It's that time of year - schools are opening their doors all over the world. But who needs school? You may if you need the certificate they provide or if you need someone to help guide your learning process. But if not, the good news is that it is easier than ever to learn the things you're interested in.

It used to be that a college education was the key to staying ahead in the job market. Access to thousands of free online courses has set a new standard. Now savvy recruiters look at your attitude toward learning. They ask the question, "are you a lifelong learner?" 

Becoming one makes you more interesting, better equipped, and more productive among other things. 

How do you become one? 

The sum total of human knowledge now doubles every year. And even that rate is accelerating. We need strategies for learning. Here are four:

1. Foster curiosity. Ask questions. Explore new avenues of thought. The world is full of opportunities to learn - seize the ones you come across.

2. Read more. Youtube may be easier, but books give you greater depth and control over the scope of your learning.

3. Redefine learning. It's not what a teacher delivers, but what a student grasps and masters. Take charge of your learning process.

4. Use your time productively. We have 16 hours in a day. Schedule your days and set learning goals. Isaac Asimov is a good example of what's possible - he wrote over 500 books about history, science fiction, physics, chemistry and multiple other subjects. 

What resources are available?

So many resources available! The following websites are just a few of the bigger ones. Spend some time checking them out - see if it doesn't spur your curiosity.

Blinkist Non-fiction book notes

Code Academy Free coder training

Coursera Top universities offer free classes 

CreativeLive Live stream courses for free or pay later to view later

Duolingo Learn a foreign language

Freebooks Free digital books

edX Ivy League level courses for free

iTunes U Free podcast lectures taught by top best professors

Lynda Over 6,000 courses on just about everything

Khan Academy More than 4,000 free videos 

Mays Book Summaries David Mays summarized top books

Brainly Ask and answer any question

Sparknotes Book notes 

TED Experts sharing their stuff in less than 18 minutes 

Udacity Free college courses

YouTube EDU Thousands of free videos