Over the last couple months, I've blogged about a lot of useful, free tools available to internet users who want to learn without paying tuition (See: 10 Free Online Classes, Free Online Video Lectures, Free Videos from Columbia University).

These tools won't give you an accredited degree ("took free online class" doesn't look so hot on a resume). But, they are useful resources for people preparing to take for-credit courses or just wanting to learn a new skill.

A recent article from Media Shift explores the idea of free, open learning material in more depth. Here's a blurb:

"A college education in the United States can be one of the most costly in the world. For many young people, college isn't an option because of the economic strain it represents for their families. And many older people who would like to attend classes must forego studies to make ends meet.

But thanks to the power of voluntary collaboration, technology tools and the reach of the Internet, college-level classes and learning resources are becoming more and more accessible to anyone who has the interest and an Internet connection."

Read the rest of the Media Shift article here: 'Open Universities' Try to Take College to Masses. And be sure to keep reading this blog for regular links to more helpful (and free) learning resources.