A to Z of the best free learning resources and tools?

 

The resources and websites listed below are just a sample of the learning resources that are available.  It is focused on online educational resources but and features business training and insight.  If you know of any I have missed please let me know, so that they can be added.

#

• 12Manage – e-Learning community on management; online encyclopaedia on management models, concepts and ideas
• 99u – short video ‘talks’ from business leaders (see also the better known TED below)
• 100 awesome blogs for your business education – blogs come from such influential voices as business school professors, successful entrepreneurs, and other authorities
• 100 best management learning sites – Presentation on Slideshare
• 2WayTrust – a few free resources on leadership and improving performance
• 5min Business – coaching, economy, marketing, sales, etc, videos tagged with “business”

A

• About.com: Management – management resources
• ACAS – e-learning: from conflict resolution to handling redundancy. Recommended
• ALISON – essential skills training online, free to individual learners
• AllBusiness – Simple solutions, powerful advice  – videos, podcasts, etc (mostly free)

B

• BBC learning – a selection of free online learning on popular topics well beyond the workplace
• Bean Counting 101 – free online accounting course for non-accountants
• Bookboon – free online books on a range of topics. Recommended.
• BricksorClicks.com – Strategy game that puts you in the role of a CEO of a toy company
• Businessballs – Free career help, business training, organisational development – inspirational, innovative ideas, materials, exercises, tools, templates – free and fun
• Business Bookmall – Free Business Textbooks
• Business Management Daily – free reports on business, management, leadership, communication, etc

C

• Carnegie Mellon Open Learning Initiative – a number of free online business-related courses
• Change Management Center Tutorials – designed to provide consultants, managers and practitioners with insight into the field and practice of change management

E

• Economics Forum – economics discussion forum, economics blogs, economics resources, and economics social network (from the Economist)
• Effective Public Speaking Skills – Free exercises to use to improve your presentations

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F

• Free Business Management Online Practice Tests – from WizIQ
• Free-Ed.Net: Business & Economics – free business and economics courses
• Free Management Library – a complete integrated online library for nonprofits and for-profits
• FT Business School Wharton – series of executive education video lectures
• FutureLearn – great quality free Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs). Recommended

G

• Gazillionaire – award-winning simulation game. Explore new worlds, build your business, and make a fortune
• GCF – learn the basics of the internet
• getAbstract – business book summaries in PDF format, some free
• GoogleSearch – Google search tips
• GuruOnline – free valuable advice covering crucial business related topics broken down into easy-to-absorb, instantly streamed videos

H

• HBR IdeaCast (Harvard University) – iTunes – Feed – leading thinkers in the business and management world

I

• Industry Player – business game. You are the CEO of a multinational industry holding. Your success depends entirely on your management skills
• Informatist – extremely popular online business simulation game offers you the perfect environment to play and learn business skills that will stand you in good stead in the real world. It’s great for novices as well as experts
• INSEAD Knowledge – articles, videos and podcasts
• Intute: Business Management – provides free access to high-quality resources on the Internet
• isnare.com: Business Management – Thousands of free articles
• Khan Academy – free educational resources, micro lectures and video tutorials

L

• LeaderNetwork – for aspiring leaders as well as highly-developed leaders. Core web resources include Leader Resource Spotlight, Book Reviews, and Leadership Podcast Series
• Leadership.FM – Take your leadership to the next level
• Leadership, management, teamwork and business – online publishers of quality resources and articles, whose aim is to improve business performance through better teamwork
• Leadership Training Tutorials – a range of text-based tutorials
• LearnOutLoud: Business Free Audio & Video – business leaders, leadership and management and strategy videos
• London Business School – iTunes – Feed – podcasts

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M

• Management Tip of the Day – daily email from Harvard Business Publishing
• MBAVid.com – Daily MBA video lectures for Free
• MindTools – toolkit, videos, bite-sized learning and plenty other useful resources
• MIT Open Course Ware – Sloan School of Management open courses
• MOOClist – a list of free Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs); see also FutureLearn

O

• OCW Consortium – one of the largest sources of online courses. Recommended
• OEDB – open education database
• OpenLearn – business and management resources from the Open University
• OU on iTunesU – the Open University on iTunes U
• Open2Study – good selection of courses from Australian universities
• Open Yale Courses – Department of Economics – offers courses for both specialists and non-specialists alike

P

• Progressive Managers’ Network – a blog where the focus is developing effectiveness as a people centred manager

R

• RBA Business Information – links will take you to a selection of business information sites on the Internet

S

• Scopulus – This site is a gateway for business information and resources for the business professional who wants to get it right first time
• Skill Pill – Mobile learning for your phone or tablet, look out for the Management Shortcuts in particular
• Slideshare business – presentations tagged with ”business”
• Stanford University – Stanford upcoming courses

T

• TED Talks – video ‘talks’ from leading thinkers. Recommended. (If you like TED see also 99u)
• The Big Chair – Biweekly podcasts featuring breakthrough management ideas from HBR Idea cast (also available on iTunes)
• The Hot Mommas Project – world’s largest free case study database focused on business and professional lessons of professional women
• Thinking Managers – a resource site from Edward de Bono and Robert Heller
• Top 100 Free E-Books for Business students and entrepreneurs – These 100 e-books on marketing, management, e-commerce, and finance are all free and worth checking out

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V

• Vimeo business videos – videos hosted at Vimeo and tagged with “business”

W

• Webcasts/courses at Berkeley – a number free online business-related courses/webcasts from University of California at Berkeley
• Work911 – free management and business articles

Y

• YouTube business videos –  YouTube videos tagged with “business”