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Introducing Coursera’s new course preview experience: A more meaningful way to start learning

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Introducing Coursera’s new course preview experience: A more meaningful way to start learning

By Tim Hannan, Chief Marketing Officer, Coursera

Since our founding in 2012, Coursera has worked hard to increase access to world-class education. Over the years, we’ve introduced features like course auditing, financial aid, and AI-powered translations to make learning accessible to as many people as possible. Today, we’re taking another step forward in this evolution, introducing a new course preview experience that offers learners a deeper, more meaningful way to explore content before committing to a full course.

This new model replaces our audit experience and gives learners the ability to preview the first module of nearly every course on Coursera for free. This includes full access to key platform features, such as graded assignments and Coursera Coach, when available within the course. Our early tests show that the full suite of course features is leading to stronger engagement and completions among our learners, accelerating their path to skills mastery. To further support global accessibility, we’re also rolling out localized pricing while continuing to offer options and support for learners with financial need. 

Here’s what the updated experience includes:

  • Free Course Preview: Learners can explore the first module of most courses for free — complete with assessments, video content, and AI-powered support features like Coach.
  • Free Community Impact Courses: Learners will have free access to certain courses that address urgent social needs—such as mental health, refugee support, and public health. 
  • Localized pricing: We’ve introduced new geopricing models to reflect regional purchasing power and ensure affordability across emerging markets.
  • Financial Aid: Eligible learners can still apply for financial aid to unlock full access to course content and certificates for free or at a reduced cost.

This evolution marks a new chapter in how we invite learners into their journey on Coursera—one that’s more engaging, more accessible, and better aligned with their goals from the start, while supporting the long-term growth and impact of our platform. We’re excited to build this future together with our global community of learners, partners, and institutions.

What’s New at Codecademy: Reinforcement Learning & AI Agents

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What’s New at Codecademy: Reinforcement Learning & AI Agents

Welcome to our centralized hub for all new course launches and updates at Codecademy. Here, you’ll find an up-to-date record of what’s new so you can easily discover fresh learning opportunities, figure out who a course is best suited for, or just jump right in and start. 

We’re always launching new courses and fine-tuning our learning environment so you can stay ahead of emerging tech trends and build the skills that are in demand right now. Bookmark this blog and check back regularly — we’ll update this anytime there’s a new launch you need to know about.

Use the links below to skip to the week or update you’re interested in. 

Want to see all our courses in one place? Browse the catalog to find courses and paths, filter by level and topic (or sort by “Most recent” to see the newest launches). You can also chat with the AI Learning Assistant to build a learning plan that helps you reach your goals.  

August 8, 2025

What’s new  

Learn Reinforcement Learning with Gymnasium 

Our new intermediate course introduces you to reinforcement learning (RL) using OpenAI’s Gymnasium library. You’ll learn to build intelligent agents that learn through trial and error in dynamic environments. With practical projects like training agents to solve challenges, you’ll develop essential RL skills for AI-driven industries. This course bridges theory and practice, helping you master techniques behind self-learning systems. 

Who it’s for  

This one’s perfect if you’re already comfortable with Python and ready to take your AI knowledge to the next level. It’s a smart choice for professionals in robotics, game development, and industrial control systems, or anyone working on complex projects with delayed feedback or high-dimensional spaces.  

Learn How to Build AI Agents  

Tackle the foundational skills needed to create agentic workflows and autonomous agents. You’ll gain hands-on experience in building the core components of agents using Python and Jupyter Notebooks, ultimately integrating these elements into a cohesive, functioning system.  

Who it’s for  

This course is designed for intermediate learners who are ready to move beyond basic AI and specialize in autonomous systems. With solid Python knowledge and some data science experience, you can advance your skills in agentic workflows. Get ahead of the curve and learn the concepts that are driving the current AI agent revolution.  

July 28, 2025

What’s new 

We’ve added 40+ new learning paths to our catalog, including prep for intermediate and advanced certification exams (think AWS Certified DevOps Engineer and Oracle Database SQL Certified Associate) as well as skill-building for specific tools like Snowflake and Terraform.  

There are now 35 certification prep paths for intermediate and advanced certifications in AWS, Google Cloud, Microsoft Azure, CompTIA, Oracle SQL, CBAP, and more. 

  • New Microsoft certifications  
  • New CompTIA certifications  
  • New Google certifications  

The remaining 9 new skill paths focused on applied learning in IT, DevOps, and data engineering.

Who these paths are for 

Our new paths are designed to support you on your career journey with professional, certification-focused training. From cloud architecture and data engineering to DevOps, cybersecurity, business analysis, or IT project management, you can find a route that helps you advance and specialize. These paths are best for: 

  • Mid-career professionals seeking to deepen expertise and gain relevant credentials. 
  • Teams aiming to upskill in cloud, data, security, and DevOps. 
  • Anyone who wants to earn certifications from leading providers like AWS, Microsoft, and Google Cloud. 

Last updated: August 2025

The Most Popular Free Courses on Alison in 2025

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The Most Popular Free Courses on Alison in 2025

Alison continues to be a driving force in global education, with more than 45 million Learners and 10 million Graduates across 193 countries as of 2025. As digital transformation accelerates across sectors and job markets, free online courses have become essential tools for people wanting to enhance their skills, switch careers, or boost their employability. Below, we explore the most popular free courses on Alison in 2025 and what makes them resonate so deeply with professionals worldwide.

 

Alison’s Most Popular Courses

Here are the ten most in-demand free courses on Alison making an impact in 2025:

1. Diploma in Caregiving

Gain comprehensive knowledge in elderly and disabled care, communication, and ethical issues in caregiving, preparing you for in-demand roles in healthcare and home care sectors.

➡️ Start the Diploma in Caregiving

2. CPR, AED and First Aid

Learn essential life-saving techniques, including CPR, defibrillator use, and emergency response. Ideal for healthcare workers, teachers, and safety personnel.

➡️ Learn CPR, AED and First Aid

3. HACCP Food Safety System for Restaurants and Other Catering Services

Understand global food safety standards and hygiene practices. A must-have certification for chefs, kitchen staff, and food service managers.

➡️ Master HACCP Food Safety

4. Diploma in Human Resources

Explore recruitment, training, and workplace behaviour. This course lays a strong foundation for those entering or progressing in HR and personnel management.

➡️ Explore human resource management

5. HIPAA Compliance: A Complete Guide

Navigate U.S. healthcare privacy laws with ease. Learn how to protect sensitive patient information, a vital course for healthcare workers and compliance officers.

➡️ Understand HIPAA compliance

6. Diploma in Health and Social Care

Merge theory with practice in this well-rounded program covering ethical issues, healthcare policy, and hands-on care strategies. Perfect for roles in public health and community support.

➡️ Start the Health and Social Care Diploma course

7. Diploma in Business Administration

Build your business acumen with modules on finance, operations, and management. Designed for budding entrepreneurs and future leaders.

➡️ Study business administration

8. Basic Life Support (BLS)

Master critical BLS techniques such as CPR, rescue breathing, and patient assessment. Essential for first responders, nurses, and caregivers.

➡️ Learn Basic Life Support

9. Medication Management and Administration

Develop competence in drug classifications, dosage calculations, and safe handling procedures. Suited for caregivers and healthcare professionals alike.

➡️ Improve your medication management skills

10. Diploma in Mental Health

Understand mental health conditions, reduce stigma, and support those in need. This course is ideal for social workers, educators, and carers.

➡️ Take the Mental Health Diploma course

Why These Free Alison Courses Are Trending in 2025

The popularity of certain courses reflects global shifts and personal motivations:

  1. The Rise of AI, digitalisation, and healthcare: As artificial intelligence reshapes the workplace and demographic shifts increase the need for caregivers and health professionals, learners are increasingly drawn to courses that align with these trends.
  2. Learner motivations are shifting: Job readiness, career switches, and upskilling are primary drivers. Many learners are looking for flexible, high-impact ways to stay relevant in the workforce.
  3. External drivers of demand: The rising cost of living, workforce automation, and the expansion of remote and hybrid work have made skills-based learning more urgent than ever.
  4. The appeal of micro-credentials: Micro-credentials are short, focused qualifications that prove you’ve mastered a specific skill or topic. They’re designed to be quick to complete, practical to apply, and easy to share with employers. Alison’s free online courses let you earn industry-recognised micro-credentials from trusted brands like IBM, giving you a competitive edge without the time or cost of a traditional qualification.

What These Courses Say About Learner Goals in 2025

Three major themes stand out across these course choices:

  • Flexibility and accessibility: Learners value the ability to study at their own pace, often while balancing work and family responsibilities.
  • Practicality over theory: Courses with immediate job market applications and workplace relevance dominate.
  • Lifelong learning culture: Education is no longer a one-time event. Continuous learning is now a mindset, necessary for navigating change.

How To Get Started With Free Courses on Alison

Getting started on Alison is quick and simple:

Step 1: Sign up for free

Go to Alison.com and create your free account in just a few clicks.

Step 2: Choose your course

Browse thousands of free courses by industry, skill, or career path. Not sure where to begin? Try Alison’s free Career Ready Plan or Aptitude Tests to find courses that match your goals.

Step 3: Start learning

Once you’ve chosen a course, click Start Learning to begin instantly. Courses are broken into short, manageable modules with assessments to track your progress.

Step 4: Earn your Certificate or Diploma

Learning on Alison is and will always be free. Once you complete a course, you have the option to purchase a certificate to prove what you’ve learned. Should you wish to purchase a certificate, you can choose between a Digital or Printed certificate.

Conclusion

The most popular free courses on Alison in 2025 reflect a world in flux: learners are choosing smart, practical education pathways to navigate a changing job landscape. From caregiving and compliance to digital administration and first aid, the focus is on flexible, skills-based learning that opens doors to new opportunities.

Free online courses with certificates are no longer a niche solution. They are a global movement. Sign up for Alison, start a free course, and take one step closer to achieving your personal and professional goals.

 

Word of the Day: canopy

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This word has appeared in 164 articles on NYTimes.com in the past year. Can you use it in a sentence?

Retrieval Practice in the Health Professions

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Retrieval Practice in the Health Professions

Cover image by u_9p7tw4noz0 from Pixabay

By Althea Need Kaminske

Note: The following describes Health Professions Education within the U.S.

As a learning scientist interested in how learning works, health professions education is an exciting and dynamic environment to explore best practices in the application of the principles and strategies that we study in cognitive psychology. Recently, Cindy and I published a paper entitled, “The Use of Retrieval Practice in the Health Professions: A State-of-the-Art Review” along with two other cognitive psychologists who work as Medical Education Learning Specialists (MELS), Michael J. Serra and Kristen M. Coppola (1). In this post I want to summarize two sections from the paper – why health professions have embraced retrieval practice and barriers and challenges to effective use of retrieval practice in health professions.

Why Have the Health Professions Embraced Retrieval Practice?

One thing that surprised me when I started my role as a MELS was that I didn’t really have to sell people on using retrieval practice. Students assured me that they knew the value of practice and recall; and my M.D. colleagues were somewhat well read on the topic, many having read books like Make it Stick (2) or about retrieval practice within medical education journals. In the our recent paper we wanted to explore why that was and we settled on four reasons.

First, the fast pace and high volume of content in the health professions, combined with high-stakes licensing exams (particularly within medical education), necessitates the use of highly effective strategies. Retrieval practice yields such obvious benefit to learning and retention that it makes sense that health professions would find it incredibly useful.

Second, health professions students are highly motivated to find ways to make their studying as efficient as possible. The amount of basic science information that a health professions student has to know is only ever increasing, but the length of time they have in training remains the same. At the same time there is immense pressure to perform well on licensing exams. Poor performance can lead to costly delays, no small amount of stigma, and even dismissal from a program. An entire market for third party resources to help optimize studying and prepare for tests has developed in response. Among medical students flashcard programs like Anki, question banks like UWorld, Amboss, or TrueLearn, and video explainers like Sketchy are popular. All of these programs rely on retrieval practice, spaced practice, and, in the case of Sketchy, imagery, to improve learning. Anki, in particular, uses a spaced repetition algorithms (currently SuperMemo2 and FSRS) to determine when you should practice retrieval with material to optimize retention based on past performance. So, when I say that medical students are motivated to make studying as efficient as possible, I mean that they are willing to pay hundreds of dollars for access to additional resources for retrieval practice or to learn how to navigate open-source software.

Third, somewhat paradoxically, despite the high admission standards for health professions programs, a large portion of students lack strong study skills and habits. A recent study of medical students found that half fell below average on measures of self-regulated learning (3). In my experience those who lack strong study skills have either brute-forced their way through ineffective study habits or had enough background knowledge or experience that they were not sufficiently challenged until medical school. This combined with the fast pace and high volume of information within health professions education, perhaps explains why health professions are so highly motivated to seek out retrieval practice.

Finally, and perhaps most compelling (at least for me), is the simple fact that retrieval practice is a very easy strategy to use. It is one of many tools that any student needs to be successful, but it’s also a pretty versatile tool. It improves comprehension, long-term memory, and provides real-time, objective feedback on performance. While students may come into health professions with a range of ability in self-regulated learning (see above), effective use of retrieval practice can be a valuable component of the development of self-regulated learning.

Barriers or Challenges to Effective Use of Retrieval Practice in the Health Professions

Despite the advantages of retrieval practice, particularly within the health professions as outlined above, students may still be hesitant to engage in retrieval practice. One simple reason is that while retrieval practice is more well-known among researchers and educators, students may not always be aware of it, though a recent study by Witherby et al. (2025) showed that undergraduate psychology students rated retrieval practice as the most effective strategy so there’s evidence this may be changing (4).

Additionally, while students may be aware of retrieval practice in broad terms, they may have limited knowledge about how to best use retrieval practice or any of the nuances of the application of retrieval practice. For example, Sheehy et al. (2024) found that students may choose to look up the answer when they are unsure (rather than trying to retrieve it from memory) or only choose to use retrieval practice for items they missed in practice (5). Both of these strategies indicate that students are unaware of best practices around retrieval practice and may be experiencing limited benefits of retrieval practice.

Word of the Day: emulsify

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This word has appeared in six articles on NYTimes.com in the past year. Can you use it in a sentence?

New course from Wharton Online helps professionals master creativity in the age of AI

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New course from Wharton Online helps professionals master creativity in the age of AI

By Marni Baker Stein, Chief Content Officer, Coursera

Creativity is a powerful skill that transforms challenges and insights into meaningful opportunities for innovation and advancement. Yet most professionals have never been taught how to be systematically creative, even as AI reshapes how we solve problems, generate ideas, and drive impact.

Today, I’m excited to announce Creativity in Business and Other Disciplines, a new course from Wharton Online, now available on Coursera. Developed by Wharton professor Yoram (Jerry) Wind and based on his popular MBA elective, this course empowers learners to build creativity into their everyday decision-making and apply that across industries, teams, and roles.

This course tackles the creativity gap head-on, showing that creativity isn’t just for artists. It’s a skill that leaders can develop to drive business growth and navigate ambiguity with experimentation and data.

“Everyone, regardless of age or profession, can enhance their creativity,” said Jerry Wind, course instructor and Lauder Professor Emeritus, Professor of Marketing at Wharton. “This course helps people across industries systematically strengthen their creative capacity and apply it in meaningful, measurable ways.”

Designed for working professionals across sectors, Creativity in Business and Other Disciplines blends neuroscience, psychology, and AI-powered tools across nine modules. It’s rooted in experiential learning, guiding learners to design and run their own creativity experiments, so they can immediately apply what they’ve learned. Learners will also explore proven creativity approaches used by leaders at Tesla, Netflix, Google, and more.

The course features powerful perspectives from some of today’s most visionary thinkers and makers, including:

  • Tommy Hilfiger – on iconic brand creation
  • Steve Rader (NASA) – on crowdsourcing innovation
  • Ben Nelson (Minerva University) – on challenging conventional education
  • Christine Cox (BalletX) – on creativity through movement

These guest experts — alongside more than 60 others from a wide range of disciplines — bring creativity to life through real-world stories and cutting-edge practices.

Professor Wind’s course has been redesigned for a global audience of professionals who want to lead with curiosity and courage. It provides not just inspiration, but a practical toolkit for transforming how you think, solve problems, and create value.

Whether you’re a manager, entrepreneur, scientist, or artist, this course will help you build a personalized creative system — one that evolves with your career and adapts to an AI-augmented future.

Enroll now in Coursera Plus to access Creativity in Business and Other Disciplines, and develop the mindsets and methods used by today’s most creative thinkers.

Why Learning Feels Better When It’s Fun – Introducing Alison’s Gamified Learning

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Why Learning Feels Better When It’s Fun – Introducing Alison’s Gamified Learning

Let’s be honest, the word “learning” doesn’t always spark joy. For many of us, it brings back memories of stressful exams, dull textbooks and the countdown to the final bell. But learning doesn’t have to feel like a chore. In fact, it shouldn’t.

Whether you’re upskilling for a new job, brushing up on professional development, or exploring a personal interest, the experience can be enjoyable and even addictive. And when it’s fun, it sticks. That is exactly why we’ve gamified the Alison learning experience – making progress more rewarding, motivation easier to maintain and learning something you’ll actually look forward to.

What Makes Alison’s New Learning Experience More Enjoyable?

Alison’s redesigned learning experience now includes gamified features designed to make progress more visible, motivation easier to maintain, and learning feel more rewarding. So, what’s new on Alison:

  • Experience Points (XP) that reward you for completing lessons, quizzes, and making progress
  • Streaks that track your consistency and help you build learning habits
  • Leaderboards for a healthy dose of friendly competition with other Alison Learners in your country, as well as across the globe

These new features turn personal and professional development into something you can see and feel. It’s not just about finishing a course. It’s about staying engaged, hitting milestones, and celebrating momentum along the way. Learning should feel like progress, not pressure, and now, it does.

Why We Learn Better When We’re Having a Good Time

Science backs it up. Enjoyment and motivation go hand in hand, and when you enjoy what you’re learning, your brain is more likely to retain the information. Here’s why:

  • Dopamine rewards: When we have fun, the brain releases dopamine, which reinforces behaviour. That’s why gamified features like earning points or completing milestones can make learning feel more like a win than a task.
  • Curiosity sparks engagement: When something captures your interest, your brain becomes more alert and focused. This is a big part of why interactive and visual content is so effective in online education.
  • Positive emotion = better memory: If learning feels like something you actually like and want to do, you’re more likely to come back, and more likely to remember what you studied.

How To Stay Motivated To Study, Even on Hard Days

Let’s face it, motivation dips. We’ve all started a course or read a chapter with the best intentions, only to fizzle out a week later. But small habit changes can make a huge difference. Try these to stay focused and finish strong:

  • Set micro-goals: Don’t aim to finish a whole course in one sitting. Aim for one module, one lesson, or even just one concept a day.
  • Reward yourself: After each session, treat yourself to something small and enjoyable, like a cup of coffee, an episode of your favourite series, or a break outdoors.
  • Track your streaks: Use Study Reminders to stay consistent. Alison lets you set your own learning schedule.
  • Make your space inviting: Learning at home? Create a cosy, calm spot to study that you associate with progress, not pressure.

The best way to make learning enjoyable? Build a rhythm that works for you. Whether it’s ten minutes a day or a few deep-dive sessions a week, it all adds up. And when the experience itself is engaging, you’ll find yourself coming back without needing to force it.

Online learning doesn’t have to mean staring at a screen with zero feedback. With the right platform – and the right mindset – it can feel energising, empowering, and (believe it or not) fun.

Try it for yourself and see how enjoyable learning can be. Pick a topic that interests you, start small, and let the momentum build. Whether you’re chasing a new skill or simply curious, there’s a fun way to learn online waiting for you.

Word of the Day: doldrums

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This word has appeared in 111 articles on NYTimes.com in the past year. Can you use it in a sentence?

‘The Wackiest Ways We Remember Those We’ve “Lost”’: The Week 7 Winner of Our Summer Reading Contest

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Grady Zheng, 16, writes about a “grieving ritual” that “involved a chaotic, joyful and utterly ridiculous food fight in the middle school cafeteria.”

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