It’s no secret that the English language is a confusing beast full of nuances, inconsistent rules, and usage that is constantly evolving. While many run screaming rather than face it head-on, there are some who bravely charge ahead, embracing the beast. These grammar geeks strive to commit those rules–even the ones that aren’t consistent–to memory and even find enjoyment in learning more about the words they love. Whether you count yourself among the proud grammarians or are just a college student who has to write a paper for class, these blog posts are full of fun and informative tidbits about grammar that will promise to make your writing stronger.

Parts of Speech

These posts examine nouns, verbs, adverbs, and other parts of speech.

1. Do I Hate Your Singing or You Singing?. Learn how to use the correct form of the possessive in a gerund.
2. All-Purpose Pronoun. The link in this post leads to an article that tells about the evolution of the word "he" to represent both men and women. Surprisingly, a woman with strong feminist ideals was probably the first to use "he" for both genders.
3. Agreement: Pronouns that ALWAYS Take a Singular Verb. Make sure you correctly use singular verbs with these pronouns.
4. When smart people use bad grammar. While a little harsh on those making mistakes, this blogger does make an excellent point about the correct usage of "I" and "me."
5. Prepositions on the Loose. Make sure you are putting your prepositional phrases in the correct place so you don’t run into these types of mistakes.
6. Subject, Meet Verb. When the subject of a sentence is a collective, it can be confusing to know which form of the verb to use. This post will help clarify the issue.
7. Adverbs Ending in -ly. Learn how to properly use adverbs ending in -ly and how to avoid misusing words ending in -ly.
8. Phrasal Verbs. Find out about these challenging verbs and what makes them so difficult.
9. Handy Hint: Was vs. Were. Discover a hint to help you remember when to use "I was" and "I were" correctly.
10. Handy Hint: Joint and Separate Possession. Learn how to correctly indicate possession when two or more nouns are involved in the sentence structure.
11. Me, Myself, and I. The word "myself" is often misused. Find out which pronouns to use in which circumstance.
12. Types of Adjectives: #1 Descriptive. The first of a three-part blogging series, this post covers adjectives that detail to the noun.
13. Types of Adjectives: #2 Limiting. These adjectives move beyond description and actually add details that are essential to completely understanding the noun.
14. Types of Adjectives: #3 Predicate Adjective. The final post in this series takes a look at adjectives that occur after the verb.

Punctuation

Learn how to properly use punctuation with this information.

15. Colons, Dashes and Troubles. Find out why colons and dashes should be used sparingly as well as some common mistakes with them both.
16. Serial Commas on the Loose. This blogger advocates using the serial comma and explains why you should use it–unless you are a newspaper journalist or live outside the US.
17. Commas in nouns of address. Learn about off-setting nouns of direct address with commas with this birthday cake story.
18. Editing Comma Splice. Learn about the dreaded comma splice and how to correct sentences containing one.
19. 14 English Punctuation Marks–What Are They?. Get a complete run-down of all fourteen of the punctuation marks used in English grammar.
20. How About It, Hyphen Haters?. This post illustrates why hyphens are sometimes necessary.
21. You’ve Been Punc’d. Here are seven common punctuation mistakes you should take care to avoid.
22. How to Punctuate a Sentence. This post offers an excellent guide to the basics of correctly punctuating a sentence.
23. The Apostrophe Explained. Understand how to use the apostrophe, or more commonly, not to use it.
24. Mother’s Little Helper. If you think you have a good understanding of using apostrophes, then you should read this post on more advanced apostrophe usage.
25. Semi-tough. Learn how to use a semi-colon here.
26. I (heart) ;. This post links to a New York Times article about semi-colon usage in New York.
27. R.I.P.. Discover why hyphens have gone out of style.
28. Handy Hint: Periods and Parentheses. Find out whether the period goes inside or outside the parentheses.
29. Handy Hint: Quotation Marks with Question Marks and Exclamation Points. Discover where these punctuation marks belong in reference to quotation marks.

Word Choice

If you have ever selected the wrong word in your writing, then peruse this list to ensure you don’t do so again.

30. The real difference between “between” and “among”. Examine the difference between these two prepositions and how they should be used properly.
31. To Google, or Not?. Learn why trademarked names should be capitalized and why they shouldn’t be used as verbs.
32. "Which" Versus "That". Find out about restrictive and non-restrictive clauses and whether to use "which" or "that" in your sentences.
33. Affect Versus Effect. These two words trip up many people, so read this post to learn one way to remember when to use the correct version.
34. Who Versus Whom. Get an easy trick to remember how to keep these two words straight.
35. Discombobulated. Some people use the words "disc" and "disk" interchangeably, but they actually refer to different types of objects.
36. Not-Coms. Learn the difference between a Web address and the company’s name, which may be similar.
37. Those Pesky Homophones. This post provides a list of commonly confused homophones that will certainly slip past the spellcheck.
38. Words to Watch Out For. Here is another list of words that are often misused by people and will not show up on the spellcheck.
39. The Bad Phrase(s) List. This extensive list provides both the "bad" phrases and what writers likely intend.
40. Words to Retire. Discover plenty of overused words in this post.
41. Has Your Curiosity Been Peaked–or Piqued?. Make sure your curiosity is treated with the proper respect by reading this post.
42. Ordinal Numbers: First, not Firstly. Find out why you need to omit the -ly when using ordinal numbers.

Style

The way you write can make a big difference in how your writing is understood. Read these posts for tips on ways to improve your style.

43. Style Tips: Avoiding Over-Nominalization. Learn how to streamline your sentences by avoiding overusage of nominalizations.
44. Nicer than the Nicest. Look at some adjectives that might cause confusion over whether to use "more" or "-er" with them.
45. All Too General. Using more specific words instead of relying on more general ones will add more meaning to your writing.
46. Active Voice Versus Passive Voice. Many writing teachers dislike the use of the passive voice. Learn the difference between passive and active voice here to help avoid awkward or vague sentences.
47. Notes on Style. See what eight professional writers have to say about style in this post.
48. Compound and Complex Sentences. This post provides a reminder to writers about varying their writing style by incorporating compound and complex sentences.
49. Capital Punishment . Not only will you find a list of rules for capitalization, but you will also get a short primer on using a few specific trademarked names.
50. Writing for the web: making a (bulleted) list. Learn about the art of making a list, especially as it pertains to writers whose work appears on the Web.
51. A Quick Sentence Revision Tip: Subordinate "IT". Discover a way to tighten your sentence structure by eliminating an unnecessary participial phrase.
52. Advice for students: How to unstuff a sentence. Removing redundancy and eliminating over-inflated words are just a few of the tips in this post on streamlining writing.
53. Starting a Sentence with "However". Find out if and when it is acceptable to start a sentence with "however."

Usage

Make sure you are using words correctly with the information these posts share.

54. Criminal Sentence 303: Who is a member?. This post shows an example of why you should pay attention to the subject of your sentence.
55. Modify your misplaced and dangling modifiers. Read funny examples of misplaced and dangling modifiers as well as how to fix them.
56. Myriad: How Does This One Work?. Learn how myriad can be used as both an adjective and a noun.
57. Do’s and Dont’s. Find out how to correctly use the apostrophe with words such as "to-dos."
58. literally flying down the road. This post highlights a misusage of the word "literally."
59. Guestimate. Using words that aren’t valid words can weaken your writing, as this post illustrates.
60. Jill Came Tumbling After. There are many ways to express the act of falling. Explore the nuances of some here.
61. Usage Thursday: Top Nine Misused Words. Take a look at this list and see if you have been misusing some of these words.
62. 25 Tips for Saving Money When Working With Your Editor. Follow these tips (whether you use an editor or not) to ensure you are using correct grammar.
63. Mixed metaphors are not like mixed nuts. This is a fun reminder of keeping the same theme when using metaphors.
64. Scotch. The correct usage for "Scots," "Scotch," "whiskey," and "whisky" is the feature in this post.
65. Grammar: Slips, Trips, and Falls. This list provides quite a few grammar tips to help ensure you are using the correct word, have proper predicate agreement, and a few other fun tips.

Myth-Busting

It appears that the most common grammar myth is that you can’t end a sentence with a preposition. Find out what other myths are busted in these blog posts.

66. Never Say Never: Five Bogus Rules of Grammar. Read about these five rules of grammar that really aren’t rules.
67. Ending a Sentence with a Preposition. You may be surprised to discover that sometimes it actually is okay to end a sentence with a preposition.
68. Five Grammar Myths Exploded. Find out which five myths are exploded when you read this blog post.
69. Debunking Grammar Myths. Split infinitives, conjunctions, and the word "none" all figure into these myths.
70. Debunking Etymological Myths. Five common beliefs about the origin of these words are debunked here.
71. Grammar Myths. These ten myths are laid to rest–complete with tombstones.
72. Top Ten Grammar Myths. Check out these ten myths, including one that features the much-maligned "irregardless."
73. 5 Writing Myths. From needing perfect grammar to submitting work with grammatical errors, these five myths are particularly relevant for new writers.
74. Top 10 English Grammar Myths and Superstitions in Essay Writing. From use of contractions to first-person pronouns, find out if you are still buying into these myths.
75. Five Grammar "Rules" That Beg To Be Broken. While most of these have already been included above, there is still new information here you can appreciate.

Word Origins

Many words in the English language have fascinating beginnings. Here is just a sampling of word origins that grammar geeks may find interesting.

76. Oh, doggone it!. Learn the origins of the phrase "doggone it" in this post.
77. Yes, we can. In America, people use cans, and in Britain they use tins. Find out why the same thing goes by two different names and where both words originated.
78. A Ghost Word for Halloween. Learn the origin of the word "phantomnation" and how it achieved its status as a ghost word.
79. A phrase that might sound dirty but isn’t. You might be surprised to find out where the phrase "balls to the wall" originated.
80. Would You Dismantle the Mantle?. "Dismantle" and "mantle" seem like they should be antonyms, but this post explains how they came from the same Latin root and went their own separate ways.
81. Boning up on deBoning. Find out how "bone" and "debone" evolved with the information here.
82. Word of the Day: "Eliminate". Learn the interesting history of this word here.
83. Word of the Day: "Flamingo". These brightly-colored birds got their name from a pretty predictable word–but not one usually associated with the bird.
84. Word of the Day: "Serendipity". Discover the literary origins of this magical word.
85. Going to the ball. This post includes the etymology of the word ball (as in "dance") as well as the origins of several dance-related words.
86. ‘Great Recession’: A Brief Etymology. Most word origins happened so long ago, their stories seem almost other-worldly. This post delves into the more recent birth of the phrase "great recession," with an aside into the origin of "great depression" as well.
87. Days of the Week Word Origins. If you’ve ever wondered where the days of the week got their names, then you should check out this post.
88. Unusual Word Origins. Learn about the beginnings of three common words that originated from unusual circumstances.

Just for Fun

While there isn’t too much edification coming out of these posts, they do offer a fun look at grammar use and misuse.

89. Diagramming Obama’s Sentences. This blog post takes a detailed look at a lengthy, yet balanced, sentence spoken by President Obama.
90. Personification Wants to Make You Happy. Take a look at popular products that are made to seem like real people.
91. Church Bulletin Funnies. Taken from actual church bulletins, these news announcements could have used a little editing prior to publication.
92. Do not go punctuating on a lark. Using Dylan Thomas’ poem as inspiration, this short piece urges writers to take care with their apostrophe usage.
93. 5 Typos That Broke the Bank. Read this post to learn how expensive these typos were.
94. A Poem of Plurals and Pronouns. This fun poem details some of the irregularities in the English language.
95. Eight rules for business writing. These eight rules are actually Kurt Vonnegut’s rules for fiction writing and are a fun reminder for any writer.
96. The English Blog’s Top Ten Words of 2009. Take a look at these ten words that got plenty of use over the past year.
97. Dork, dork, geek.If you’ve ever wondered about the difference between a geek, dork, dweeb, and nerd, then check out this post.
98. The dash isn’t silent, it’s a myth. Try to overlook the comma splice in the title to find out about a mythical trend in the baby-naming community that relies on a punctuation mark.
99. how about we don’t have ANYBODY blow up?. This sign is a great example of why you should pay attention to style.
100. Rhyming ‘orange’. If you grew up with teachers telling you there was no rhyming word for the word "orange," then you may like this post.

The up and coming online education industry has indicated to many educators that online university degrees will become more prominent within a few years, as studies have shown that students take away more from online classes than they do in traditional classes.  Online university degrees have evolved during the past few years to a point where they are on par with traditional degrees, especially when students are earning their second degree.  The next decades seem set to expand on the many degree programs that are offered, evolving even further to reach more students than ever before.

Currently, online university degree programs cater to students whose lives are too busy to set foot into a classroom or take traditional classes after work.  This concept has slowly expanded so that most online universities now offer anything from associates degrees up to Ph.D programs.  In the next few years, even more online schools seem set to emerge and they will more than likely cater to many different classes of students.  Currently, the MBA programs for many online schools are divided into different categories: some are created exclusively for students who have been in the business world for a few years, while others are created for students fresh out of undergrad.  Regardless of the degree program, the next few years will probably demonstrate an evolution of this concept, as students will be able to choose a degree program that is exclusively created for students of their work background.

Additionally, the many degree programs will also be sorted according to any possible background schooling.  Students who are unsure of their academic background will be placed into separate online courses while others who have achieved superior academic standing in other courses will be placed into a separate class.  Drawing on high school honors classes for inspiration, future online courses will more than likely allow students to choose what level they are in, and therefore how long their degree will take to earn.  Online university degrees have reached a point in their creation where students are able to complete classes without disrupting their lives too much, and degree programs will be able to cater more exclusively to student schedules after this point. 

Online university degrees will continue to attract the more unconventional students, and will hopefully boost the country’s overall graduation rate as more and more students join the work force equipped with a degree.  Only a few years ago students were unable to boast of their degree because of their busy work schedule, but the heavy prominence of the internet in our lives has allowed these students an alternate approach to online degrees. 

Whether you’re a seasoned professional, in search of a new hobby, or a student looking for new material to help you study, watching online videos can be an effective method for learning something new. Videos are often more personal than text-only websites, and through partnerships with top universities and media outlets, they allow you access to some of the most exclusive events and lecture series in the world. Below you’ll find 100 informative and inspiring video collections for business, leadership, science and technology, the arts, language learning, news analysis, and more.

General

When you’re not sure where to start, browse the different categories on these video collections from MIT, HBO, Harvard, and more.

1. The Open Video Project: This easy-to-search open collection features documentaries and lectures from Johns Hopkins, the Internet Moving Images Archives, and a lot more.
2. HBO: You can watch special HBO presentations on YouTube, from TV shows to documentaries.
3. Academic Earth: Schools like MIT, Harvard, Yale, UCLA, Princeton and Stanford share lectures and videos in all disciplines on this site.
4. Videos Posted by Harvard University Press: Harvard University Press uploads videos and interviews about literature, medicine, history and the environment on Facebook.
5. MIT Open Courseware: Get connected to the audio/visual resources from each of MIT’s departments here.
6. TED: Watch TED videos from industry leaders and everyday people who are changing the world one step at a time in politics, art, business, science and technology.
7. NYT Shorts: The New York Times’ short films delve into the behind-the-scenes issues and lives of talked-about topics and personalities in entertainment, politics and beyond.
8. TIME: Just as the magazine covers all avenues of culture, science and politics, so do the captivating videos on Time.com.
9. Hulu: You can watch your favorite TV programs or get more informative reports and videos from news stations, home and garden channels, history channels, and more.
10. Netflix: With a paid subscription, you can watch certain videos — including documentaries and foreign films — online for no extra charge.
11. Georgetown University: Featured videos from Georgetown’s archive include talks with faculty and experts about the environment, history, U.S. politics, international relations, and more.
12. MIT World: Watch groundbreaking lectures and speeches from MIT discussing the energy crisis, climate change, business, technology, the arts, and more.
13. Yale Open Courses: Yale has uploaded literature, history, architecture, science and economics lectures onto YouTube for public viewing.
14. Princeton Event Streaming Media: You can download streaming video lectures about the global economy, neurology, biology, and other subjects.

Science

From space exploration to chemistry experiments and endangered animals, science geeks will find all kinds of fascinating videos here.

15. NASA Connect: From meteorology to astronomy, these educational videos teach kids all about science.
16. NewScientist: NewScientist’s videos explore new trends in robotics, computers, video games and virtual technology, health sciences, and more.
17. Nature Online video streaming archive: Nature.com’s video archive includes presentations and shows about archaeology, the environment and space.
18. Discovery Channel: Watch full episodes of popular Discovery Channel shows like Man vs. Wild and Mythbusters here.
19. Science Hack: ScienceHack videos are screened and filtered by actual scientists and cover biology, chemistry, physics, robotics, engineering, and more.
20. Free Science Videos and Lectures: From the health sciences to chemistry experiments, you’ll find a range of popular science videos here.
21. National Geographic: Visit NatGeo’s online video collections for awesome images and coverage of the environment, space, animals, and live streaming videos through WildCams.
22. CalTech Today: Science videos from significant lectures and guest speaker series at CalTech are archived here.
23. Chance Videos and Audios: Dartmouth has organized lecture series — mostly dealing with science and math — from 2000, 1998 and 1997 right here.
24. Online Neuroscience Lectures: UT Dallas’ lecture archive also includes videos from Johns Hopkins and other institutes.

Technology and Engineering

When you want to explore the next big thing in Internet, robotics, mechanical engineering and gaming, head to these video collections for news, tutorials and more.

25. MIT TechTV: MIT’s technology collections show experiments, tech culture, and more.
26. AtGoogleTalk’s Channel: Also known as @Google Talks, this YouTube channel features interviews and lectures from writers, tech execs and other leaders in new media and Internet.
27. Computers and Math Videos: ScienceDaily’s computers and math videos include sub-categories like nanotechnology, video games and artificial intelligence, and robotics.
28. Popular Science: The videos here can be a fun but informative resource for anyone who’s into gadgets, technology and science.
29. Wired: Watch videos on Wired.com to learn more about gaming, gadgets, spacecraft, and more.
30. Computer History Museum: Watch the ComputerHistory channel to find out what’s next in the world of computers, the Internet, usability, and more.
31. CNET: CNET’s tech news videos will teach you about iPhones, GPS, Google, airplanes and more.
32. UW CSE Video Collection: Undergraduate capstone design videos from University of Washington computer science and engineering students are archived here.
33. Mathematical Sciences Research Institute: You can watch streaming video and media files from the MSRI from Fall 2004-Fall 2009.
34. MechanicalEngineering.tv: Channels on this site include technology, physical and science, mechanical design, and CAD CAM.
35. Oxford Internet Institute: From Internet regulation to web research to microblogging, the OII is a good resource for dissecting tough tech questions.
36. Technology: The New York Times’ Personal Tech and David Pogue, as well as CNBC Technology News, contribute to this video collection.

Politics and History

Browse these video collections to supplement courses or projects in politics, economics, history, culture, and journalism.

37. American Memory: The Library of Congress’ American Memory features 15 collections of American history videos documenting Teddy Roosevelt, Coca-Cola advertising, 9/11, theatre, and more.
38. NARA on Google Video: The National Archives offers public viewing of films and newsreels from NASA, World War II and more.
39. History Channel: You can watch full episodes, short clips or specials on History.com.
40. PBS: PBS is an excellent source for news, history and politics, and videos include in-depth discussion from The NewsHour and more.
41. John F. Kennedy School of Government: This video archive has videos from 2000-2008, including full lectures about global climate change, improving leadership skills, and more.
42. Biography.com: The Biography Channel’s website allows you to watch full episodes of shows about Mark Twain, Abraham Lincoln and Henry Ford, as well as regular programming and features about broader topics in history.
43. FreeDocumentaries.org: On this site, you’ll find documentaries that comment on culture, history, world events, politics, and the media.
44. History Highlights: Get original videos from enormously important and riveting moments in history, like the fall of the Berlin Wall.
45. EASE History: You can watch hundreds of videos from historical events from the early 1900s to today.
46. LinkTV: LinkTV is "television without borders" and is a good source for getting more detailed coverage about global issues and current events.
47. American History in Video: You’ll learn all about American history from 1492-the late twentieth century on this site.
48. Smithsonian: From archaeology and anthropology to folklife events, the Smithsonian YouTube resource is a great resource for all history students.
49. Famous Moments in American History: From Ben Franklin to Benedict Arnold to Molly Pitcher, watch videos about famous early Americans here.

Language and Literature

Here you can get help learning a new language or watch interviews with your favorite authors.

50. BBC Languages: BBC offers online video courses in German, French, Portuguese, Spanish, Chinese and more.
51. Foreign Language Videos: OhioLINK’s open-to-the-public has beginning language videos here.
52. Barnes & Noble Studio: You can watch video interviews of top authors here.
53. Booknotes: Booknotes has archived over 800 streaming videos with authors.
54. Bookstreaminc: Watch video interviews with top-selling authors like Al Franken and Wiliam Mann.

Arts and Music

From Carnegie Hall to the National Theatre and the Whitney Museum, these videos take you to the most distinguished art and music institutes in the world.

55. MoMA: The Museum of Modern Art’s online communities page connects you to video collections — including interviews with artists and exhibition tours — via YouTube, Facebook, iTunes U and other outlets.
56. Roland Collection of Films on Art: Download films for just $1.99 each, from categories like landscapes, religious art, architecture and the environment, and archaeology.
57. Arts and Culture: LA Times arts and culture videos highlight certain artists and special art events.
58. Whitney Watch and Listen: Here you can watch featured videos with artists, about exhibitions, museum news and more.
59. Bravo TV: Watch full episodes or special features about fashion, art, design and more.
60. Sundance Channel: Get previews and clips from soon-to-be aired or released films, plus online specials from comedy, fashion, independent movies, and more.
61. National Theatre: On this website, you can download video recordings from London’s National Theatre.
62. BlueGobo: Musicals and musical clips have been uploaded onto this site, from Annie Get Your Gun to Fosse to Les Miserables.
63. From the Top: PBS’ From the Top lets you watch full episodes from Carnegie Hall’s youngest performers.
64. MTV: Explore music videos from up and coming artists as well as established celebrities.
65. Style.com: Vogue’s Style.com videos include designer profiles and interviews, fashion show coverage, and more.
66. Interior Design TV: On this channel, you’ll get to tour showrooms and listen to interviews with top interior designers.

Social Sciences, Philosophy and Religion

These video collections help to make philosophy courses and discussions more accessible.

67. A&E: A&E programs like Hoarders and Intervention will teach you a lot about mental disorders and societal trends.
68. Heidegger: This collection of philosophy videos from Berkeley focuses on Heidegger and Descartes.
69. Young Philosophers: SUNY Fredonia’s website shares philosophy lectures on ethics, the philosophy of religion, free will, research, and more.
70. Philosophy Free Audio and Video: From Gandhi to Henry David Thoreau, you’ll find a variety of philosophy lectures, speeches and videos here.

News

For streaming video and analysis of current events, check out these news videos from CBS, ABC, PBS, C-SPAN and others.

71. 60 Minutes: You can watch short clips or full episodes of 60 Minutes on the CBS website, here.
72. CSPAN: Even if you can’t stand to watch it on TV, C-SPAN online is a great resource for looking up reference videos and coverage of debates, House Sessions, and general news broadcasts.
73. BBC News: Watch videos from recent conflicts and news-worthy events around the world, as well as interviews with major personalities.
74. CNN.com: The breaking news videos from CNN.com range from seen-on-TV reports to web-only specials of international coverage.
75. Current.com: Current.com covers the most talked-about people and events in news, technology, the environment and entertainment.
76. ABC News: Watch streaming video, Good Morning America programs and news features here.
77. MSNBC TV: At the online station for "the place for politics," you’ll get commentary and video from Capitol Hill and beyond.
78. Reuters: This classic news service gets a new media update thanks to its broad video archive.
79. Newsweek Multimedia: You can watch video stories of trending topics like unemployment and the economy, as well as from the publication’s 7 Things feature.

Health Sciences

Whether you’re a medical student wanting to learn how to perform a surgery, or someone wanting to research a particular disease or condition, check out these video collections.

80. Health and Medicine: Health and Medicine is another ScienceDaily video collection covering all sorts of research studies, diseases and conditions, and health care issues.
81. Rice University: These health sciences videos tackle current topics in medicine, like the H1N1 virus, as well as more wide-ranging issues like health care reform.
82. WebMD: Watch a video to learn about virtually any disease or condition on WebMD.
83. Medical News Today: This authoritative health sciences reference offers streaming video clips that cover specific conditions, medical research, medical controversies, and more.
84. VideoMD: Expert physicians share their advice and analysis on this site.
85. Prevention TV: Prevention.com’s online TV channel tackles current health topics like aging, nutrition and fitness.
86. Videos of Surgical Procedures: This collection from MedlinePlus includes surgical procedure videos for the heart, bones, muscles, brain and more.
87. Medical Videos: Learn how to examine patients, diagnose diseases and more on this NSFW site.
88. Medical Students: Medscape’s resource page for med students includes a video section with interviews and more.
89. Video for Your Health: These videos combine news and health for families, smokers, kids, the elderly and terminally ill.

Business and Leadership

These videos highlight the people and campaigns that are changing the world, and can help you do the same.

90. FORA.tv: This website shares "videos on the people, issues and ideas changing the planet," from the environment to the economy to politics and culture.
91. dotSUB: You can watch activist videos in any language on this site.
92. Wall Street Journal: The WSJ archives videos for technology, markets, business, world news, and more.
93. Nobelprize.org: Watch videos of speeches, interviews and features about Nobel Laureates.
94. AllBusiness.com Video Library: Learn about entrepreneurship, green business and more when you watch these videos.
95. BW Video: Get interviews and whole programs devoted to investing, business and innovation.
96. Small Business Video and Audio Presentations: The IRS provides information videos for small business owners here.
97. Nightly Business Report: You can watch PBS’ Nightly Business Report for investing news, analysis on the economy, and more.
98. Bplans.com: This business planning resource offers video tutorials to help you get organized.
99. SmallBusinessNewz Videos: From marketing to franchises to sales to HR, these videos help business students and professionals become more responsible, successful individuals.
100. On Leadership: The Washington Post’s On Leadership video collection interviews people like Jeffrey Kindler and Zainab Salbi of Women for Women International.

Accredited online universities are a major part of universal educational programs for many countries that find themselves on the brink of modernity.  South Africa was one of the first third world nations to jump on the online university wagon in the beginning of the century, as internet cafes opened for business.  Since then, many other African nations have followed suit, allowing their students to gain an education without spending thousands of dollars to travel to Western nations. 

Accreditation was an initial problem upon the foundation of online universities, as more and more students around the world discovered that the courses they enrolled in were not worth a degree and only produced one which lacked accreditation.  As a result, these universities have been sought out by lawmakers across Western nations and tweaked so that it is clear now that you are enrolling in an accredited online university.  These universities have offered many students around the United States opportunities they could never have dreamed of, and this has additionally transferred to countries that are less fortunate than we are.

The global online education market has grown by leaps and bounds over the last decade, with for-profit education business on the rise.  Many companies have since forged alliances with universities and institutions to bridge the gap between the third and first world, and help dispel the awful images that are associated with the third world.  International corporations have since expanded their markets as a result of globalization and now cater to a whole different type of client and student.  Technology is now constantly evolving and even countries in poverty stricken areas can now offer their students a chance at education, as long as they pay a nominal fee.

The first free online global university opened for business earlier this year, only requiring students to pay an enrollment and exam fee, costing around $30 for those students from impoverished countries.  Educating the younger generation is vital if we are to attempt to enlist change within these troubled areas of the world, and the vision of one Israeli entrepreneur has contributed to the change that is currently taking place.  The University of the People is still in its trial phase, but is expected to attract thousands of students within the next year of its existence, despite criticisms of its lack of payment for professors (attempting to indicate substandard teaching methods).

However, despite the vast criticism that online schools have always faced, accredited online universities are on the rise, both in and out of Western nations.  The fact that students in India can now earn nearly any type of degree possible is going to be what lifts the country out of its drastic difference in wealth between the rich and the poor, toward a more substantial middle class.  This will be true for many other nations, as the world looks toward a more educated future.

Working in Special Education means you get the opportunity to meet some amazing students with gifts that appear a bit differently than those of mainstream students, and usually in a more intimate setting. It also means you will deal with more paperwork, closer parental involvement, and a wider variety of teaching strategies. All of these unique situations present learning opportunities for you as a teacher. A great way to find ways to enhance your teaching and discover what others are doing is by reading blogs. The following 50 blogs provide tips and strategies, focus on assistive technology, explore specific learning challenges, share information about news, policy, and law, and more from other educators working in the field of Special Education.

Special Education Teaching Tips and Strategies

Read these blogs for great tips and strategies you can use with your own students.

1. Reality 101. The Council for Exceptional Children sponsors this blog just for new special education teachers with information, tips, and more.
2. Jerry’s Special Education Blog. Jerry Webster writes this blog from About.com that focuses on advice and tips for teaching special ed.
3. Teachers at Risk. With 20 years of teaching experience, this teacher has plenty to share about teaching special education. Most of her work is with older students, so high school teachers will especially benefit from her tips.
4. SMD Teacher. Get tons of tips for working with special education students from this teacher who works with students with multiple disabilities.
5. Successful Teaching. Get tips and strategies appropriate for both regular and special ed classes from this educator with 30 years of experience as well as board certification as an Exceptional Needs Specialist.
6. Teach Effectively!. Find evidence-based teaching tips for those who work with at-risk or special needs students.
7. Special 2 me. This special ed teacher posts book reviews and more as she looks for her next teaching assignment.
8. Special Education Strategies and More…. Michelle teaches special ed and shares strategies that have worked for her.
9. Teacher Sol. Written by a special ed teacher, this blog features news, strategies, and more from her classroom and others. Be sure to check out the right sidebar for tons of resources.
10. Lisa’s Lingo. Lisa is a regular ed inclusion teacher who shares her vast experience working with her amazing students.

Technology and Assistive Technology

The use of technology and assistive technology has expanding the opportunities for students with special needs. Keep up with the latest technological advances and learn how others have incorporated technology in their teaching.

11. Assistive Technology. Written by a school psychologist with an interest in technology and assistive technology, this blog provides a wealth of information helpful to those working with assistive technology and students.
12. Teaching All Students. Patrick Black blogs about using assistive technology in the special education classroom here.
13. EdTech Solutions. Striving to make education accessible to all students, this teacher posts about technology and assistive technology as well as offering good recaps of relevant Twitter conversations on the topic.
14. Free Resources from the Net for EVERY Learner. Learn about free tools and applications that specifically support facilitating learning for special education students with the posts on this blog.
15. Teaching Students with Learning Difficulties. Special ed teachers can learn about technology that can help students with learning disabilities to succeed.
16. The Assistive Technology Blog. News, tips, and more on using assistive technology in schools are topics featured here.
17. Thinking UDL: Universal Design for Learning. Focusing on using technology to help facilitate differentiation in the classroom is the goal of this blog.
18. Apace of Change. Written by a school psychologist, this blog often focuses on technology, assistive technology, and special education issues.
19. Christine Southard’s Blogspot. Christine is an inclusion teacher trained in special ed and blogs about special ed topics and assistive technology.
20. AT Cubed. Learn how to best use assistive technology in the classroom from this specialist.
21. No Limits 2 Learning. This assistive technology specialist blogs about all sorts of great ideas for using AT in the classroom.

Specific Disabilities

Whether you are seeking information on dyslexia, non-verbal learning disability, autism spectrum disorders, attention deficit disorders, or speech and language disorders, these blogs will help you find what you want to know.

22. LD Blog. This blog provides news, commentary, and resources on learning disabilities, with recent topics including story comprehension in children with ADHD and a genetic connection to dyslexia.
23. Barto’s World. Find news and tips on teaching students with learning disabilities from this LD teacher.
24. Eide Neurolearning Blog. With a focus on brain-based learning, this blog touches on dyslexia, autism, and attention issues, and more.
25. Speech-Language Pathology Sharing. Find plenty of high-tech solutions to addressing speech and language disorders on this blog.
26. 2e: Twice-Exceptional Newsletter. This blog offers information and news for those who educate students with learning disabilities such as dyslexia, ADHD, and Asperger’s.
27. The Language Fix. Speech and language learning is at the heart of this blog that provides both news stories as well as analysis.
28. NLD in Ontario. Non-verbal learning disabilities, often confused with Asperger’s, significantly affect learning and social interactions in bright, engaging students. This father hopes to educate parents and teachers about NLD with his blog.
29. EBD Blog. Learn about treatments and news stories for emotional and behavioral disorders in this blog that frequently features autism, among other disorders.
30. The Organization and Management of an Austism Classroom. This blog is currently undergoing a move to a new site, but bookmark it for more great posts to come that will provide helpful tips and strategies for teaching students with autism.

Special Education News and Policy

Stay on top of the latest policy and news pertaining to special education with these blogs.

31. On Special Education. This blog keeps teachers and parents updated with all the latest news stories relevant to special education.
32. Special Education and Learning Differences. Find a wide range of special ed topics including helping teach reading in children with learning disabilities, the similarities and differences between Asperger’s and autism, and the importance of routine for special needs students in this blog.
33. SpeEdChange. This blog is dedicated to making learning accessible for everyone by highlighting policies and issues in special education.
34. Special Education Today. Get news and information from a variety of sources from the world of special education on this blog.
35. Special Needs Truth ‘08. With a blend of politics and special education, this blog examines the politics and policies surrounding special ed.
36. Anna’s Blog. This blog features news stories on special education and disabilities.
37. Making Special Education Actually Work. Find news and policy notes on issues surrounding making public education work for all students.

Special Education Law

Understanding the law behind special education is important for teachers to understand. These blogs will help you know what you need to know.

38. Special Education Law Blog. Understand the complex world of special education law with the information you’ll find on this blog written by Jim Gerl.
39. Special Education Law Blog. Written by Charles P Fox, a lawyer and father of a child with special needs, this blog features case laws, news, and advice for anyone involved in special education.
40. The Wrightslaw Way. For both educators and parents, this blog features specific elements of special education legal issues.
41. Special Ed Justice. This special education lawyer writes about the law, education, and special needs.

Various Topics on Special Education

From working with students with multiple special needs to a unique math class, these blogs focus on a variety of specific topics related to special education.

42. Teaching Learners with Multiple Special Needs. If your students have multiple, complex, severe, or profound special needs, then this blog is just for you and your students.
43. Education on the Plate. In an interesting combination of special education and cooking technology, this blog from a special education teacher and campaigner against disabilism includes posts at the intersection of both.
44. Mentor Matters/ Collegial Support in Desperate Times. Working in a special ed, self-contained classroom, this teacher shares the ups and downs of teaching students with emotional disabilities.
45. School Psychologist Blog Files. This blog is specifically written to parents of students in Special Ed, but teachers can also learn from this blog by opening up lines of communication with parents while gaining an understanding of the parents’ perspective.
46. Notes from the School Psychologist. Not only does this psychologist write about counseling and psychology, but she often includes posts dealing with specific special needs, such as a recent one on reading strategies for students with learning disabilities.
47. Mad Math Beyond Numberdome. This math teacher works specifically with students with learning disabilities and shares her experiences here.
48. SpedPro. Find "professional information" such as employment opportunities, stipends for conferences, and news stories of interest to those in special education.
49. The Life that Chose Me. This blog offers insight from a special ed teacher that ranges from assessing students with severe disabilities to the difficulties of working in the bureaucracy of education.
50. Behavior Modification. The posts here focus on using behavior modification in the classroom to positively manage and shape behavior.

We have all seen the commercials on TV for online universities: “wear pajamas to class!” and “relax from home!”; however, it is not clear if this is actually a selling point for most online colleges.  How many potential students are sitting around watching TV only to come across this commercial and think to themselves that online school is the thing for them?  It is a lower number than most commercials attract, and the problem stems from the way commercials reach out to potential students. 

While most students from online universities do tend to be younger, there are still many students who are middle-aged or older, looking for a supplemental degree.  These types of advertisements do not attract an older generation, which is what online universities need to work on.  Additionally, most commercials air on channels that younger generations are more prone to watch as compared to channels that appeal more to an older demographic.  Working on this type of shift in appeal will have mass repercussions throughout the online community as people begin to realize that online universities are not solely meant for the younger student.  Older students already feel self-conscious as it is and helping them feel like they fit in can help attract more students to continue their degrees.

Spicing up commercials is one method of attracting potential students to online universities, but it is not the only outlet to attract a different type of student.  Older students are more prone to be attracted to more traditional methods of reaching out to people, such as mail or brochures.  Advertising in the work place is an excellent way to attract students toward a supplemental degree; working together with businesses is a common way for schools to promote their degree programs, especially those that appeal more to a business professional (such as an MBA).  While many online programs may advertise to a vast spectrum of potential students, the majority of online schools advertise via commercials and billboards on the side of the road.  Appealing to a different type of student may raise the prominence of enrollment around the country.

Additionally, reaching students in high school is another major outlet for online universities since it presents many with a feasible alternative to both work and attend classes.  The economy has caused more high school students to become uncertain of their future, and online universities present the perfect alternative so that students can attend class at night (from home) and still maintain a daily work schedule.  This has been able to allow many students to receive degrees when they thought they were stuck with only a high school diploma.  Earning a college degree is vastly beneficial for your future, and getting this message out to a wide assortment of students can make a huge impact on both our economy and our social structure.  

50 Fascinating Lectures for Music Lovers

From Ludwig van Beethoven to Johann Sebastian Bach, most music lovers can appreciate the fact that there’s a lot to learn. Music has been a huge part of history, and is one of the most ancient art forms. So, whether you just want to learn the structure of a symphony or you want to know everything there is to know, these awesome college lectures will increase your musical intelligence in ways you never thought possible.

Best of the Best

Here are the top online lectures for students researching the sound of music.

1. Bach: The Baroque and Beyond: Get an introduction to Bach by Timothy A. Smith, Northern Arizona University.
2. Classical, Romantic, and 20th Century Music: Jean Richards of the University of Minnesota, Morris discusses music history here.
3. Form and Analysis: Timothy A. Smith introduces more music discussion here.
4. Instrumental Literature: Study music and literature along with Katherine Norman from the University of North Dakota
5. Introduction to World Music: Dane Kusic from Towson University introduces you to music from around the world here.
6. Jazz Improvisation: Joan Wildman from the University of Wisconsin-Madison will teach you about the laid-back world of jazz.
7. Music Appreciation: Learn how to critically listen to music when you listen to this lecture by Scott Faulkner, University of Nevada, Reno.
8. Music Bibliography: John J. Deal takes you through a music bibliography here.
9. Music Fundamentals: Gil Trythall of West Virginia University tackles music fundamentals.
10. Music and Religion: Study the relationship between music and religion when you listen to this lecture from Dane Kusic, University of Maryland Baltimore County.
11. Opera: Get an introduction to opera with Tim Cordell from the Edinboro University of Pennsylvania.
12. Psychology of Music: Steve Hedden explains that music is more complex than you might have thought.

MIT Open Courseware

Believe it or not, MIT offers free open courseware for everyone. Even if MIT seemed like a pipedream growing up, you, too have an opportunity to take classes from one of the most renowned universities in the world.

13. Introduction to Western Music: This course gives a broad overview of Western music from the Middle Ages to the 20th century, with emphasis on late baroque, classical, romantic, and modernist styles (1700-1910).
14. Intro to World Music: This course explores the ways that music is both shaped by and gives shape to the cultural settings in which it is performed, through studying selected musical traditions from around the world.
15. Fundamentals of Music: This class introduces students to the rudiments of Western music through oral, aural, and written practice utilizing rhythm, melody, intervals, scales, chords, and musical notation.
16. Introduction to Musical Composition: Through a progressive series of composition projects, this course investigates the sonic organization of musical works and performances, focusing on fundamental questions of unity and variety.
17. Developing Musical Structures: This course features projects which are completed using the computer music authoring environment Impromptu.
18. Early Music: This class covers the history of Western music from antiquity until approximately 1680, about 2000 years worth of music.
19. Introduction to Anglo-American Folk Music: This course examines the production, transmission, preservation and qualities of folk music in the British Isles and North America from the 18th century to the folk revival of the 1960s and the present.
20. Schubert to Debussy: This course is a survey of developments in Western musical style, 1815-1915.
21. Modern Music: 1900-1960: This subject covers a specific branch of music history: Western concert music of first sixty years of the twentieth century.
22. Music Since 1960: This course begins with the premise that the 1960s mark a great dividing point in the history of 20th century Western musical culture, and explores the ways in which various social and artistic concerns of composers, performers, and listeners have evolved since that decade.
23. Symphony and Concerto: This course is a survey of significant orchestral masterworks composed during three centuries. Listening assignments include 34 symphonies and 24 concertos, composed from the 1720s to the 1990s.
24. Music of India: This course focuses on Hindustani classical music of North India, and also involves learning about the ancient foundations of the rich classical traditions of music and dance of all Indian art and culture.
25. Music of Africa: This course is an introduction to selected musical traditions of West Africa. A variety of musical practices and their cultural contexts will be explored through listening, reading, and written assignments, with an emphasis on class discussion.
26. Popular Musics of the World: This course focuses on popular music, i.e. music created for and transmitted by mass media.
27. Harmony and Counterpoint: In this subject we will study the basic harmonic, melodic, and formal practices of western music, principally the classical music of central Europe during the eighteenth century.
28. Writing in Tonal Forms: Written and analytic exercises based on 18th- and 19th-century small forms and harmonic practice found in music such as the chorale preludes of Bach.
29. Composing for Jazz Orchestra: This class explores composition and arrangement for the large jazz ensemble from 1920s foundations to current postmodern practice.
30. Musical Analysis: This class is an introduction to the analysis of tonal music. Students develop analytical techniques based upon concepts learned in previous music classes.
31. Composing with Computers I: This class explores sound and what can be done with it. Sources are recorded from students’ surroundings – sampled and electronically generated.
32. Vocal Repertoire and Performance: African American Composers: The primary focus of this Vocal Repertoire and Performance course is placed upon the works of African American composers and concert artists.
33. Vocal Repertoire and Performance: Women Composers: This course is for the singer and/or pianist interested in collaborative study of solo vocal performance.

Graduate Classes

Anyone can enjoy the wealth of knowledge presented in these classes, but they will be especially useful for graduate students.

34. History of Media and Technology: Sound, the Minority Report — Radical Music of the Past 100 Years: This course looks at the history of avant-garde and electronic music from the early twentieth century to the present.
35. The Anthropology of Sound: This class examines the ways humans experience the realm of sound and how perceptions and technologies of sound emerge from cultural, economic, and historical worlds.
36. The Physics of Music: From the vibration of strings to the resonation of melody, find out what makes music, music.
37. Turkish Muslim Devotional Music: A Program on the History, Theory, and Performance of Turkish Music: In this concert, two members from the world-renowned Turkish ensemble Lalezar perform classical Ottoman devotional songs.
38. Columbia Interactive Arts: These art classes offered through Columbia often include music classes such as the history of the pops or music from the renaissance and baroque.
39. The Open University Arts and History: Search this section of The Open University’s courses to find plenty of music classes that include examples such as Creating musical sounds and Using film music in the classroom.
40. Harvard University Extension School: These classes change every semester with only two semesters offered at a time, so stay updated with the course offering here. Some classes have included topics such as History of Blues in America.
41. Gresham College: The lectures assembled here include several courses on music including such varied topics as Chamber Music Fights Back and The Composer in Action.
42. Sofia Project. This project of the Foothill College offers only one music class at this time, but stay tuned for any potential additions in the future.
43. Fathom. Search this site to discover all music courses offered from any of Fathom’s member institutions.
44. Utah State University: The anthropology department offers a class on cultural anthropology that includes information about music, dance, and more in early civilizations.
45. Brigham Young University Division of Continuing Education: The free classes offered here include organ workshops, English horn, and adult modern dance.

Music-Only Resources

These resources focus only on music instruction through either specific instrument lessons or with classes on music theory, songwriting, and more.

46. Berklee Shares: This premier free music lesson site offers a wide variety of classes any musician can enjoy. Study specific instruments or more technical aspects of making music.
47. Ricci Adams’ Musictheory.net: Search by lessons, trainers, or utilities to find a vast amount of free lessons and classes from this site.
48. May Music Studio: Learn to play an instrument with the free lessons on this site or find out about music theory, songwriting, and more with the more academic classes offered.
49. Gary Ewer’s Easy Music Theory: Get 26 free lessons complete with an instruction sheet, quizzes, and answer sheets to learn the basics about music theory.
50. GetPianoLessons.com: These ten lessons culminate with an examination to see how far you’ve come. Using a combination of video, text, and photos, these lessons will have you playing the piano in no time.