Education & Online Learning

Local Resources

• Center for English Language Learning
  The University of Missouri offers high quality English language instruction to non-native speakers of English through the Center for English Language Learning (CELL).
• Columbia Area Career Center Community Education
  (573) 214-3803
  Part of the Columbia Public School District, CACC provides online adult education services, including medical career and other professional certification exam preparation. The Career Center also offers free online and in-person classes for adult students trying to better their English language skills.
• Conversation Partner Program
  The Conversation Partner Program is part of the Asian Affairs Center at MU. It pairs Americans with visiting government officials, scholars and undergraduate students from Asia.
• DBRL’s Educational Resources Guide
  A catalog of learning tools from your library, including virtual programs, physical and digital collections, databases and free digital courses.
• Excel Adult High School 
  Online high school program hosted by DBRL for adult students looking to earn a high school diploma.
• Goodwill Excel Center
  A local tuition free, in-person high school program aimed at adult students looking to obtain a high school diploma.
• Language Partners
  Language Partners is a program offered by the Women’s Center at MU. The purpose is to assist a non-native English speaker with conversational English, awareness of North American culture and knowledge of living in Columbia.
• Moberly Area Community College (MACC)  Adult Education & Literacy
  660-263-4100 ext. 11382
  MACC’s Adult Education and Literacy program is free to students. It offers individualized learning assistance for a variety of interests, including preparation for the HiSET.

Electronic Resources Available through DBRL

• LearningExpress Library
  LearningExpress provides test preparation materials for elementary through adult level. Tests include the ACT, ASVAB, Civil Service, Cosmetology, EMS, Firefighter, GED, GMAT, GRE, HiSET, Law Enforcement, Paramedic, PPST, Real Estate, SAT, TOEFL, United States Citizenship and more.
• LinkedIn Learning (formerly Lynda.com)
  LinkedIn Learning offers video tutorials on technology skills, creative techniques, business strategies and other subject areas. Classes are taught by top experts and are set up so you can learn at your own pace.
• Mango Languages
  Mango Languages is an intuitive, easy to start language learning platform, with 500+ language learning resources for 70+ languages and 20+ ESL courses.  (Must create a username and password to access learning tools.)
• Universal Class
  Universal Class offers over 500 online continuing education courses taught by real instructors with remote, 24/7 access so you can study on your schedule. (Must create a username and password to access.)

Other Online Courses and Tutorials

• HiSET Preparation from ETS
  Free test preparation materials and practice tests for the HiSET. In 2014 the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) began using the HiSET test as its high school equivalency test, replacing the GED.
• MOLearns – High School Equivalency (HSE) Testing
  314-415-4935
  In 2014, the HiSET test replaced the GED. MOLearns offers free HiSET preparation to Missouri residents. Participants need to be 17 years of age or older, have access to a computer with the Internet, have an email account, and be able to get to an onsite class to take placement tests.
• ProLiteracy Education Network
  This nonprofit organization provides free resources for people of all ages to build their math, reading, writing and English skills. HiSET/GED and US citizenship test preparation is available as well.

Other Programs in Missouri

• Missouri Adult Education and Literacy Program
  573-751-1249
  The Adult Education and Literacy Program has sites located throughout Missouri. Courses taught vary by site, but most provide HiSET preparation courses, English as a Second Language courses, as well as math, reading and writing instruction.
• Adult Education and Literacy–Ozarks Technical Community College
  417-447-8860
  This program provides specialized instruction to help students build or refresh basic academic skills necessary for success. It is offered free of charge on OTC’s Springfield, Richwood Valley, Table Rock, Lebanon campuses and coming soon to Republic. Waynesville classes are through the Waynesville School District and online classes are through MOLearns.org.

Personal Enrichment

• University of Missouri Extension
  Offers several noncredit programs including Master Naturalist, Master Pollinator Steward, Master Gardener and Missouri Woodland Steward programs. Registration fees vary depending on the program.
• Osher Lifelong Learning Institute
  The Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at the University of Missouri offers a variety of classes for adults 50 years of age or older. Please check the brochure and enrollment form available through the link above for current fees.

Library Resources

• DBRL Early Childhood Connections
  A Facebook group dedicated to highlighting local resources and programs that provide support and resources to parents.
• DBRL’s Educational Resources Guide
  A catalog of learning tools from your library, including virtual programs, physical and digital collections, databases and free digital courses.
• LearningExpress Library
  Provides test preparation materials for elementary through adult level, as well as math, reading comprehension and writing courses.
• Universal Class
  Offers online continuing education courses taught by real instructors in subjects like language arts, math, science and history. (Must create a username and password to access.)
• Homework Help Databases
  A list of our best subscription resources to help with schoolwork on subjects ranging from history and literature to science and math. Just use your DBRL library card to gain access.

State and Local Resources

Associations, Groups and Homeschooling Information

• Columbia Homeschooling Resource Group
  CHRG is an organization for mid-Missouri homeschoolers offering supplemental educational and social activities.
• Jefferson City Home Educators (JCHE)
  A Christian-based group offering support, activities and homeschooling information for mid-Missouri families.
• Jefferson City Secular Homeschooling Group (JCSHG)
  An “inclusive, secular group” providing support for homeschooling families.
• Mid-Missouri Co-op of Home Educators
• A2Z Homeschooling – Missouri
  A listing of associations, events, publications, etc. centered in Missouri.
• Families for Home Education
  Represents and lobbies for home educators in Missouri.

Curriculum Support and Classes

• Columbia Area Career Center
  Offers many classes for high schoolers, some of which can be taken for credit.
• Heritage Academy
  University-model school offering K-12 classes, designed to supplement homeschooling.
• Missouri Digital Heritage Initiative
  List of digitized collections specific to our state, as well as educational programs and curricula.
• Missouri Course Access Program (MOCAP)
  MOCAP offers online courses for K – 12 students statewide.

Things to Do

• Enns Entomology Museum
  Located at the University of Missouri, this museum holds approximately 6 million specimens of insects, arachnids, and fossils.
• Leisure Times
  Online edition of Parks and Recreation’s activity guide, listing recreational classes and activities available for all ages.
• Museum of Art and Archaeology
  This museum frequently has special exhibitions, offers many options for tours, and has a number of education materials on its website.
• National History Day in Missouri
  A yearlong educational competition that provides opportunity for young people grades 6 – 12 to explore history and present their findings in a range of formats.
• TRYPS (Theater Reaching Young People and Schools)
  Community children’s theater company with a year-round production season.

National Resources

Associations, Groups and Homeschooling Information

• Finding Dulcinea: Homeschooling Web Guide
  Offers resources covering different kinds of home-based schooling, legal aspects, teaching and test-prep resources, online homeschool communities and news.
• Home School Legal Defense Association
  Nonprofit home school advocacy organization providing legal information, including a summary analysis of the homeschooling law in Missouri. While many resources are free, legal advice, courses and some other tools are limited to paying members.
• New York Times “Times Topics”: Home Schooling
  Current news about home schooling, including commentary and archival articles published in The New York Times.
• National Home Education Research Institute
  NHERI conducts research and collects and analyzes statistics, facts and findings about home-based education.

Curriculum Support

• American Library Association Book Lists – Children
• American Library Association Book Lists – Young Adults
• Coursera
  Offers free online courses from partner universities and educational organizations on topics spanning the humanities, medicine, biology, social sciences, mathematics, business, computer science, and many others. Many courses are suitable for high school students.
• Database of Award-Winning Children’s Literature
  Use this fully-searchable database to create a tailored reading list of quality children’s literature or to find out if a book has won one of the indexed awards.
• Enchanted Learning
  Curriculum support items, including coloring pages, unit studies, science fair projects and more. Click free sample pages for resources available to non-members.
• iCivics: The Democracy Lab
  Georgetown Law’s web-based education project uses games and simulations to teach civics to students. Includes curriculum units for teachers.
• Khan Academy
  A free online collection of over 2,800 micro lectures via video tutorials stored on YouTube teaching mathematics, history, finance, physics, chemistry, etc. for all ages.
• Library of Congress Digital Collections
  Provides free and open access to written and spoken word, sound recordings, still and moving images, prints, maps, and sheet music that document the American experience.
• The World Factbook
  From the CIA, information on the history, people, government, economy, geography, communications, transportation, military and transnational issues for 266 world entities.

Practice Tests

• LearningExpress Library
  Learning Express provides test preparation materials for elementary through adult level. Tests include the ACT, ASVAB, Civil Service, Cosmetology, EMS, Firefighter, GED, GMAT, GRE, HiSET, Law Enforcement, Paramedic, PPST, Real Estate, SAT, TOEFL, United States Citizenship and more.
• ACT Student
  Online ACT test preparation offers free practice questions and two complete ACT practice tests that are fee-based.
• College Board
  Free practice questions are available for SAT, PSAT/NMSQT, AP, and CLEP. Online and paper study guides are available to purchase.
• ETS: Educational Testing Service
  This site offers free links to practice questions for several standard tests such as GRE, HiSET, TOEFL and other tests. Test preparation guides are also available for purchase.
• Study Guide Zone
  Free site offers study guides to over 40 high school, college, graduate and vocational standardized tests.
• Test Prep Review
  This free service provides practice test questions for ACT, PSAT, SAT, GRE and over 60 other standardized tests.

GED / HiSET

• NOTE: In 2014 the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) began using the HiSET test as its high school equivalency test, replacing the GED. See DESE’s website for more information.

• HiSET Preparation from ETS
  Free test preparation materials and practice tests for the HiSET.
• Moberly Area Community College (MACC)  Adult Education & Literacy
  1-660-263-4100
  MACC’s Adult Education and Literacy program is free to students. It offers individualized learning assistance for a variety of interests, including preparation for the HiSET.
• MOLearns – High School Equivalency (HSE) Testing
  314-415-4935
  MOLearns offers free HiSET preparation to Missouri residents. Participants need to be 17 years of age or older, have access to a computer with the Internet, have an email account, and be able to get to an onsite class to take placement tests.

GRE

• Graduate Record Exam (GRE) Information
  Find test centers, information about the GRE, and register to take the test.

TOEFL

• Educational Testing Service
  This site offers free links to practice questions for TOEFL.

Tests: Classroom, Online or Tutor

• Adult Basic Education – Callaway County
  (573) 659-3122
  HiSET classes are free and open to anyone who is over 16 and not currently enrolled in any public school. Classes are open enrollment and you work at your own pace. A state certified teacher facilitates evening classes to assist the student when necessary. The classes help the student to prepare for the HiSET exam, learn to read, improve workplace performance skills, or just brush up on the basics. Attendance and performance records are kept confidential.
• Columbia Area Career Center
  Columbia Area Career Center offers a wide variety of Business, Industry courses and Career certification programs. Classes include EPA Refrigeration Handlers, EPA Automotive Air Conditioning, Journeyman Electrician, A+ Certification and Network+ Certification, Accounting, Bookkeeping, Graphic Design, Home Inspection, Medical Coding, Medical Transcription, PC Repair and more. All classes are fee-based.
• HiSET Preparation from ETS
  Free test preparation materials and practice tests for the HiSET (replaced the GED in 2014).
• Kaplan Test Prep
  (800) 527-8378 and (800) KAP-TEST
  Kaplan offers a large variety of high school, college, graduate and professional test classes. This is a commercial site that offers classroom, online and tutoring for a fee.