The internet is chock full of information, so much so that it can be difficult to know where to begin when one is attempting to look up information. This is especially true when you’re attempting to gain the basics, improve in, or develop an area of learning. There’s no question that the internet has the answers – but filtering through it all to get the targeted information you require to improve your skills can be a learning curve all of its own.
Fortunately, if you know where to look, this process can be massively streamlined. Below, we’re going to look at some leading web apps, e-learning platforms, and simple web surfing tricks that can help you learn online easily and effectively.
Specialist eLearning Apps
There are loads of apps and platforms that are built from the ground up to help you learn a specific subject – some of which you may already be using, like the popular language-learning app Duolingo.
For example, Brilliant is a web and mobile app learning platform focused on STEM topics like science, engineering, and mathematics. With intuitive lessons and interactive diagrams, it’s an excellent way to brush up on your understanding and skills in these areas.
For those wanting to take things deeper, there are whole courses and even degrees available out there online. Well established eLearning services like Udemy and Skillshare offer thousands of high quality classes on everything from sculpture to programming, and can work great for upskilling, retraining or filling in knowledge gaps.
Additionally, universities across the world are increasingly offering undergraduate and postgraduate degrees in a range of subjects, making the prospect of acquiring accredited qualifications on your own timetable feasible.
Go to the Source
A lot of the information you find online is second, or third-hand. By this, we mean that it is derived from other, higher-quality sources. In light of this understanding, it’s always a good idea to try to track information back to its origin point – as that way, you’re sure you’re getting the unadulterated and clearest form of the content you’re looking at.
One of the simplest ways to do this when using a search engine is to seek out high-ranking websites that are known to specialize in the area you’re attempting to learn about. For example, reputable digital table title provider PokerStars Casino is going to offer higher value information on topics such as an explanation of how the number systems in roulette work than a low quality and unverified user-submitted WikiHow page on the same subject.
Likewise, someone wanting to pick up some top tips on gardening will be better served by going to a well-respected gardening platform like the Royal Horticultural Society rather than trying your hand at piecing together tidbits of relevant information from viral news platforms.
Explore AI
Over the past couple of years, the buzz around AI has been difficult to ignore with a certain type of AI, known as LLMs (large language models), becoming particularly prominent. The best known of these LLMs today is, without a doubt, ChatGPT – though Google Gemini, Anthropic’s Claude and Meta’s Llama are also increasingly popular.
These models are trained on data acquired from the internet and, thus, are able to seemingly understand and respond to complex questions posed to them. This can be very helpful when it comes to refining and testing your knowledge, as these models can, upon request, quiz you on certain topics – or talk to you in a language you’re learning.
There are some important caveats to consider when using AI for this purpose, though, and that they are not infallible. In fact, due to a limitation in their design, they’re capable of making mistakes and not recognizing them as such.
In light of this, it’s important to fact-check any information you acquire from an AI before applying it elsewhere. In spite of this, however, AI can be a potent tool in facilitating your learning journey if you know how to make the most of it.
