Free Online Classes for Learning Something New

If you want to take free courses, here are some major education platforms and how to enjoy classes for free.

Future Learn

If you want to learn a thing or two from cultural heavyweights (有影响力的人或物) like the British Film Institute, step this way.Privately owned by UK public research body The Open University, Future Learn team up with top UK educational and cultural institutions for some free courses that you can truly sink your teeth into.

Courses to check out: Dig into art crime! & Learn how weather works

Coursera

Founded in 2012, Coursera works not only with the top universities in the world but tech companies Google and IBM to offer courses in computer science, data science, language, business and other areas.Hot tip: they’re offering free certificates for 85 of their courses.

Courses to check out: Learn up on your dinosaurs & Study well-being as science, not an Instagram trend

General Assembly

If you’re looking to upskill with some preferred talents, General Assembly is a strong place to learn.Started in 2011 as a small co-working space, GA is now a global learning business attempting to close the “ global skills gap ”.GA runs a whole bunch of online courses in design, data, marketing, business, and career development.

Free courses to check out: Learn to code for free & Learn up on user experience design

Udemy

Founded in 2010 by Eren Bali, Udemy was set up for teachers and instructors to create and run their own online courses.Now, it has 57,000 instructors around the world and 150,000 courses.Most courses cost between $15 and $300.Luckily, there are 150 free online courses.Plus, their courses are taught in over 65 languages.

Free courses to check out: Code your first video game & Get into astronomy

Did you know that badminton is also a fast-paced competitive sport? Badminton has been a Summer Olympic sport since 1992. Para-badminton will be included in the 2020 Summer Olympic Games in Tokyo. Here is what you need to know if your child is interested in badminton.

Badminton is played on a 44-foot-long rectangular (矩形的) court that is 17 feet wide for singles and 20 feet wide for doubles. It is the only sport that has mixed doubles events in the Olympic Games. It is divided in the middle by a net placed 5 feet off the ground, like volleyball, not at ground level like tennis.

In competition, each match is a set of three games played to 21 points. There is a one-minute break when a player or team reaches 11 points, and a two-minute break in between the first and second games and the second and third games.

Age kids can start: About 6 years old.

Best for kids who: Have good skills, are patient and hardworking, and can handle the pressure of one-on-one or two-on-two competition.

Team or individual: Matches can be singles (one-on-one) or doubles (two-on-two).

Costs: Beginners are expected to pay $30 to $40 for an entry-level racquet (球拍). Badminton shoes are similar in price to other athletic shoes. Join a club or team for lessons. A one-hour group lesson for beginners should cost $20 to $25, with costs increasing as your child moves up the ranks. You will also pay entry fees for competitions.

Time commitment required: Beginners will play for just an hour or two per week.

Potential for injury: Players have a very low risk of injury. Players who wear glasses should use eye protection.

Summer Art Classes

Students will explore storytelling through artworks in the exhibition Afro-Atlantic Histories and will highlight moments of their lives through their own artistic creations. Taught by artist Fernando Isai Garcia, this program will take place indoors, June 12—16.

Explore the fantastic world of plants! Let’s look at how artists have “used” plants, and been inspired by their colors and shapes. Combine art, and science to learn about plants. Taught by artist Beatriz Jaramillo, this program will take place outdoors, July 10—14.

We’ll view, discuss, and sketch (给……画素描) artworks to learn about different aspects of visual storytelling, and then, in the studio, we’ll continue to learn about storytelling while making our own comics. We know you’ve got a story to tell! Taught by artist Shannon Green, this program will take place indoors, July 17—21.

Children will make art with a focus on the process as much as the results. We’ll explore bubble prints (泡泡印画) and blow painting. Come ready for an experience that will blow your artistic mind! Taught by artist Katie Lipsitt, this program will take place indoors, July 31—August 4.