3 types of online courses for aquaponics

Online education for aquaponists

So you're excited by the prospects of aquaponics. There's a tonne of resources online but the best way to get going is by putting your enthusiasm into practice and getting hands on. No time like the present - here are three types of online resources to bring structure and guidance that you need to go from plan to production.

YouTube Aquaponists

There are a plethora of aquaponist enthusiasts out there on YouTube. These avid video bloggers share 1st hand experiences with their own aquaponics systems. If you're the kind that learns by observation then this is a quick and most cost effective way to get started. Three of our favorites are:

Citizen Peng's honest and informative reporting on building his 150sqm greenhouse aquaponics system. A self-reliant setup growing asian greens in Australia with over 500 catfish and goldfish.
The Grilling Network's three part series is a really to the point. They whiz you through on setting up a pragmatic, pure production-orientated backyard aquaponics factory, powered by Tilapia.
IoT is in vogue, and here's a great story on Rik Kretzinger's Arduino-driven system. It's a portable urban farm-to-market prototype, accompanying his videos adventures tinkering with arduino.

Aquaponics on MOOCs

Udemy is a rapidly expanding online platform tailoring to those who are lookin gofor instructive how-to content covering both theory and practice. Their courses are user-generated by instructors from both academic and industry backgrounds.

Currently two instructors are offering aquaponics courses, a comprehensive program covering theory on all facets of this field. The video and quizz content are a really affordable and interactive way to get into the topic. And for under $50 you get a lot more than a standard book on the subject.

Being self-paced you can take the 60 odd lectures, up to 10 hours of learning, on a daily or weekly basis depending on how task targeted you want to get. This is a great way to get to know the basics and your grouping lessons to help you get your first project off the ground. With over 3,500 students, many reviewing the course it's easy to figure out if this fits your learning style.

Distance Learning Aquaponics

If tutoring is more your preferred style of learning then perhaps a distance learning course is for you. The Aquaponics Production course is delivered by ACS Distance Education School. Established in 1979 they have been in the business of remote learning for decades and have a special formula to help keep you motivated to get to the end.

At AUD$700 it's a much heftier price tag that most content out there. But when you're going from inspiration to actual doing it's probable that you'll lose motivation along the way. This course comes with a 1-to-1 tutoring function that connects you with your own, for want of a better analogy, "personal trainer" that will provide personal feedback and encouragement to get you through those tough moments. There's even a learning module specifically dedicated to "troubleshooting". Designed and taught by four experts who have backgrounds in nursery, agriculture, horticulture and marine science it's easy to see how you will be well supported.