I once tweeted, "We already got free education. It is called library." Yes, we have to differentiate between education and title. Going to school or college seems like inevitable obligation for us, but to learn outside the formal academic environment is optional. Creative economy means people must seek alternative ways to solve problem, including education.

When I contemplated more about this, I found out that free education is even easier than library. In contemporary world there are more ways to acquire free education and here is my list. If you want to visit the website directly, just click the name (it will open in new tab).


1. FOLLOW THE RIGHT ACCOUNTS


Some of my friends already left Twitter months ago, but I can't. It literally makes me smarter. The old Twitter was full of unnecessary information. Not that I do not appreciate them, but eventually we do not have to know everything. This is a chance for you to follow the right accounts. Transform your timeline in to your personal newspaper. Now you will never miss any essential and relevant news. Do not forget to follow some accounts which inform the latest announcement of event, competition, or award.

You can follow recommended accounts below or just follow my account @curiositiescab. I do not share about personal life a lot and I frequently re-tweet the finest reading materials I find in the internet.

Recommended Accounts (in alphabetical order).
@aeonmag
@BBC_Future
@boredpanda
@brainpickings
@Creative_Boom
@CreativeReview
@FCSpotlight
@HarvardBiz
@ideo
@lifehackorg
@mental_floss
@NautilusMag
@NGIndonesia
@the_magdalene
@thescienceofus
@ThoughtCatalog
@waitbutwhy


2. CURATE YOUR WATCH-LIST


YouTube means no endless remote clicking to find a perfect channel. Find a topic you love and the suggestion (up next) is often helpful. Currently there are many channels which provide educational topic with exquisite illustration. As if seeing your textbook material comes to life!

However if you are too lazy to search, Brainpump is perfect for you. It automatically curates YouTube videos based on your personal interest. There are several popular topics such as: psychology, physics, history, and business.

Recommended Channels (in alphabetical order).
Alltime10s
ASAPScience
Crash Course
Documentary Tube
engVid
In a Nutshell - Kurzgesagt
MinuteEarth
TED-Ed
The School of Life
The RSA
WonderWhy


3. GET ADVICE FROM THE EXPERT

Almost every business tip encourages to find the right mentor. Well, if you have not find it yet, in the mean time you can meet inspiring expert from TED. TED provides videos of speakers from various backgrounds in approximately 5 to 18 minutes. Those are called TED Talks. What I love the most from this website is its playlist. From clueless fresh graduate, band geek, environmental savvy, to broken home kid can find suitable playlist for them.


4. LEARN WHILE HAVING FUN WITH QUIZ

If you have short attention spans and can't stand reading in-depth article or watching long video, why not try some interactive quizzes? You can play games and have fun but unconsciously you will also learn something new. As far as I know there are 2 types of websites, one where you can learn anything from flash cards and one where you can learn language. Some of these websites also available in Android and iOS, thus you can learn conveniently from your gadget.

Recommended Websites (in alphabetical order).
Brainrush
Cerego
Duolingo
Memrise
Quizlet


5. ENROLL IN ONLINE COURSES

Have you ever tried any Massive Open Online Course (MOOC)? For me it is one of the greatest break-through of the internet. With MOOC you can learn anything from home, in pajamas, and at your own pace. The courses are free and some of them offer certificate to purchase. There are also quizzes and exercises to evaluate your knowledge. So, do you have a dream of studying in world's top universities? You can learn from them with MOOC.

My favourite MOOC is FutureLearn and I already did some courses. Based on my experience FutureLearn's platform is the easiest to navigate for beginner.


Recommended MOOCS (in alphabetical order).
Cousera
EdX
FutureLearn
Khan Academy
Udacity
Universitas Ciputra Courses for Entrepreneurs


6. EXPLORE MIT'S SYLLABUS

MIT is awarded as world's best university by QS World University Ranking 2014/2015. Undoubtedly it is tough to be a part of MIT, but we still can explore MIT's syllabus and learn similar course with MIT's students here. There are some downloadable course materials, videos if you are lucky, reading list, and assignments. Use this website to complement your study and learn about your subject profoundly.


7. PAY WITH TWEET

It is true that there are many websites as free e-book source, but in this blog I try to give a legal advice. You can download free e-books which are classified as public domain here, but of course you have to pay for newly published books. Another way to get free e-book is to search for some independent writer or publisher who sells e-book via pay with tweet (or facebook share).

Recommended Free & Legal E-Books (in alphabetical order):
Business Model
Design Matters
Design Thinking
Everything There is to Know About Logo Design
T-Shirts and Suits
The Creative Aid
Winning Without Losing


8. MEET INSPIRING PEOPLE

(Sumber: news.liputan6.com)

Do you want to do something meaningful and contribute to the greater society? Then volunteerism is the answer. The opportunity is everywhere, you just have to choose what suits you best. By being volunteer you will learn from experience to accomplish goals of the event and create social acquaintance with people upon similar concern. Maybe you may find ideal discuss partner.

The photo above is an event by Kelas Inspirasi where volunteers from different professional backgrounds substitute elementary school teachers for a day. The aim is to build up students' confidence to pursue their dream job.


9. VISIT LIBRARIES

(Sumber: sebandung.com)

Forget the imagery of old building, dusty books, and eerie atmosphere. Modern library is much better than that! For instance the photo above is Kineruku, a prominent indie library and bookstore in Bandung. Since the owner is a married couple with design & literacy background, the books here are compatible with my preference. I can read in cozy room or backside garden. What is more some bookstores hold events such as book launching, movie screening, or seminar in order to engage with their loyal visitors. Believe me, library will never lose its charm.


In general most of them require good internet access. I hope this post can convince the skeptics that internet is advantageous and we should reap the utmost of it. Hence my last tip is, withdraw from your Facebook page! Stop peeping others' life, whining, or quarreling over trivialities and do these instead. I assure that it will worth your precious time.

Do I miss anything? Share your thoughts and ideas on how to get free education in the comment section.