MakeUseOf » learning

MakeUseOf » learning http://www.makeuseof.com Cool Websites, Software and Internet Tips Tue, 18 Jun 2013 23:30:13 +0000 en-US hourly 1 Master a Second Language For Free In Bite-Sized Nuggets With Duolingo For Android http://www.makeuseof.com/tag/master-a-second-language-for-free-in-bite-sized-nuggets-with-duolingo-for-android/ http://www.makeuseof.com/tag/master-a-second-language-for-free-in-bite-sized-nuggets-with-duolingo-for-android/#comments Tue, 18 Jun 2013 19:00:07 +0000 Erez Zukerman http://www.makeuseof.com/?p=159845

Mastering a foreign language can change your life. It can open the door for a new career, or even a new country, not to mention an entire culture you would now be able to enjoy in its native tongue. But it's not easy, either, and takes time, persistence, and constant practice. Today, I'd like to show you language-learning service Duolingo's Android app, which is completely free, just like the rest of the service, and is definitely worth a look.

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]]> http://www.makeuseof.com/tag/master-a-second-language-for-free-in-bite-sized-nuggets-with-duolingo-for-android/feed/ 2 The Journey Of A Coder: How To Enhance Your Coding Skills By Contributing To An Open Source Project http://www.makeuseof.com/tag/the-journey-of-a-coder-how-to-enhance-your-coding-skills-by-contributing-to-an-open-source-project/ http://www.makeuseof.com/tag/the-journey-of-a-coder-how-to-enhance-your-coding-skills-by-contributing-to-an-open-source-project/#comments Tue, 18 Jun 2013 02:30:39 +0000 Danny Stieben http://www.makeuseof.com/?p=159648

learn_c++_intro

If you’re looking to market yourself as a competent programmer, there’s no better time to show off your skills in the best way possible — by contributing to open source projects. There are many reasons why you should contribute to open source projects , but the most important reason of them all is that you can “learn by doing”. And once you learn, you can not only claim that you have coding skills, but you can prove it by showing your work.

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]]> http://www.makeuseof.com/tag/the-journey-of-a-coder-how-to-enhance-your-coding-skills-by-contributing-to-an-open-source-project/feed/ 1 Find A Topic Worth Studying With The Open University On YouTube [Stuff to Watch] http://www.makeuseof.com/tag/find-a-topic-worth-studying-with-the-open-university-on-youtube-stuff-to-watch/ http://www.makeuseof.com/tag/find-a-topic-worth-studying-with-the-open-university-on-youtube-stuff-to-watch/#comments Mon, 17 Jun 2013 22:30:46 +0000 Tim Brookes http://www.makeuseof.com/?p=159643

The Open University is a world renowned British institution of higher education offering people all over the world the chance to earn a first-class degree without ever stepping foot in a lecture theater. Thanks to the Internet, the Open University is now able to offer more courses to more people than ever before, and their YouTube channel helps market their wares.

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Encyclopedia pages showing world flags

The Internet is a double-edged sword - it can be used to procrastinate the day away, or it can be used to learn something new everyday. Here at MakeUseOf, we're particularly focused on the latter. There are a lot of ways you can use the Internet on a daily basis to learn something new in a matter of minutes.

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]]> http://www.makeuseof.com/tag/6-ways-to-learn-something-new-online-everyday/feed/ 33 The Path Of Lifelong Learning – Three Educational Search Engines For Online Courses http://www.makeuseof.com/tag/three-educational-search-engines-for-online-courses/ http://www.makeuseof.com/tag/three-educational-search-engines-for-online-courses/#comments Tue, 04 Jun 2013 20:00:37 +0000 Saikat Basu http://www.makeuseof.com/?p=157169

learning-key

The path of learning is long and "costly". Perhaps, that's why we believe this too much and give up as soon as regular paychecks start hitting our accounts. But in today's age, staying skilled and flexible is the mantra. The good thing about it is that it doesn't have to like this. You can learn new skills, thanks to the same technological age that's casting a shadow on your prowess.

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]]> http://www.makeuseof.com/tag/three-educational-search-engines-for-online-courses/feed/ 23 YouTube Channels That Will Make You Laugh And Learn At The Same Time http://www.makeuseof.com/tag/youtube-channels-that-will-make-you-laugh-and-learn-at-the-same-time/ http://www.makeuseof.com/tag/youtube-channels-that-will-make-you-laugh-and-learn-at-the-same-time/#comments Sat, 01 Jun 2013 03:00:10 +0000 Nancy Messieh http://www.makeuseof.com/?p=155193

While the video sharing site might be better known for music videos, the Annoying Orange and, let’s face it, for being the cesspool of Internet comments, there are quite a few entertaining, educational videos that you can watch, and walk away with some pretty interesting knowledge you didn’t know beforehand.

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]]> http://www.makeuseof.com/tag/youtube-channels-that-will-make-you-laugh-and-learn-at-the-same-time/feed/ 8 7 Ways To Learn Something New Every Day With Wikipedia http://www.makeuseof.com/tag/7-ways-to-learn-something-new-every-day-with-wikipedia/ http://www.makeuseof.com/tag/7-ways-to-learn-something-new-every-day-with-wikipedia/#comments Wed, 29 May 2013 21:00:25 +0000 Dave Parrack http://www.makeuseof.com/?p=152990

Wikipedia is packed full of content. At the time of writing there are over 4 million articles contained within the English language version, with more being added all the time. All of these pages are free to view, not lumbered with ads, and are edited by people like us. It’s a resource that everybody knows about, but which very few people truly make the most of.

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]]> http://www.makeuseof.com/tag/7-ways-to-learn-something-new-every-day-with-wikipedia/feed/ 5 5 Ways To Quickly Improve Your Technical Skills Without Spending A Dime http://www.makeuseof.com/tag/5-ways-to-quickly-improve-your-technical-skills-without-spending-a-dime/ http://www.makeuseof.com/tag/5-ways-to-quickly-improve-your-technical-skills-without-spending-a-dime/#comments Sun, 26 May 2013 18:30:53 +0000 James Bruce http://www.makeuseof.com/?p=153534

featred-self-improvement

People argue that training costs money - but for technical skills that just isn't true. You can improve your technical skills without paying - assuming you already have internet access that is, which is a pretty safe assumption to make if you're reading this. So read on: here are 5 ways you can improve your technical skills today.

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]]> http://www.makeuseof.com/tag/5-ways-to-quickly-improve-your-technical-skills-without-spending-a-dime/feed/ 15 Lights, Camera, Action! Learn From 7 Digital Filmmaking Schools On YouTube http://www.makeuseof.com/tag/lights-camera-action-learn-from-7-digital-filmmaking-schools-on-youtube/ http://www.makeuseof.com/tag/lights-camera-action-learn-from-7-digital-filmmaking-schools-on-youtube/#comments Mon, 13 May 2013 18:01:02 +0000 Saikat Basu http://www.makeuseof.com/?p=150869

filmmaking

Now, I presume it is easier to train yourself for a career in the movie arts. You could take the indie route and make documentaries for a start. The next Steven Spielberg is probably doing it right now. If you are as enthusiastic, what's holding you back? You just have to tap into YouTube and join a digital filmmaking school for the price of a "free admission".

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]]> http://www.makeuseof.com/tag/lights-camera-action-learn-from-7-digital-filmmaking-schools-on-youtube/feed/ 0 Not Just Recipes: 4 iPad Apps That Teach You To Cook [iOS] http://www.makeuseof.com/tag/not-just-recipes-4-ipad-apps-that-teach-you-to-cook-si/ http://www.makeuseof.com/tag/not-just-recipes-4-ipad-apps-that-teach-you-to-cook-si/#comments Tue, 30 Apr 2013 23:30:48 +0000 Yaara Lancet http://www.makeuseof.com/?p=146664

Owning an iPad has changed the way I cook and bake in my kitchen. I can now load everything on my iPad, place it in the closest spot where it still wouldn't get dirty, and cook to my heart's content. While some cooking apps are nothing but recipe managers or collections of general recipes that are never quite clear enough, good results will come from cooking apps that actually teach you how to cook.

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]]> http://www.makeuseof.com/tag/not-just-recipes-4-ipad-apps-that-teach-you-to-cook-si/feed/ 2 10 Amazing Ways For Teachers & Tutors To Use Twitter In Education http://www.makeuseof.com/tag/10-ways-to-use-twitter-in-education/ http://www.makeuseof.com/tag/10-ways-to-use-twitter-in-education/#comments Mon, 15 Apr 2013 18:01:35 +0000 Saikat Basu http://www.makeuseof.com/?p=142810

twitter-intro

Twitter like all other social media is a virtual Aladdin’s cave. It is a gateway to riches. But just like in the story, this Aladdin’s cave is also booby-trapped. Use it right and you will come away the genie of knowledge ready to do your bidding. Use it wrong and you will be a casualty of wasted time. So, ‘rub’ it just right.

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]]> http://www.makeuseof.com/tag/10-ways-to-use-twitter-in-education/feed/ 12 5 Tips & Tools To Help You Learn Japanese http://www.makeuseof.com/tag/5-tips-tools-to-help-you-learn-japanese/ http://www.makeuseof.com/tag/5-tips-tools-to-help-you-learn-japanese/#comments Sun, 14 Apr 2013 18:31:54 +0000 James Bruce http://www.makeuseof.com/?p=142577

featured-learn-japanese

Japanese is an incredibly difficult language to learn, and I should know having lived in Kyoto for 8 years. While nothing beats learning a language by being thrown straight in at the deep end, there's certainly some great tips and tools I can pass on that should benefit anyone just getting started with Japanese. If you're not particularly into Japanese, then check out all our other language learning articles too.

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]]> http://www.makeuseof.com/tag/5-tips-tools-to-help-you-learn-japanese/feed/ 26 Let Droid Teach You To Draw http://www.makeuseof.com/tag/let-droid-teach-you-to-draw/ http://www.makeuseof.com/tag/let-droid-teach-you-to-draw/#comments Sat, 13 Apr 2013 18:30:13 +0000 Danny Stieben http://www.makeuseof.com/?p=142325

android_draw_intro

If you are like me, then your best drawing doesn't get any more complex than the simplest of stick figures. Crooked lines and a lop-sided circle usually plague my drawn characters, and I’m not afraid to admit that. I absolutely envy those who are artistically talented, because it really seems like something that you are either born with or not.

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]]> http://www.makeuseof.com/tag/let-droid-teach-you-to-draw/feed/ 7 4 Wonderful Educational iPad Apps For Kids http://www.makeuseof.com/tag/4-wonderful-educational-ipad-apps-for-kids/ http://www.makeuseof.com/tag/4-wonderful-educational-ipad-apps-for-kids/#comments Fri, 29 Mar 2013 01:30:19 +0000 Yaara Lancet http://www.makeuseof.com/?p=140602

There are wonderful educational apps out there, many of which cost $10, $20, or even more. I’m not here to say they’re not worth it – you’re going to pay much more for a textbook – but it’s also possible to find cheaper apps that nonetheless provide a great learning experience for kids of all ages. For the list below, I tried to stick to apps that cost $5 or less, and all except one offer a free version too.

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]]> http://www.makeuseof.com/tag/4-wonderful-educational-ipad-apps-for-kids/feed/ 9 Learn To Play The Drums With These Websites & Tools http://www.makeuseof.com/tag/learn-to-play-the-drums-with-these-websites-tools/ http://www.makeuseof.com/tag/learn-to-play-the-drums-with-these-websites-tools/#comments Fri, 22 Mar 2013 02:01:54 +0000 Joel Lee http://www.makeuseof.com/?p=135905

Learn the Drums Intro

Who doesn't love a skilled drummer? Beats are the heart of music and a great beat by a great drummer can absolutely transform the spirit of a song into something transcendent. I've tried learning how to drum on a few occasions in the past but always ran into an obstacle: drums are expensive. Luckily for any of you readers in that same boat, there are now a handful of fantastic resources on the Internet

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