Top 5 Sites For Online Learning

A lot of you have been asking us for more things and activities to do in Riyadh. While we are tempted to suggest some adventurous ones, we are currently on a calming down phase in our lives. No, seriously, we don't have the energy like what we used to have three years ago when we spend one whole day in the malls during the sale season or signing up on all the trips arranged by the workplace's social club. There, I admit that I'm getting old in every sense of that phrase. Nowadays, a dinner with family or friends is enough for me to distract me from the busy and boring days (they alternate from time to time) I'm having. 

With the Nitaqat and the labor laws in the Kingdom, many dependents have found themselves out of work. More wives became housewives and more people stayed at home. So what to do? Apart from the usual cooking, taking care of the family, reading, writing... what else? I say, learn something new! Study at your own pace! After all, there is no end to education. How? Online, of course!

Sampaguita Pride has discussed the University of the Philippines Open University before but this time, I'm writing about short classes that are usually free! Here are some online sites where you can take up a course or a craft or a few subjects. They're all popular nowadays and I've been getting some lessons from them too. Most of them are free that's why they're so nice to enroll in. 

1. SKILLSHARE

This is my favorite website because their classes are more on the creative side. The mission of Skillshare is to reunite learning with education and make it accessible to every single person in this planet. Anyone can learn anything, at any age, at an affordable cost, anywhere in the world. Their classes comprise of creative lessons that are taught by people who are doing them professionally coming into mind the quote "the world is a university and every one on it is a teacher." There's no memorization or taking of quizzes. Achievements are measured, not by certificates or diploma, but by the photos you take, the makeup you put, the cake you baked, or the website to you created.

Their classes range from Business, Advertising, Design, Fashion&Style, Film&Video, Food&Drink, Writing&Publishing, and Photography. You can check out all available classes here. Classes are divided into Beginner, Intermediate, and Advanced so you know where to start. They use videos in their teaching methods so it's a self-paced process wherein your schedule depends on your free time! Awesomesauce! You also get a lifetime access to your classes. Paid classes are from $10-$25, pretty cheap if you think about it. They also have free classes once in a while so sign up now!

Skillshare: Learn from teacher you can relate to.

Some Interesting Classes: Hey Cool Shirt: Designing Effective Tshirt Graphics  | Launch A No Fail Business Model | Build a HTML and CSS Website From Scratch | Program iPhone Apps: Become an iPhone Developer | A Crash Course In Photographic Composition

I am currently enrolled in Mary Kate McDevitt's The First Steps of Hand-Lettering: Concept to Sketch (Lettering 1) and I'm enjoying it so far. My Sharpies and pens are put to use! I would like to enroll in ALL of Skillshare's classes!

2. COURSERA

When you want courses that are on the same page as you studied in college, then Coursera is the website for you. Actually, even subjects that are a mile long away from the one you graduated from, you can take here and they're all for FREE! Coursera is an education company that partners with top universities and organizations in the world to offer courses online. They have courses from Duke University, Standford University, John Hopkins University, Yale University and a lot more.

They offer a wide range of topics that you can learn any time, anywhere. Their categories includes Engineering, Biology, Chemistry, Economics&Finance, Law, Medicine, Mathematics, Social Sciences,and Humanities. Some of their courses are eligible for specialization certificates and verified certificates. There are courses in other languages too (check out the Arabic ones here). Most courses are open for a specific date only and run for several weeks so sign up early!

Coursera: The world's best courses online, for free.

Some Interesting Classes: How To Change The World (Wesleyan University) | Introduction to Public Speaking (University of Washington) | The Science of Gastronomy (HKUST) | Introduction to Finance (University of Michigan) | Fundamentals of Digital Image and Video Processing (Northwestern University)

I'm enrolling in Crafting an Effective Writer: Tools of The Trade (San Jacinto College) that starts on February 7 and will run for 5 weeks.

3. EdX

EdX is a lot like Coursera but they have Harvard University and Massachusetts Institute of Technology backing them up. EdX is a non-profit online initiative that offers interactive online classes from the world's best universities. You just have to choose the course or class you want to take, read the course prerequisites, register, and start studying online! All courses are FREE! Participating schools include Berkeley, University of Toronto, Kyoto University, Seoul National University, IIT Bombay, Peking University, and Dartmouth.

Topics includes Biology, Business, Chemistry, Science, Economics, Finance, Electronics, Engineering, Food&Nutrition, History, Humanities, Law, Literature, Math, Medicine, Music, Statistics, and more. Some courses start on a specific date and other courses, which are already finished, are only available as archive where you can watch the videos but some features are no longer available. Advance your knowledge and register now!

EdX: The world's best universities at your fingertips

Some Interesting Classes: Innovating In Health Care (Harvard University) | Terrorism and Counterterrorism (Georgetown) | Engineering Software as a Service (Berkeley) | Music in the 20th Century (Peking University) | Age of Globalization (Austin University)

Our former boss encouraged us to enroll in the Principles of Written English class from Berkeley University of California, I missed the starting date last January 23 but I guess I can still try.

4. KHAN ACADEMY

Khan Academy is one of the first online learning sites that provides free, world-class education for anyone, anywhere. All the resources are completely feee forever. Everyone - from student to teacher to principal to retired people - can find something of interest in Khan Academy. 

Topics include Math, Science, Economics and Finance, and Humanities. The provide an extensive library of content, including interactive challenges, assessments, and videos to aid students and coaches. Khan also provides statistics for you so you know how you are progressing on things. 

Khan Academy: Learn now!

Some Interesting Classes: GMAT Preparation | Entrepreneurship | World History

I want to try my hands on Drawing and Animation. Haha! I hope! Computer Programming seems so cool. So cool that it gets its own website...

5.  CODECADEMY 

Code Academy wants to open up knowledge, instead of university. It believes that the public school system we have is outdated. It wants to build the education the world needs and create an engaging educational experience that is outside the classroom. The Net is the present and the future and so we need to know a lot about it. 

Code Academy is backed by some great people and groups that help them in offering classes on HTML, Java, PHP, Ruby, Python, etc. including Union Square Ventures, Index Ventures, Thrive Capital, SV Angel, Vivi Nevo, Collaborative Fund and others. You can make mini HTMl and CSS projects in as fast as 30 minutes.

Codecademy: Learn to code interactively, for free

Some Interesting Classes: HTML & CSS (where you learn the building blocks of a website and create your own at the end of the course!) | Javascript (where you learn how to make your site interactive) | About You (make a website that is about you!) | Sun, Earth and Code!

I know I have to take that HTML and CSS course! Who knows? Maybe I can make The Pink Tarha into a website soon! Haha!

Other websites which are of interest are those which offers languages. 

Wanting to learn French or Spanish? Then Duolingo is for you! It's a fun way of learning a new language. The graphics and simplicity of the site is a great way to know foreign words! As of now, Duolingo only offers Spanish, French, Italian, German, and Portuguese. To learn, you get to translate documents from all over the world. You can also download the mobile app so you can continue learning on the go!

Duolingo: Master a second or third language!

On the other hand, Livemocha, the world's largest online language learning community, offers more languages. The learning process is more complicated but they have Arabic! You can join live instructor-led classes and choose from the 35 languages that are available to learn and master.

Livemocha: Beats coffee in conversations

I'm enrolled in French in Duolingo. So far, Bonjour, mon nom est Sundrenched! Sounds good? Haha! I know I should enroll in the Arabic class to prevent further curious stares from taxi drivers when I tell them I've been in the Kingdom for 6 years but still... mafi malum Arabi. Haha!

If you have $25 per month to spare then visit Lynda for more online classes. 

One big boredom buster is to pursue something that you want to know and learn and with all these courses and lessons online (and for FREE!), you don't have an excuse anymore. Wherever we are, let's continue feeding our minds! Let's be classmates! ;) ~ Sundrenched

Q&A Portion 13 (UPOU Questions)

Hello Lovelies! Since we've been getting a lot of questions with regards to UPOU and Distance Learning, I've compiled the questions so far and I'll do my best to answer them. Do note that it's been a year since my graduation so I will answer these questions to the best of my knowledge based on my experience. If you have more questions, please leave a comment and I'll try to answer them too in another Q&A post.

Q1: Do you know how many units undergrads are allowed to take? 

A: I believe standard units are 6 per semester for working students but you can also take 9 units if the Dean will allow it. Personally, 6 units was just right for me. Though I do know some classmates who've done 9 units just to graduated earlier. However, I don't know how many units undergrads are allowed. Please email info@upou.edu.ph for more details. :)

Q2: Do you also know if they do accept students studying in another institution? 

A: Yes, but the school has to have an existing agreement with UPOU with regards to cross-enrollments.

Q3: How much is the application fee?

A: If you're based outside of the Philippines, the application fee is 100USD. If you're based in the Philippines, it's 500 PESOS.

Q4: Is the admission pack sent through postal mail or delivered thru LBC, etc? 

A: During my time, the admission pack was sent via EMS. I received a very much mangled package thanks to the very curious people at Saudi Post. I emailed UPOU about it and since then they've sent my books via DHL. They charged me around 300 SR for every package sent.

Q5: The Graduate Admission Test

A: Unfortunately, during my time they didn't require us to take any admission tests, they just asked us to send our TOR and based our enrollment  status on our previous grades. I had a probationary semester before I became a regular student at UPOU. Try contacting info@upou.edu.ph, they might direct you to someone who can answer your questions in more detail.

Q6: The Readiness Module

A: To my understanding, this is a course that UPOU requires some students to take to gauge whether online learning is the right mode of learning for them. I'm sorry I don't have a lot of info about this because I didn't go through it.

Q7: Since your grades in your bachelor's degree is one of the criteria for admission, I would like to ask you if you have any idea as to what grades we need to have to be accepted. I am asking because I would want to apply but my college grades are not really impressive. 

A: Some courses have a GWA requirement and its usually stated on the course info on the websites. I've seen some programs who require a GWA of 2.00 above to get in. It really depends. If you have some failed or dropped subjects, you will have to go through a probationary semester. During this time, you have to get really high grades to pass your probation. 

Q8: How long should I wait after sending the necessary requirements? 

A: It really depends on the program. With PTC and MDC, they informed me a month before the incoming school year. My best friends is taking MAN at UPOU right now and she said it took a while before they informed her of the results. I guess, it depends per college. You can try emailing admissions for updates.

Q9: I am still wondering if the units I had taken previously in the program I attended (MAN) in other school will be credited.

A: I think they will credit units as long as the course description of the subjects you took from the other school are the same. It's the same with regular Universities.

Q10: I would really appreciate any recommendation for a reviewer. Like a published book/reviewer which I can buy from any bookstore?

A: When I took the UPCAT when I was in High School, I just bought MSA books with mock exam activities.

Q11: Can I just ask you about the application form, it says Proposed Major Field and Minor Field. 

A: There was no option for Major with MDC so I left it blank. :)

Q11: I'm planning to take the Professional Teaching Certification and I was wondering if taking 6 units per trimester would be too much as I work from 9-5.

A: I took PTC before I shifted to MDC and I had a 9-5 job too. It was easier because I was always in front of the computer so when work was low, I would read my modules. But when I started teaching, I had less time online. I was also on my last semester with MDC with my special problem paper in the works. I found that 6 units was just enough to challenge me. I had to do a LOT of adjustments with regards to my time and I had to give up a lot of stuff like playing Farmville and going out but in the end, it was worth it. :)

XOXO

Sampaguita Pride

Isko(lar) in the Desert: The Graduation

Note: This is a long, long, long overdue post about my UPOU graduation from last May 2012. I hope you'll forgive me. But I promise to post more blogs whenever I can. ^_^

**********************************

The day finally came. After 2 1/2 years of study, I was finally going to graduate from UPOU. It feels like a dream because I never thought that I could study again while I was abroad (to read about my experience as a UPOU student, click here), so you can imagine my relief when I finally received my graduation pack. :)

Since I was based abroad, I had to process my clearance the day before graduation. So before my flight back to Manila, I made sure that I got all the info I needed to clear my accounts with UPOU like the graduation fee, shipping fees and alumni fees. With that settled, I then moved on to more important details such as my graduation dress. LOL.

UPOU has a strict dress code for MA graduates. Aside from the Sablay, we were also required to dress accordingly. Men were required to wear white/ecru barong for men and black pants and the women, white or ecru dress, mid-calf length with sleeves and black shoes. I was trying to imagine it but all I could picture was a ninang dress. Hahaha... so I made sure that the outfit I chose would be comfy and "me". I got my blouse from Dorothy Perkins and my skirt from Freeze at Riyadh Gallery. The idea was similar to this: 

May 4: Graduation Practice and Clearance Day

The graduation practice was scheduled the day before graduation. In true blue "Distance-Ed Style", this would be the first time for me to visit my Alma Mater. For the first time, I met my professors and classmates who I've befriended, defended and consulted for the last 2 years. When I met them in person, it felt like we were just picking up conversations we left off at our FB group and I was really happy about it. It's really amazing how we build bonds over the internet. 

My online barkada, my groupmates and friends.

After submitting our clearance and paying for our graduation fees, we were invited to an alumni meeting for our program and in the afternoon, we attended a program in tribute to the graduates. There were a lot of performances from UPLB students and UPOU Chorale. 

The very wacky and happy DevComm Alumni at UPOU

The very talented UPOU Chorale

May 5: Graduation Day!

My parents and I decided to head out early because Los Baños was about 3 hours away from where we lived. The graduation was held during the afternoon at the UPOU grounds at UP Los Baños. My parents patiently waited for the program to start. The grounds were prepared ahead but it was a shame that there weren't enough seats for the guests.

The graduation venue.

Before the program, the graduates were given free lunch and a place to rest and mingle with other graduates. By this time, I was already giddy with excitement but I also regret wearing my 4 inch stilettos. :))

Here's a photo of my fellow graduates, the DevComm program garnered most of the Chancellor's List Awards that year.

The "class picture" and solo photos were done before the graduation ceremony. I ordered group shots and diploma shot package and I received them a week later. 

MA Development Communication, Batch 2012

My perennial group mates and online buddies: Jher Trinoña (L), Francis Noces and Mayeth Rebutoc 

(both from Riyadh, as well!)

Finally, we're marching! :P

Miguel Zubiri, who is also a UPOU Alumni, was our guest speaker.

Receiving my diploma from UP President Alfredo Pascual. Success!!

The graduation ended around 8pm and there fireworks to commemorate the event. I guess that's the reason we had the photo-op before the graduation because it would be too dark to do anything else. Plus everyone was really hungry already. Haha... 

To my loved ones and inspiration, this is for you. To our readers, thank you so much for all your help and moral support, especially those who answered the questionnaires for my research. You are all a huge part of this success. To my fellow Pink Tarha ladies, thank you so much for all the support and encouragement. 

I hope that this will encourage other OFWs to inquire and enroll at UPOU. It is never too late to be an Isko or to pursue further studies.

Love,

Sampaguita Pride

P.S. I would like to thank my classmates for 

sharing most of the photos I used for this blog 

post. Much Love.