Two of the Biggest, Most Popular MOOCs Are edX and Coursera

You can browse available courses or search for a topic you’re interested in. When you find a course you want to take, you’ll need to register online. Most courses last 6-8 weeks. You’ll have weekly assignments with quizzes and tests so you can see your progress. There will be online forums, so you can ask questions, provide feedback, and get help if you need it. But will you find courses you’re interested in?

EdX offers over 3,500 online courses and Coursera offers over 7,000 courses. You’ll find a wide variety of courses on topics such as 19th Century Opera, Pyramids of Giza, and The Science of Happiness. The courses are offered by top colleges, but do you get college credits?

Third, Learning Can Be Good for Your Retirement

Many people enter retirement looking forward to a life of leisure. But many retirees experience a spike in well-being and life satisfaction directly after retiring, followed by a sharp decline in happiness a few years later.² It’s possible that a life of leisure doesn’t provide the sense of purpose and feelings of accomplishment people experienced during their working years. If you’re feeling that retirement letdown, or you’d like to avoid it, taking an online course could help you find a new, exciting purpose in retirement. Plus, learning may help keep your mind sharp as you age.

A 2020 study found that people who learned a mentally demanding skill, like photography, showed improvements in memory compared to those who were only engaged in social activities or non-demanding mental activities. Learning something that was unfamiliar and mentally challenging is key to improvement.³

What to Do if You Like the Idea of Taking Classes In-Person Instead

Despite the accessibility and low-cost of MOOCs, there are definitely benefits of taking courses in-person, too. You’ll probably get more social interaction with other students and professors, and you’re able to get more immediate answers to questions. But in-person college courses come with higher cost and commitment. If you pay $500 for a community college course, you’ll feel obligated to attend every class, whether you like it or not. If you take a MOOC course and you’re not enjoying it, you can just stop and try something different.

Remember These Things If You Want to Keep Learning in Retirement

First, recognize that you can take courses online now without the hassle of going to class in-person or paying a lot. You can learn right in your living room using your phone, laptop, or tablet. Second, MOOCs offer a wide variety of course subjects and topics you can learn about, and most of the classes are free. If you brainstorm topics you’d like to learn about, chances are you can find a MOOC course available. Third, learning can be good for your retirement and your health.

What if Bill Kramer Would Have Recorded “Yesterday”?

Because he passed up a great opportunity, we’ll never know how popular he would have become. Don’t pass up opportunities to keep learning. In retirement, you’ve got the time to learn new things—and without incurring a huge cost. MOOC courses offer plenty of adventures for you to explore. Here’s how to get started.