50 Best Sources of Free STEM Education Online

Colleges, universities, and other educational forums in your community can be excellent places to learn more about a variety of STEM topics, but there is also a wealth of educational material available on the web for those who prefer to learn at their own pace or take a more individual approach. Even better, these resources, whether classes, lectures, or tutorials, are all free of charge, meaning you can improve your knowledge without emptying your wallet. Check out our list (organized by topic, not ranking) for some great STEM resources that can help you build your knowledge about everything from calculus to zoology.
Universities
These universities, many of which are renowned for their STEM programs, offer resources like course materials, videos, and lecture series.

1. MIT Open Courseware: MIT offers one of the largest collections of OpenCourseWare on the web, with the vast majority covering STEM topics.
2. Princeton WebMedia: You don’t have to attend Princeton to take advantage of the rich collection of lecturers the school brings in, touching on politics, healthcare, astronomy, and much more.
3. Carnegie Mellon Open Learning Initiative: Head to Carnegie Mellon’s OCW site for courses on STEM topics like chemistry, biology, logic, programming, and engineering.
4. Oxford Webcasts: Oxford is one of the most prestigious schools in the world and by using their web resources, you can gain access to lectures, symposia, and discussions held on campus.
5. JHSPH OpenCourseWare: If healthcare is your area of STEM interest then make sure to check out the course materials shared on this Johns Hopkins site.
6. Utah State University: USU might not be the household name that other universities on this list are, but the school offers a very respectable collection of OCW material, including courses in biology, engineering, and physics.
7. Tufts OpenCourseWare: Through Tufts’ online offerings, independent learners can find course materials from the school’s School of Veterinary Medicine, Freidman School of Nutrition Science and Policy, School of Medicine, and School of Dental Medicine — a virtual healthcare smorgasbord.
8. Webcast.Berkeley: Always wanted to attend Berkeley? Well now you can, sort of. Use this site to gain access to course materials and videos of lectures on campus.
9. Notre Dame OpenCourseWare: This prestigious private college offers courses in great STEM-focused subject matter like civil engineering, mathematics, physics, and computer applications.
10. UCI OpenCourseWare: Head to the University of California-Irvine’s site to do a little independent study in engineering, health science, or physical science.
11. UMass Boston OpenCourseWare: You’ll find some really great OCW offerings through UMass, with some touching on just about every STEM topic.
12. LearningSpace: The UK-based Open University makes it simple for students to access free course materials that can help them learn about a wide range of topics including engineering, technology, science, and math.
13. ParisTech: Based in Paris, as you might guess, this technical school shares some of its geeky offerings online.
14. MIT World: On this site, you’ll find MIT alumni, faculty, Nobel Laureates, and famous academics speaking on a wide range of STEM topics.

Lectures
Head to any of these resources to find lectures from the best and the brightest in science, tech, and math.

15. iTunes U: Through iTunes, learners can access thousands of lectures, courses, and symposia from universities and organizations around the world.
16. Forum Network: Visit this PBS site to find lectures on topics like genetics, astronomy, brain science, physics, and even women in science.
17. TED: TED is famous for putting out brain-bending and revolutionary talks and by visiting their site, either on a computer or through their mobile app, you can watch and learn anytime, anywhere.
18. Lecture Fox: Head to Lecture Fox to find an amazing collection of free university lectures, all related to physics, chemistry, computer science, or mathematics.
19. Free Science and Video Lectures Online: This blog sorts through OCW and free educational material for you, giving you instant access to the best science-related ones.
20. Videolectures.net: No matter what you’re interested in learning about, you’ll likely be able to find a lecture on it on this site, with more than 12,492 lectures to choose from.
21. Pop!Tech: For those who can’t get enough STEM education, this site can be an amazing resource. Visit regularly for new and engaging lectures on science, technology, health, environment, energy, and much more.
22. Gel Conference: Can’t attend the Gel Conference in person? No worries! Simply head to this site to find videos of some of the best presentations given, many by Nobel Prize winners, CEOs, and highly esteemed academics.
23. MSRI Videos: You’ll find an impressive collection of math lectures on the Mathematical Sciences Research Institute’s site, many given by some of the 20th century’s best minds.

Tutorials
For tech topics, sometimes a tutorial is the best way to learn. You’ll find a great collection of them on all of these sites.

27. w3schools: Billed as the world’s largest web development site, w3schools is a great destination for anyone who wants to learn more about building web pages.
28. How-to-Geek: This great site will help you learn how to do a wide range of nerdy things, from navigating a new program to understanding how Google works.

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