillment.
Make It Great!: Phil Gerbyshak is an author in both the online and printed spheres and offers his two cents on making life fun anywhere.
Laura Stack: Laura Stack has dedicated her life to helping others be as productive as possible and you can benefit from her advice on her blog.
The Daily Saint: Blogger and productivity guru Mike St. Pierre offers some great tips on this blog to help readers reach the ideal balance of work and personal time.
Thinking Faster: Author Jeffery Phillips writes this blog dedicated to "ideas, tools and processes to improve personal, workgroup and enterprise productivity and innovation."
Empowerment 4 Life: Here you’ll find some great motivational posts to encourage you to live a better, happier life.
Self-Improvement
These blogs are all about helping you be happier and more satisfied with your life.
Ririan Project: This site is chock-full of easy-to-read and fun articles all about productivity, health and living a better life.
Pick the Brain: With posts on motivation and self-improvement, this blog can help you learn to do things like take criticism, manage your money and much more.
Brian Kim: This blogger believes success begins with yourself and offers tips on building up yourself to help you follow your dreams.
Aim for Awesome! Here you’ll get back to the basics of personal development with a philosophy that focuses on smiles, smarts and success.
Illuminated Mind: Billed as the "less boring side of personal development", this blog is all about helping readers get happy and stay that way.
Alex Shalman: Blogger Alex offers practical advice for readers to make real changes in their lives and start towards positive personal development.
The Happiness Project: Looking for some ideas on how to be happier? This blog is all about, sharing thoughts on what works and what doesn’t.
LifeDev: Learn how to take care of yourself, your job, your relationships and your life with advice from this personal development blog.
Life Optimizer: With posts that focus on increasing personal effectiveness, following your dreams and finding success, this blog is great source of inspiration and guidance.
Change Your Thoughts: Blogger Steven Aitchison shares his thoughts on what it takes to find a fulfilling life through the posts on this blog.
Life Reboot: Whether you want to change something little in your life or make a total overhaul, this blog offers loads of little tips to make the transition easier.
Life 2.0: Here you’ll find numerous inspirational posts that can help you on your path to self-realization.
My Empty Bucket: This blog wants readers to feel more fulfilled, happier and successful and offers a variety of tips and advice.
Success Begins Today: While many of the tips on this blog focus on productivity, readers will find other posts that are all about finding happiness, overcoming problems and meeting goals.
Productivity
Learn to get more done with your time from these blogs.
Productivity 501: Here Mark Shead offers some simple tips that can help you improve your productivity.
The Four Hour Work Week Blog: While not everyone can pare down their work week to just four hours, this blog is still a valuable read for anyone who wants to spend less time working and more time enjoying life.
GTD Wannabe: This blog is home to tons of tips and hacks designed to help you make easy work out of your daily work or household chores.
To-Done: From tips on sleeping better to ideas on getting more done in a day, this blog is full of a variety of productivity tips.
ProductivityGoal: Learn how to manage time better, get organized and ultimately accomplish more in a day with this blog.
LifeClever: Here you’ll find all kinds of productivity tips that can ensure that you save time doing everything from buying gas to looking for a paperclip on your desk.
Productivity Cafe: Get some advice from productivity consultant Susan Sabo on this blog to help you be more productive on the job.
Black Belt Productivity: This blog is home to a variety of tips on better time management as well as posts that offer suggestions for tools that can help make this easier to do.
Simple Productivity Blog: Pare down your day to the bare essentials and get more done with this time-management and organization focused blog.
What’s the Next Action: Here you’ll find advice on following the GTD (Getting Things Done) method laid out by productivity guru David Allen.
Steve Olson: With posts on personal development as well as productivity, this blog is a great one-stop shop for all things life improvement.
Effective Time Management: Being good at managing your time can make or break your productivity goals. Get some advice on making the most of every minute from this blog.
Miscellaneous
These blogs address a wide range of issues from improving at school to getting healthier.
Academic Productivity: Those working in academic fields can benefit from these tips, geared especially towards the intellectual lifestyle.
Parent Hacks: Who doesn’t want to be a better parent? This blog is full of valuable tips on dealing with a range of parenting issues.
Success from the Nest: This blogger balances work, family and everything else and shares tips on productivity and more here.
One Big Health Nut: Get some insights on improving your health and feeling better physically and mentally from this blog.
Scott H. Young: Check out this blog to get insights into productivity, communication and studying from a college student.
Goals Success: If you’re struggling to learn how to set meaningful goals for yourself then check out this blog, full of ideas.
Patrick Rhone: From organization to productivity, you’ll find advice on it all here.
Eric Mack On-Line: Get some insight from the tech side of things on this blog written by Eric Mack.
Marc and Angel Hack Life: This blogging couple shares their insight into happiness, life and love on their blog.
GearFire: Give this blog a try if you’re looking for some ideas on how to improve your academic success.
Doug Belshaw: With posts on education, productivity and technology you’ll find loads of great advice here.
Doc Ott’s Life Hack Blog: Here you’ll find simple tips and ideas that can help you be more productive throughout your day.
Today’s web workers need to have a well-rounded set of skills and knowledge to succeed. Expected to know their way around a computer, understand the invisible nature of Internet audiences, have the skill to communicate with words and graphic images, and be able to maintain their own business, its understandable that web workers may be seeking ways to continually improve their knowledge base. These free open courseware classes can help any web worker get a step up on the task with courses including web design skills, media arts, photography and video, writing and
communication, technology, and even classes to help freelancers get ahead with marketing and entrepreneurial topics.
Whether you are learning the basics, need a refresher course, or would like to learn a bit extra, these classes offer skills necessary to become a great web designer.
Weekly Web Design Class. Learn what truly makes a website outstanding in this class that takes you beyond simply learning HTML to learn web design. [About.com]
Flash. Create a Flash project for your portfolio while learning to use Flash 8. [Utah State University]
Interactive Multimedia Production. If you want to get the basics of Flash 9, complete a project in this class. [Utah State University]
Learn and Apply HTML. If you need to learn more about HTML, take this class to build a solid foundation. [Utah State University]
Blender 3D Design. Explore modeling and animation while creating 3D designs by using Blender software in this class. [Tufts University]
Adobe Photoshop Basics. If Photoshop has you baffled, subscribe to 8 weekly lessons here to learn the basics. [About.com]
Adobe Sample Courses. Get free courses in Photoshop, InDesign, and Acrobat from Adobe with 7 days of free online training. [Adobe Online Training]
QuarkEd Training Files. Whether you are just learning Quark or are an old pro, these free files will have something for you to learn. [Quark]
DHTML Animation. Using HTML, CSS, and Javascript, learn the how to animate web pages. [About.com]
Graphic Design Basics. These free classes will teach you the basics of graphic design. [About.com]
Beginning Web Design Course. Whether you are new to web design or would like a fresh approach, take this course to learn the basics for designing eye-catching websites. [About.com]
Comparative Media and Media Arts
Understanding culture, art, and the technology of new media is at the heart of these comparative media and media art classes.
Media Art I. Students will learn sound, installation and video art in this introductory class. [Capilano University]
Media Art II. Part two of this series offers a study of visual arts with lessons in black and white chemical photography and digital imaging. [Capilano University]
Media Art III. The third class examines digital sound, digital video art, and performance art as it pertains to the visual arts. [Capilano University]
Media Art IV. Complete this four-part series with an independent project that allow students to examine both technical and conceptual aspects of media art. [Capilano University]
Introduction to Media Studies. Cover topics including blogging, intellectual property, and game modification in this class which teaches the basics about new media. [MIT]
New Media Literacies. Explore online social networking, video gaming, collective intelligence, and other related subjects of media literacy. [MIT]
Workshop I. Get a hands-on opportunity to learn technical skills in this graduate-level media studies class. [MIT]
American Soap Operas. Examine the transformation of American soap operas and take a look at popular shows such as 24 and Friday Night Lights and explore their roots in daytime soap operas. [MIT]
Videogame Theory and Analysis. Learn about the impact of videogames on culture, society and education in this class. [MIT]
Topics in Comparative Media: American Pro Wrestling. Whether you are a wrestling fan or not, this class offers an interesting and entertaining look at how new technologies and changes in television helped pro wrestling evolve in America . [MIT]
The Anthropology of Sound. Learn about the relationship between culture, technology, and people and the human experience of sound while studying topics as sound art, music, and environmental recordings. [MIT]
Popular Narrative: Masterminds. Students will study popular literary masterminds and create a class "cyberconversation" of their findings. [MIT]
Learn the basics of photography and video or step up to more complex skills with these classes.
Introduction to Photography. This class covers camera basics, black and white techniques, digital photography, developing, printing, and more for students who are just learning about photography. [MIT]
Photography and Truth. Examine how photography facilitates communication and documentation as an art form and as a research tool. [MIT]
Language of the Image. Learn how to communicate with a photographic image in this class. [News University]
Picturing the family. Old family photos are rich in technical details and culture that may not be apparent upon first glance. Learn the details of what these photos say in this class. [The Open University]
Photography and Related Media. Beginners as well as advanced photographers can learn technical and cultural photography lessons in this class. [MIT]
Reading visual images. Explore history and social science through photographic images in this course. [The Open University]
Introduction to Video. Students complete projects to develop skills as a videographer and video editor, including a final assignment of personal storytelling. [MIT]
Five Steps to Multimedia Storytelling. Learn about recording, taping, and editing for Internet content with a focus on audio, video, and graphics in this class. [News University]
Learn about technology strategies, search engines, art and technology, and more in these classes that are rooted in technology.
Technology Strategy. This course covers investment planning and behavior of competition, suppliers, and customers for those who will invest in or run a business where technology plays a major role. [MIT]
Internet Technology in Local and Global Communities. Examine programming, Internet technology, open source programs, and entrepreneurship in this class that is part of the MIT-African Internet Technology Initiative. [MIT]
Art and Technology. Learn about the relationship between art and technology from its historical roots to current day. [Capilano University]
Technologies for Creative Learning. Examine ways new technologies can help stimulate learning and creativity in this hands-on course that uses the Lego Programmable Brick and Computer Clubhouse to facilitate learning. [MIT]
Media Industries and Systems. Learn how trends, audience, and the creative process are important forces shaping content in media industries and systems. [MIT]
Technology for Professional Writers. This course teaches important technology skills for writers who may need an extra boost in tech savvy. [Utah State University]
Practice and improve your writing skills with these classes that also offer a glimpse into important topics such as social and ethical issues, consumer culture, creativity, and media.
Expository Writing: Analyzing Mass Media. Take a look at the impact mass media has had on American culture while learning to write a strong, persuasive essay. [MIT]
Becoming Digital: Writing About Media Change. With the shift to digital media, business, communication, and entertainment have changed significantly. This class explores that shift while strengthening writing skills. [MIT]
Digital Poetry. Students explore digital poetry in various forms including soundscapes, hypertext poetry, animation, code poems, and interactive games. [MIT]
Being an effective communicator is a vital part of being a successful web worker. No matter if you’re using the written word or images, these classes will help you learn ways to improve your communication with any type of audience.
Understanding Online Interaction. This course examines the psychology of communication on the Internet and includes student participation in several types of interactive media. [Utah State University]
Communicating in Cyberspace. Examine the ways information is communicated on the Internet and learn how to effectively communicate in cyberspace. [MIT]
Intro to Tech Communication. If you come from a technical background rather than a literary one, this course offers the basics in writing for an information-based audience. [MIT]
Communicating Across Cultures. Learn how to improve intercultural communication and interactions in this class. [MIT]
Key skill assessment: communication. Designed to improve speaking, listening, reading, and writing skills, this class offers an opportunity to practice communication skills. [The Open University]
Social Visualization. Learn how to visualize the invisible crowd of Internet users, their activities, and interactions so better connect with them. [MIT]
Using Internet Communications. Study theories of communication as they relate to the Internet in this class. [UMass Boston]
It’s a foolish web worker who doesn’t know a few things about copyright, ethics, and legal issues surrounding the Internet. Protect yourself by taking these classes and becoming an expert in this area.
Information Law and Policy. Find out about copyright law, protecting databases, licensing of information, privacy and much more in this course. [UC Berkeley]
Literature, Ethics, and Authority. Study ethics through an examination of literature and films in this class from the Sloan School of Management. [MIT]
International Law. Learn the basics of International Law in this course that covers topics like dispute settlements, state responsibility, and international resource management. [Professional Educational Organization International]
Ethics Part 1 and Ethics Part 2. Study the early history of ethics and make your way to modern ethical theories in this two-part class. [Western Governors University]
Whether you are marketing yourself or a client, learn the basics as well as more complex marketing theories with these classes.
Introduction to Marketing. An excellent start for those just beginning to study marketing, this course from the Sloan School of Management covers all the basics. [MIT]
Marketing Management. This introductory course offers a basic overview of the concepts of marketing and is another place to start before moving to more advanced marketing courses. [MIT]
Marketing communications as a strategic function. This class goes over the basic arguments for marketing communications as an important strategy, the changing role of communications, and customer preferences. [The Open University]
Marketing Strategy. Examine marketing in conjunction with company strategy in this course specifically recommended for entrepreneurs, consultants, and project managers. [MIT]
Entrepreneurial Marketing. Focus on general concepts of marketing problems in order to learn about basic marketing and new venture issues. [MIT]
Strategic Marketing Management. Learn to understand the market in this course, which will teach the skills necessary to complete a marketing research survey. [MIT]
Listening to the Customer. This course, the companion course to Strategic Marketing Management, approaches marketing from the needs of the customers rather than the market. [MIT]
Pricing. Learn important pricing strategies and tactics in this class. [MIT]
Innovative Product Development. Explore new product development in the context of technology, the innovation process, and more in this course. [MIT]
Many web workers are freelancers, but even if you aren’t, you may need to understand the unique perspective of an entrepreneur in dealing with clients. Take these classes to find out everything from raising capital to behavior of an entrepreneur to successful women entrepreneurs.
Developmental Entrepreneurship. Through examination of real-life examples of both failed and successful businesses in developing countries, this class explores developmental opportunities and business models. [MIT]
Entrepreneurial Finance. Entrepreneurs will enjoy the lessons in this course that examines raising money for technology-based companies and the early stages of development. [MIT]
Early Stage Capital. This course offers lessons on start-ups and early stage capital generation with a focus on building relationships with investors and advisors. [MIT]
Fundamentals of Personal Financial Planning. Learn the basics of getting personal finances in order and planning for the future to positively impact your business as an entrepreneur. [UC Irvine]
Investment Risk. Entrepreneurs are smart to learn about risk. This course focuses on risk aversion, qualifying risk, risk factors, and discounted cash flow and the net present value rule. [The Open University]
Law for the Entrepreneur and Manager. This class strives to educate entrepreneurs in the basics of the legal issues that affect a business from start-up to going public. [MIT]
Entrepreneurial behavior. Explore the definitions, qualities, function, and work styles of entrepreneurs in this class. [The Open University]
Managerial Economics. Learn the basics of microeconomics as it pertains to management decisions in this class that is important for any entrepreneur. [Utah State University]
Entrepreneurship in Contemporary America. Learn what several successful American business women have faced in a field that has typically been viewed as a man’s world. [Harvard University]