With the new iTunes U app for iPhone and iPad, it’s easier than ever for Apple lovers to access quality educational resources for free. Of course, if you have a Mac or PC with iTunes installed, you can still access this wealth of great resources – and even sync video and audio to your mobile devices.

We checked out iTunes U to find the best channels for independent learners looking to pick up a new subject. Here’s what we found:

1. The Open University – This UK distance-learning institution offers a variety of free courses and lectures worldwide, covering everything from environmental science to creative writing.
2. Massachusetts Institute of Technology – You’re probably aware that MIT’s a pretty selective, competitive school. But now there’s a way for anyone to take MIT coursework – at both introductory and advanced levels – for free from the comfort of your own home. Check out MIT’s iTunes U channel for more info.
3. Stanford University – Featuring 13 complete courses for free, and over 100 free video lectures, this channel proves you don’t need to break the bank to get a top-notch education in technology, law, or programming.
4. UC Berkeley – This channel includes free courses on science and tech topics, including biology, computer science, electrical engineering, and physics. But you can also study journalism, psychology, anthropology, and Japanese.
5. American Association of Neurological Surgeons – The lectures in this collection explore everything you could possibly need to know about the brain and nervous system. If you’re considering med school, or just want to learn more about brain surgery, this is the channel for you.
6. TED Courses – The respected lecture series has started publishing independent study courses for adult learners on iTunes U. Though there are only 13 courses currently available, they explore subjects as diverse as happiness, climate change, and robotics.
7. University of California Television – UCTV takes a unique approach, focusing more on current events and hot topics than traditional coursework. They even have a series of lectures delivered by past Nobel Prize winners. This channel is not to be missed!
8. University of Cambridge – This channel has some outstanding science content, including videos of various cells and organisms under the microscope, and a lecture series meant to help entrepreneurs get their businesses off the ground.
9. University of Oxford – In addition to some great courses on business, science, and politics, Oxford offers free lectures on medieval English and the complete collection of Shakespeare, along with lectures explaining each of the plays.
10. School of Visual Arts – If the rest of these topics are a little too academic for you – never fear. You can access lectures on fine arts and the creative process through the School of Visual Arts’ channel to help get those creative juices flowing.

So how about you? Have you used iTunes U before to access lectures, coursework, and other education resources? What channels did you find most helpful? Give us your suggestions in the comments below – we’d love to hear from you!

Whether you’re just curious and want to learn more about the operating system, or you need to become comfortable with Linux for work, there are some great resources out there to help you get started. Why spend $100 or more on a course to learn Linux, when there’s so many free sites available to help you out?

Here’s a few great sites to help you learn Linux online for free:

• IBM DeveloperWors: Answers your basics questions like why Linux, difference between Linux and Unix, what can be done with Linux.
• University of Surrey –  More free university resources on learning Linux. This is a tutorial for absolute beginners, starting with an introduction to the OS, tutorials in basic operations, and everything you need to know about navigating Linux or UNIX successfully.
• Norm Matloff’s Unix and Linux Tutorial Center – Norm Matloff, a professor of Computer Science,  has written a variety of free Linux and Unix tutorials for independent study. In addition to presentations providing guidance for complete beginners (including help installing Linux on your machine), he includes more advanced information.
• Novell OpenCourseWare Project – Novell’s free, self-directed courses are free and follow a more traditional course format than some of the other sites listed here. If you need the structure of exercises and assessments, these are the courses for you. Novell covers subject matter ranging from the very basic to advanced.
• Linux Security for Beginners – This free course from Linuxtopia helps beginners navigate Linux security. It explores everything firewalls, wireless security, and more. A great resource for anyone interested in learning how to use Linux safely and securely.

Did we miss any other good Linux learning resources? Add them in the comments.

The best thing about is how the different disciplines are broken down into introductory, intermediate, and advanced categories, which are then further broken down into very specific subject areas. They have content appropriate for those just starting out and those who’ve been studying economics for a long time.

There are also other materials which can be helpful for someone learning more about economics. They have audio and video lectures from various universities to TED talks, guides for students, along with glossaries of economics terminology to help those trying to get their bearings in this complex, and often confusing, field. There are even worksheets, classroom exercises, and quizzes – these are most helpful for teachers, but can also give students a chance to test their knowledge or study concepts in more depth than they would by simply watching a video.

You can even view the slides from university lectures, work through interactive tutorials on different subjects, and find software applying to different disciplines. The site includes links to free online texts and notes, for those who prefer reading about a subject to watching free videos or listening to lectures.

Economics Network has really managed to amass a comprehensive collection of material that should fit every learning style and every economics student’s academic needs.

Here are just a sample of some of the hottest web, iPhone, and Android apps from around the web, specifically tailored for the online learners.

iPad and iPhone Apps

1. Evernote – This is a great iPhone app for note taking. It’s free, supports text, photo, and voice notes, and it syncs to an online account so your data is securely backed up no matter what happens to your iPhone! It even integrates photo-based search, Twitter, and geolocation. You can access the notes later from your Mac or PC, too.
2. Wikipedia – Now you can access the world’s most comprehensive online encyclopedia on the go! Obviously it’s not the world’s most reliable research source, but it’s an easy way to get a basic grasp of just about any subject.
3. Dictionary.com – Easily look up any word for free from your phone. This app also supports mobile access to Thesaurus.com, so you can find exactly the word you’re looking for.
4. PI83 Graphing Calculator – This app isn’t free, but at less than a dollar, the price shouldn’t stop anyone from having the full functionality of a graphic calculator on their phone. This is certainly less expensive than buying a dedicated graphic calculator for $100! It includes all of the features of the Texas Instruments TI83 calculator.
5. 3D Brain – A free app for iPad and iPhone that allows students to actually see the human brain. It even describes what each part does. This is great for a beginning class on any subject related to the brain. 
6. History: Maps of the World – A free iPad and iPhone app that includes both contemporary and ancient maps. Great for the history or geography student.
7. NASA App – This is the official app of the US government space agency, NASA – it includes images and videos of space, a calendar of NASA missions and a launch schedule. Space fans can also learn about individual satellites. Great for kids, but let’s face it, this one is fun for adults, too.
8. iTunes U – Free podcast lectures from top schools delivered straight to your Apple device. You can even subscribe on your computer through iTunes and sync to your iPod or other MP3 player. These free courses include material from UC Berkeley, MIT and other prestigious universities. Definitely a must-have!
9. iBooks – Read books straight from your iPad. You can access best-sellers, classic literature, and even full-screen, interactive textbooks. Unlike a traditional textbook, you can search the text and instantly find exactly what you’re looking for.
10. TED – Now you can view talks from some of the world’s leading experts on countless topics, instantly and for free on either iPad or iPhone. You can browse and search in online or offline mode. There’s even “TEDRadio,” an instant, streaming audio channel with TED talks 24/7.

Android Apps

1. Gdocs – An official Google app that allows you to connect to your Google Docs account for easy access on the go. You can use it from your Android device or any computer. There’s even support for multiple accounts (say, a personal and school account), a PDF viewer, document syncing, and more.
2. Android SMS Backup – If you take notes on your smartphone, you can avert catastrophe. This app automatically backs up your notes, photos, and more from your SMS card, and sends the files to your Gmail account. That way, if you lose your phone, drop it in a lake, or accidentally smash it during the course of a science experiment in class, your precious notes will still be easy to access.
3. Astrid – This app is great for people taking online courses – it’s so easy to forget deadlines, assignments, etc., when you aren’t showing up in a physical classroom once or twice a week. Astrid is a to-do list that also helps you track tasks. It’s simple and easy to use. Never forget the due date for that big paper or homework assignment again! Astrid is free, but there’s an inexpensive paid version that includes voice recognition and audio reminders, as well as better tech support.
4. Knowledge – This app is great for anyone, whether you’re taking formal coursework or just want to expand your intellectual horizons – it bills itself for “students, businessmen, and curious minds.” Knowledge allows you to ask for any information you need to know, and then store that data for later use. Topics are far-ranging, including culture, sports, weather, physics, chemistry, math, nutrition facts, chemistry, and more.
5. ColorDict Universal Dictionary – The great thing about this dictionary is that you can search for words even without being connected to the Internet. You can scan multiple dictionaries at the same time, and there’s even an option to search for idioms – not just individuals words.
6. DroidScan – Allows you to turn your smartphone into a high-quality document scanner! The app uses perspective correction to convert captured images into high quality scans. This is great if you don’t have the benefit of access to a campus computer lab and don’t have a scanner at home. Why buy yet another piece of equipment when your Droid has the power to scan paperwork for you?
7. Offiviewer – Now you can read any document format without having to buy expensive software for your computer, even on the go. Offiviewer opens PDFs, Word Documents (yes, even .docx!), PowerPoint presentations, OpenDocument format, and RTF. It does use an internet connection to render the documents, however.
8. StudyDroid – If you’re trying to memorize facts and figures, this is the perfect app for you – create digital “flash cards” on the go. You’ll never lose them for forget to bring them with you. You can create your own cards, focused on whatever information you need to remember.
9. Mathdroid – This free app turns your Android phone into a scientific calculator. One less machine to worry about carrying around – and more useful and functional than the built-in calculators in most phones.
10. Periodic Table – This app makes studying chemistry or biology easy! Look up information on any element right from your smartphone. Much easier to carry around with you than a printout of the entire periodic table. 
11. Almost A Doctor – An amazing app for anyone studying medicine, or just interested in learning more about the field. Includes hundreds of articles on diseases, pharmacology, examinations, skills and data interpretation, etc. This app is aimed at medical students and professionals, but would likely be helpful for pre-med students or people in related fields like massage therapy, physical therapy, or pharmacists.
12. Voice Recorder – If you hate taking notes by hand, this app is the one for you. You can record audio (and even record based on a timer), title your records, search for recordings by title and date, set recordings as ringtones, play back your recordings, and send them to yourself via Gmail.
13. Star Chart – This is the app for anyone interested in astronomy – using your phone’s GPS, you can simply point it at the sky, and Star Chart will show you exactly what you’re looking at! You can also scroll around the night sky to find out the names of constellations and stars. It even has a catalogue of deep-space objects and powerful zoom features – it’s not exactly the same as your own telescope, but at $2.99, it’s much more affordable!

Web Apps

1. BibMe – This is a free app that helps you make a bibliography or works cited page for your papers. It supports MLA, APA, Chicago, and Turabian formats. All you need to do is enter the required information, or use the site’s search feature to find the book, article, website, or film you’re trying to reference. Never worry about incorrectly formatting your citations again!
2. Awesome Highlighter – One of the most frustrating things about studying online is not being able to highlight important information they way you would in a textbook or handout. But thanks to Awesome Highlighter, that frustration is now a thing of the past. This app allows you to highlight information on web pages and attach it to a short, easy link to the marked-up page – so that you can come back later to review your notes, or send it along to a friend.
3. Bubble.us – This is a fun, free web app that helps you turn your ideas into a color-coded mind map. Great for brainstorming and outlining papers or projects. This is the perfect tool for visual learners who have a hard time organizing their ideas, or anyone who needs to brainstorm before they can get to work.
4. Miscellaneous Math Utilities – The site may not look fancy, but it’s a great time-saver when you’re working out complex math problems for algebra, geometry, physics, and related courses. Some great utilities for when you have a computer but no graphing or scientific calculator on hand.
5. Quizlet – This not only allows you to create online “flashcards” for studying, but also includes over 10 million free sets of flashcards addressing topics including science, math, geography, history, foreign languages, art, standardized tests, professional studies, and more. There’s free educational games to help hone your knowledge, too. Who says learning can’t be fun?
6. A Better Calculator – This is another, free, online app that functions the same way as a graphic calculator! It works on your laptop, but also your iPad or smart phone! This is a perfect tool to help you deal with the complex arithmetic required for advanced mathematics or science courses.

These are only a small sample of all the great education apps out there! There are so many, we couldn’t even begin to cover them all. But hopefully, regardless of the device you’re using or subject you’re studying, you’ll be able to find what you need on this list.

Are there any great apps out there that we missed? Let us know! We always encourage feedback in the comments.

• Membership is free, giving access to comprehensive math courses at your fingertips for no cost.
• Concepts are presented in a variety of ways, so that every learning style is accommodated. Those who learn by reading will find the textbook portions easy. Those who learn visually and by doing will get the greatest benefit out of the widgets and demonstrations included in the text.
• There are resources not only for students and independent learners, but lesson plans for teachers as well!

The site uses five types of resources:

1. Textbooks: Each lesson includes a relevant section of Wolfram’s digital textbook, explaining the big concepts behind the chapter in easy-to-understand language. It’s very different from the math textbooks you may be used to! They also include comprehensive examples, explaining each new concept and problem step-by-step. Interactive widgets and demonstrations follow each section, described in more detail below. All this is followed by a review, which you would expect in a more traditional math class. This allows students to practice and apply what they’ve learned from the chapter. And, yes, you can check your answers once you’re done.
2. Lesson Plans: Wolfram also includes lesson plans that explain how to apply the textbook lesson in a lecture. These are intended for teachers, but are helpful for anyone who wants to learn a little more about the subject. There are class exercises to make sure everyone is following along, adding another level of understanding. There are some extra widgets in this section that you won’t find just reading the textbook.
3. Demonstrations: The demonstrations in the textbook show students how to visualize a problem. The demonstrations are interactive, meaning you can see how a problem would look if you substituted different numbers for the same problem. It shows students how dynamic the concepts really are, and effectively function as an unending series of related “examples” in a way a paper textbook just can’t match.  Following subjects has demos.
4. Widgets: The widgets are where the fun really comes in. Yes, I said it – Wolfram Education Portal manages to make math fun. You can play around with the concepts presented in the chapter, deepening your understanding. Unlike the demonstrations, the widgets are more flexible and show you how to solve actual problems, You can customize all the parameters, and it will output the results in a straightforward manner, just like the examples earlier in the chapter. This functions, in many ways, the same way as a teacher working a problem through on the board in front of the class. Obviously, this is a huge benefit for students who are using the site to study independently, or to build on a lesson previously taught in class.
5. Practice: This is the last feature Wolfram wants to bring to students. It’s not available yet, but hopefully will be soon. Practice will allow users to work out problems related to each lesson.

The last feature of Wolfram Education Portal is the only one that isn’t free. Wolfram also offers Course Assistant Apps – unfortunately, presently available only for the iPhone, iPod Touch, and iPad. These apps are very reasonably priced at less than $3 each, and they provide help in 13 different subjects. They cover not only basics like Pre-Algebra and Algebra, but several different Calculus courses, but also Physics, Statistics, and Chemistry. There’s even some really fun ones like Music Theory and Astronomy!

This project aims to teach you JavaScript, which is essential to build any interesting website or an app or games. You need to sign up but Facebook log in is allowed.  There is some thing called scratch pad, where you can try your lessons learnt, to check your coding knowledge. No compilers or simulators are required to compile your code. Everything is online and instant .

It is very interactive and future of online education.

1. Carbon is a Tramp

2. Water

3. Biological Molecules

4. Eukarypolis – The City of Animals

5. In Da Club – Membranes and Transport

6. Plant Cells

After Completion of the course you will receive a certificate of accomplishment from MITx.

This is  first undergraduate course for Electrical & Electronics or Computer Science departments. Topics covered: Resistive elements and networks, dependent, independent sources, MOS transistors, amplifiers, Analog and Digital circuits and applications.

Knowledge of electricity, magnetism, calculus, differential equations and linear algebra are required to understand the subject

Because this is online course and providing certificate of course completion, MITx has different set of rules to agree, as follows.

• Complete all mid-terms and final exams with only my own work.
• Maintain only one account, and not share the username or password.
• Not engage in any activities that would dishonestly improve my results, or improve or hurt those of others.
• Not post answers to problems that are being used to assess student performance.

Similar to MITx, Stanford also offers 15+ free courses for Spring 2012.

Read books offline – Rather than dealing with awkward internet browser page scrolling, GooReader offers a convenient option for reading magazines and books directly on your desktop through an interactive interface. Zoom pages, search book content and take notes or save content all by using the app online or offline.

Create Bookmarks and Libraries – GooReader conveniently lets you create a local library of your Google Books on your hard drive. The library is accessible while offline, eliminating the need to search for books with each use. Bookmarks are automatically created each time a book is closed, letting you quickly pick up where you left off every time. GooReader also provides access to your already-established online Google Library, allowing you to manage personal bookshelves.

Save to PDF – Convert Google Books to PDF files directly from GooReader for easy reading access on e-Book readers or mobile devices. Please note, the option to convert books and magazines to PDF files is available with the app’s paid version.

If you’ve been searching for a convenient method of accessing Google Books offline or via your desktop, the GooReader may just be the ideal solution.

You do not need to have any prior knowledge of programming. This course is mainly for beginners. Though C programming is used, concepts remain the same across various languages except syntax.

Professor Colin Archibald of Valencia College presents the course. Has 20 video lessons and power point slides used in lessons are made available for download. Topic explained are from variable and data types to how to write a function in C.

Head over here to the course and have good time learning.

Note: Videos need Windows media browser plug-in, so i recommend Internet explorer to other browsers so that you can avoid installing IE plug-in.

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