GCFLearnFree.org
 | The topic of this article may not meet Wikipedia's notability guideline for web content. (July 2014) |
Type of site | Online education/e-learning |
|---|---|
| Available in | English, Spanish, and Portuguese |
| Owner | Goodwill Community Foundation Inc |
| Created by | Rev. Dennis McLain |
| URL | edu |
edu.GCFGlobal.org (formerly GCFLearnFree.org) is a free online educational website focusing on technology, job training, reading, and math skills. The site is a program of the Goodwill Community Foundation Inc. (GCF). All content in English is created in Raleigh, North Carolina and all the content in Spanish Bogotá, Colombia, that allows the platform to create content accordingly to each language.[1]
History
[edit]GCFLearnFree.org was created in July 2000 by Goodwill Community Foundation Inc president Dennis McLain as an online training program with both English and Spanish language lessons.[2] The program was funded through revenue generated from the value of donated items to Goodwill Community Foundation (GCF).
Self-paced tutorials
[edit]The GCFGlobal.org programs are designed around self-paced instruction. The website offers dozens of free, self-paced tutorials in technology, Microsoft Office, work and career, reading, math, and everyday life.[3][4] All tutorials can be accessed with no registration required, but users can also create a free edu.GCFGlobal.org account to track their learning history and create transcripts of completed tutorials.[5] Tutorials use video, sound, art, storytelling, and text.[6] GCFLearnFree.org's self-paced tutorials are part of the free resources available at DigitalLiteracy.gov, an Obama administration initiative focused on digital literacy.[7] edu.GCFGlobal.org is also an Everyoneon.org partner. Organizations that use edu.GCFGlobal.org include K-12 schools,[8] colleges,[9] homeschool groups,[10] nonprofit organizations,[11] libraries,[12] businesses,[13] and career centers.[14]
Online classes
[edit]edu.GCFGlobal.org offers free online classes that offer certificates of completion.[4] Online classes require registration and submission of assignments, and they are supported by online instructors.[15] The online class program is accredited by the International Association for Continuing Education and Training (IACET).[5]
Awards and recognition
[edit]GCFLearnFree.org won the 2012 MERLOT Classics Award for its Word 2010 tutorial.[16] GreatNonprofits, a provider of user reviews about nonprofit organizations, named GCFLearnFree.org a 2014 Top-Rated Nonprofit based on reviews submitted by people who volunteer for or use the website.[17] However, calling GCFLearnFree.org a "nonprofit" is not exactly accurate because the Employer Identification Number listed for GCFLearnFree.org by GreatNonprofits is registered with the Internal Revenue Service to Goodwill Community Foundation Inc. and not to GCFLearnFree.org,[18] and the name "GCFLearnFree.org" does not appear in other major nonprofit databases such as GuideStar and Charity Navigator but "Goodwill Community Foundation Inc." does.[19][20]
References
[edit]- ^ "Who We Are". edu.gcfglobal.org. Retrieved 17 August 2022.
- ^ "2010 Legacy Leaders: Dennis McLain". Triangle Business Journal. 22 February 2010. p. 1.
- ^ "GCFLearnFree". EdSurge. 19 March 2015.
- ^ a b Ferrari, Ahniwa (22 July 2013). "Learn Free with the Goodwill Community Foundation". WebJunction.
- ^ a b Williams, Sean (30 September 2013). "Need training for 21st Century skills?". Northwest EdTech.
- ^ Segrè, Francesca (10 October 2014). "10 Ways Developers Can Help Adults Learn to Read". EdSurge.
- ^ "Digital Literacy Resources". DigitalLiteracy.gov. Retrieved 20 March 2015.
- ^ "Guide to Going Google". Tech Geeks 83. Retrieved 20 March 2015.
- ^ "ESL: Life and Work Skills - Websites". Renton Technical College. Retrieved 20 March 2015.
- ^ "GCF Learn Free - free videos and lessons in basic math and reading". Plethora Home School. 7 November 2013.
- ^ "Helpful Resources". NoMorePoverty. Retrieved 20 March 2015.
- ^ Anthony, Jennifer. "Positivity and Patience". TechSoup for Libraries. Retrieved 20 March 2015.
- ^ "GCF Learn Free Program". WalmartOne. Retrieved 20 March 2015.
- ^ "Career Skills Training". GoodTemps. Retrieved 20 March 2015.
- ^ Chauhan, Saurabh (6 January 2013). "Study Online For Free At GCF LearnFree". WebWareHub.
- ^ "2012 MERLOT Classics Award - Word 2010 Interactive Tutorial". Online Learning Consortium. Retrieved 20 March 2015.
- ^ "Top-Rated Nonprofits in North Carolina". GreatNonprofits. p. 2. Retrieved 20 March 2015.
- ^ "Exempt Organizations Select Check: 56-1954387". irs.gov. Archived from the original on 30 June 2016. Retrieved 30 June 2015.
- ^ "Organization Report: Goodwill Community Foundation, Inc". guidestar.org. GuideStar. Retrieved 30 June 2015.
- ^ "Unrated Profile for Goodwill Community Foundation Inc". charitynavigator.org. Charity Navigator. Retrieved 30 June 2015.