While being a senior citizen, it might be simple to justify refraining from participating in new and unfamiliar activities. This is especially true if you believe it is too late for you to return to school or pursue a new interest. This, however, is not the case in any way whatsoever! Older adults can pursue a wide range of interests, hobbies, and abilities no matter what stage of life they are now in. In light of the fact that many seniors are becoming less mobile and spending more time indoors, enrolling in an online course for enjoyment and leisure may be the ideal solution.

Programs that have been highlighted

Philosophy at the University of Edinburgh: An Introduction

The Biology of Compassion is a branch of science that studies compassion.

UP The Road to Happiness and a High Level of Life Quality

Disclaimer: Some courses may have an affiliate connection to a third-party website. Following the technique, courses were selected first, with affiliate links being inserted only after the rating process was complete.

Seniors, like younger people, need the opportunity to study and experiment with anything they desire, which is why free online courses are so crucial. These classes are available to you as long as you have access to a smartphone, a computer, or a tablet. Senior folks can participate in hundreds, if not thousands, of various classes and activities, making it difficult to choose just a handful to include in this list. However, based on our own process, we've identified 10 exceptional free courses for older citizens. If you've reached a point in your life when you'd like to learn something new, stay reading to learn about some of your alternatives.

TEN FREE ONLINE COURSES FOR SENIOR CITIZENS IN RANKING ORDER

1. The Road to Happiness and a High Level of Life Quality

Future Learn has made this resource available.

It's possible that as you become older, you'll discover that some of the things you loved earlier in life are no longer available to you. Even if this isn't the case for you, it is still crucial to take charge of your happiness and to understand your own emotions and sentiments. That is exactly what this Future Learn course accomplishes, and it is absolutely free to take for members and non-members alike! With a constantly changing range of courses, Future Learn is an online educational resource for individuals of all ages. The courses are offered on a rotating basis, so you never know what you'll be getting when you visit the site.

For people at various phases in their lives, this greatest free online course, presented by Graciela H. Tonon from the Universidad de Palermo, goes over the notions of happiness and quality of life for them. While identifying distinct factors that contribute to your overall happiness and quality of life as a whole, you will examine the quality of life for children, adults, and senior persons. In light of all of the anxiety that has surrounding the year 2020, taking stock of your own personal quality of life and happiness may be therapeutic.

There is no charge.

Certificate: Yes (for a charge of $59 per certificate).

Time required to complete the project: around 4 weeks

Beginner's Course of Study

Excellent overall user experience

Instructional Quality: Excellent Overall.

Pros:

Start whenever you want and go at your own speed.

Examine the notions of happiness and the overall quality of one's life in depth.

This is especially important for older persons.

Cons:

The course does not provide a certificate of completion.

2. Art Essentials: Learn the Fundamentals of Watercolor Painting

SkillShare has made this resource available.

Watercolor painting is an exceptionally simple and accessible option for older folks to acquire a new kind of art while still maintaining their independence. Watercolor paints are quite self-explanatory, and they are also inexpensive and readily available at most craft stores and internet retailers. Using this basic watercolor tutorial provided by SkillShare, you will learn how to pass the time by painting while you wait for anything. This is one of SkillShare's premium classes, which means that in order to access it, you would generally need to have a paid premium membership. However, the site is presently giving a two-week free trial period for new customers, which is more than enough time to complete this brief course in its entirety.

All of the fundamentals of watercolor painting are covered in this excellent free course for seniors, including how to use watercolor paints on both wet and dry paper, how to mix colors using primary-colored paints, and how to create texture with various brushes and tools. Shoes are used as an example by the instructor for practice purposes, which is really amusing and wacky. By the conclusion of the course, you will have learned how much water to use, how to use different brushes, and how to utilize a basic color chart to create your masterpiece.

There is no charge (with SkillShare Premium free trial)

No, there isn't a certificate.

Time required to complete the task: around 1 hour

Beginner's Course of Study

Excellent overall user experience

Instructional Quality: Excellent Overall.

Pros:

Start whenever you want and go at your own speed.

Learn how to use watercolor paints from the very beginning.

Learn how to utilize a variety of brushes and other tools.

Cons:

The course does not provide a certificate of completion.

The third element of music theory is rhythm and instruments.

Alison has provided this information.

Some older folks have had a lifelong interest or pastime in music, which began when they were very young and has remained with them throughout their lives. Learning about music theory is just another technique to have a deeper understanding of music, particularly of music that is now regarded classic in nature. This course is provided by Alison, a business-oriented educational website that caters to individuals with a more entrepreneurial mindset. Alison is a free membership site, and while many of its courses are geared at professionals, there are a number of lifestyle courses that are ideal for elderly adults to take advantage of.

Over the course of this free online course, you will get an understanding of how to actively listen to music and recognize the many instruments, sounds, and rhythms that are present in a song. Listening is something that requires ongoing practice, and if you currently listen to a lot of music, this course can assist you in becoming a more educated listener by providing you with more information. The course covers the fundamentals of musical theory and regulations, as well as instruments, beats, rhythm, and the many sounds that may be heard in a song and how to recognize them. With only one and a half to three hours of work, you may begin to develop your listening skills right now!

There is no charge.

No, there isn't a certificate.

Time required to complete: 1.5 to 3 hours approximately

Beginner's Course of Study

Excellent overall user experience

Instructional Quality: Excellent Overall.

Pros:

Start whenever you want and go at your own speed.

It instructs you on sounds and instruments that you have most likely already heard.

Learn how to become a more engaged listener with this guide.

Cons:

The course does not provide a certificate of completion.

4. An Introduction to Philosophical Thought

This course is offered by the University of Edinburgh through Coursera.

Looking for something cerebral or scholarly to study as a senior citizen? Look no farther than this Introduction to Philosophy course from Coursera, which is designed just for seniors. The course, which is free and tries to cover a wide array of modern philosophers and their ideas, has already attracted over half a million pupils. Coursera is an educational platform that provides free and paid courses and specialties to assist students and professionals go ahead or jump start their careers. It is widely considered as one of the world's finest learning websites.

More than a quarter of the students who finished this course went on to start a new job or obtained some type of promotion, raise, or other concrete career advantage as a result of their participation. The course is intended to guide users through some of the most important regions and thought-provoking problems in contemporary philosophy, as well as many of the philosophers and the areas of thinking that they engaged in during their careers. As part of this investigation, the course looks at what philosophy is and how it differs from other similar topic areas. This best free online course for seniors will provide you with an overview of numerous distinct topics of philosophy by the time you have completed the course in its entirety.

There is no charge.

Yes, there is a certificate.

Time required for completion: around 19 hours

Beginner's Course of Study

Excellent overall user experience

Instructional Quality: Excellent Overall.

Pros:

Certificate that may be shared for free

explains a difficult subject in a straightforward manner

It goes over a number of contemporary thinkers.

Cons:

It has been noticed by several users that the subjects addressed in the course do not go into great depth.

The fifth qualification is a Professional Diploma in Interior Design.

Shaw Academy has made this resource available.

Shaw Academy believes that your future should unfold in the manner in which you choose, even if you are a senior citizen! Late-in-life opportunities abound, and an interior design certificate might be the springboard for a whole new interest or perhaps a new job. Normally, to gain entrance to Shaw Academy, you would have to spend almost $70 per month in tuition. This interior design diploma, on the other hand, is one of the few courses available on the site that is completely free of charge. The diploma takes around 4 weeks to complete and provides you with the skills and knowledge necessary to become a successful interior designer.

The skills you will gain in this internationally acclaimed course will help you to build and manage your own interior design projects, whether they are for your own house or for someone else's home. The free online course will cover everything from what to anticipate as an interior designer to the fundamentals of design terminology and vocabulary. You will also study about floor plans, sections, elevations, mock-ups, perspective drawings, individual style, and other related topics in this course. This course provides a broad overview of interior design as a whole, and will prepare you to tackle any design issue that comes your way.

There is no charge.

Yes, there is a certificate.

Time required to complete the project: around 4 weeks

Beginner's Course of Study

Excellent overall user experience

Instructional Quality: Excellent Overall.

Pros:

It will only take 4 weeks to finish.

teaches a number of subjects in the field of interior design

Prepares you for a prospective profession in the field of interior design.

Cons:

There is no certification.

6. 15-minute Cardio Dance Workout Class with a Dance Instructor

YouTube and The Studio by Jamie Kinkeade have provided the video.

With increasing age, it might become more difficult and time-consuming to move your body in a way that increases circulation and muscle activation, as opposed to when you were younger. Working out in the same manner that you did when you were younger may seem monotonous, laborious, or uninteresting to some people. Here's where something like Zumba may help you out! Zumba is a sort of dance cardio workout that was developed in the 1990s with the goal of making fitness enjoyable and exciting for people of all ages. Zumba classes range in difficulty from really basic to quite difficult, and they are available in a number of various paces and music styles.

Jamie Kinkeade, the instructor of the cardio course, aspires to transform her pupils from the inside out via her fun and challenging cardio sessions. When her pupils are at home, she wants them to be able to move freely and work up a sweat, which will increase their blood flow and provide them with an overall surge of endorphins. Because this is an exercise class and it only takes 15 minutes to complete, you may repeat it as many times as you like and use it as a resource indefinitely, if you so want. Jamie Kinkeade also has other classes available on her YouTube channel that are of varying lengths and types.

There is no charge.

No, there isn't a certificate.

Time required for completion: around 15 minutes

Beginner's Course of Study

Excellent overall user experience

Instructional Quality: Excellent Overall.

Pros:

It will only take you 15 minutes to finish this task.

It is possible to repeat the process as many times as desired.

Course that gets the blood flowing and muscles working in a short amount of time.

Cons:

There is no certification.

7. Modern Script Calligraphy: An Introduction to the Technique

SkillShare has made this resource available.

Do you write letters to your friends and family on a regular basis? Do you take pleasure in reading a well-written greeting card? Do you get the impression that your handwriting has worsened throughout the course of your life? That is no longer the case! If you're looking to improve your handwriting while also learning a new artistic talent, this course from SkillShare is a great place to begin your search. As previously said, while SkillShare is a theoretically free site to use, this course is one of SkillShare's premium courses, which means that you would ordinarily be required to pay a membership fee in order to access and utilize the course materials. However, a 14-day free trial for new customers will allow you to access this course as well as a plethora of other resources without charge.

Bryn Chernoff's free online calligraphy and hand lettering lesson is friendly and welcoming for people who are new to the art of calligraphy and hand lettering. Bryn aspires to be an encouraging teacher rather than one who challenges her students, emphasizing the need of practice and repetition. By the conclusion of the course, you will have finished a project in calligraphy that you find enjoyable, whether it is a name, a card, or a brief piece that you find interesting. Even better, the course contains seven practice pages that are only available through SkillShare, ensuring that you will always have additional calligraphy practice to enjoy.

There is no charge (With SkillShare premium free trial)

No, there isn't a certificate.

Time required to complete the task: around 2 hours

Beginner's Course of Study

Excellent overall user experience

Instructional Quality: Excellent Overall.

Pros:

You may begin whenever you choose and go at your own speed.

The course was quite inviting and encouraging.

Practice sections that are specific to the platform are included as well.

Cons:

There is no certification.

Lastly, the Science of Compassion examines the Biology of Compassion.

LinkedIn Learning has made this resource available.

As we grow older and go through our lives, we become increasingly aware of how critical it is to exhibit compassion for others on a regular basis. You can never know what someone else is going through, therefore the greatest thing you can do is make their lives easy while still being as empathetic as you possibly can be to them. This course from LinkedIn Learning explores the complexity of compassion, delving into the biology of what it means to be compassionate in order to better understand it. LinkedIn Learning is a premium, subscription-based educational platform, which means that you must normally pay a fee in order to have access to its resources. A one-month free trial is available to new users who register on the site, and many students who are currently enrolled in a college or university can take advantage of the platform's no-cost accessibility.

It is possible to grasp the biology of compassion with this free online course for senior folks. You will learn about the body mechanisms that allow you to be sympathetic to others. Compassion manifests itself in numerous ways in different parts of your brain, neurological system, and heart, and this course delves into each of those functions. Additionally, educator Kelly McGonigal leads participants through a guided practice of heart breathing for compassion, which she developed herself.

There is no charge. Linkedin Learning is available for a free trial.

No, there isn't a certificate.

Time required to complete the task: around 1 hour

Beginner's Course of Study

Excellent overall user experience

Instructional Quality: Excellent Overall.

Pros:

You may begin whenever you choose and go at your own speed.

Compassion is broken down into its biological activities.

Cons:

There is no certification.

After the one-month free trial period has expired, course materials are no longer available.

9. Poetry: How to Understand and Appreciate a Poem

Future Learn has made this resource available.

It's easy to get poetry anywhere, and it's among the many genres of literature that may be quite tranquil and relaxing for individuals of all ages and backgrounds. The unfortunate reality is that many people are unable to properly read or comprehend poetry. Taking this course has the potential to completely transform that. It is hosted on Future Learn and given by the University of York, which is considered to be one of the most prestigious universities in the United Kingdom, among other things. In addition to offering a large number of free courses, Future Learn also provides the opportunity to pay a one-time charge and gain additional advantages such as a certificate of success upon completion.

It takes around one month to finish this free online course, which teaches the origins of how humans connected with one another and their environment via poetry. Students will study about the foundations of poetry and poetic form, intertextuality, how to write about poetry effectively, and much more throughout the course. Irrespective of whether you are an avid reader of poetry or have never picked up a book of poetry in your life, you will undoubtedly get something from this course that will change your perspective on poetry.

There is no charge.

Certificate: Yes (for a charge of $59 per certificate).

Time required to finish: around one month

Beginner's Course of Study

Excellent overall user experience

Instructional Quality: Excellent Overall.

Pros:

You may begin whenever you choose and go at your own speed.

This course begins with the fundamentals of poetry and progresses from there.

Poetry writing is taught in this course.

Cons:

The course does not include a certificate of completion, which is an additional cost.

Ten. Four Time-Tested Methods of Making Pottery Without Using the Wheel

SkillShare has made this resource available.

Clay-making may appear to be an inaccessible pastime to some people, especially as they get older. Throwing pottery on a wheel may be expensive, especially if you don't have the funds or the time to set up your own pottery studio. Students will learn how to make their own beautiful pottery in this course from SkillShare, which does not need the use of a potter's wheel or any other expensive equipment. It is a learning platform that provides a range of courses, some of which are only accessible to those who have paid for a premium membership. This course is one of them, and in order to access it, you will need to sign up for the two-week free trial.

This fun workshop will only take you approximately an hour and a half to complete and will definitely get your creative juices flowing! Using the free online course for elderly citizens, you will learn pottery methods that do not require extensive training, such as pinch pots, coil constructions, scooping techniques, slab building, and textured pots, among other things. If you find yourself confined at home for extended periods of time and in need of a new creative outlet to keep your mind occupied, creating your own, one-of-a-kind pottery may be the ideal activity to indulge in.

There is no charge (With SkillShare premium free trial)

No, there isn't a certificate.

Time required to complete the task: around 1.5 hours

Beginner's Course of Study

Excellent overall user experience

Instructional Quality: Excellent Overall.

Pros:

You may begin whenever you choose and go at your own speed.

teaches pottery techniques that do not require the use of a potter's wheel.

Excellent for individuals who are confined to their homes.

Cons:

After the free trial period has expired, course materials are no longer available.