COVID-19 has certainly brought new shifts in the traditional education system. It has transformed the way how students and office workers around the world are getting instructed. With interactive and innovative learning methods, not only students but also the working professionals can learn with more enthusiasm and ease which will completely change their perspective of education and elevate learning to an entirely new level. Whether you’re aiming to learn basic coding, sharpen math skills, or develop artistic finesse, online learning platforms are a great and easily accessible resource for learning at your own comfort level. To help get started, here are just a few of our recommendations for the best online learning platforms, so that you can enroll today.
FutureLearn
FutureLearn offers a wide selection of free courses for all age groups on business, art and media, healthcare, history, IT and computer science, humanities, and other personal skills that can lead to certifications. Most of their courses are hosted by universities, businesses, or other organizations around the world. The platform provides you free access to a course at no cost for its duration and up to 14 days after, but you can also “upgrade” the course to access any tests and get a certificate of completion. The premium subscription provides flexibility to take any course at your own pace as well as any tests and degrees.
Pluralsight
Pluralsight offers on-demand courses for users in subjects like software development, data science, information and cybersecurity, and so on. Founded in 2004, the platform offers more than 7,500 individual self-paced classes across hundreds of paths, and even if you’re not ready to tackle a full-length pack, you can dip your toe in with individual courses that only take a couple of hours to finish. Pluralsight personal subscription plans typically start at $29 per month. Moreover, there’s a premium option, too, for around $449 per year, which includes all the regular features and courses, plus additional interactive courses and industry-standard practice exams
Udacity
Founded in 2011 by Sebastian Thrun, David Stavens, and Mike Sokolsky, Udacity is an American online learning platform for professionals, offering nano-degrees on a wide range of subjects like Web Development, Digital Marketing, Business Analysis, Machine learning, Data Science, and Artificial Intelligence. Each course includes hands-on practice, short videos, exercises, projects, mentoring, verified certificates on course completion, and real instructors who can address your requirements. Their self-paced courses are co-created with corporate leaders like Google, Facebook, AT&T, Mercedes Benz, and Amazon, and so on. Though Udacity offers a few free courses, the ones that provide maximum value are their Nanodegrees, which cost approximately $400 and can last between 4-6 months.
Treehouse
Treehouse is a relatively new online learning platform that is committed to making education accessible to students of all races, genders, sexual orientations, and socio-economic backdrops. Founded in 2011, they feature 300+ technical courses on coding and development, over 50,000 students, and over 27,545 minutes of video. Treehouse collaborates with some big names, including Microsoft, IBM Watson, Amazon Alexa, and Google Developers, etc. The platform offers a 7-day free trial, then you can choose from three different plans ranging from $14 to $199 per month. Their basic plan includes on-demand courses, interactive practice sessions, and access to course forums. Moreover, the pro plan gives you access to bonuses, downloadable content, and beta features.
MasterClass
Started in 2015, MasterClass is an on-demand learning platform that offers video lectures and demonstrations by putting celebrated actors, writers, techies, musicians, and more in the teacher’s chair. Their courses are binge-worthy, educational, and thought-provoking, with practical advice and demonstrations mixed in with straightforward video lectures, workbooks, and group discussions. As MasterClass is a subscription-based platform, students can take as many sessions as you want within a monthly subscription. The price is about $15 per month for unlimited access, but students have to sign up for one year at a time.
Coursera
Coursera is a popular online education platform that can give students of all age groups access to on-demand courses and can even lead to a University degree. With an extensive list of courses available for online learning, Coursera has worked in affiliation with many universities, institutes, and organizations around the world to help in promoting and implementing online education. There are different types of courses and programs offered such as Regular courses, specializations, professional certificates, master track certificates, and online degrees from institutions. Their courses include on-demand videos, community discussion forums, and peer-reviewed assignments. The price and time required to complete each type of course or program vary extensively.
Skillshare
Skillshare is an online learning platform that offers a wide variety of on-demand courses, such as drawing and illustration, photography, design, creative writing, and so on. The aim is to teach practical skills that students can use to create their own projects. Their courses involve a series of video lessons, combined with assignments for students to practice their skills. Students can sign up for free and access a plethora of free courses, which are usually short video lessons that take about an hour to finish. However, a premium subscription that costs $8.25 per month offers thousands of more course offerings and the ability to download classes to watch them offline.
Udemy
Udemy is a popular online learning platform that provides people of all age groups a chance to develop their careers and explore a wide variety of hobbies. With more than 100,000 on-demand courses, Udemy’s huge repository is an excellent option to consider for classes in business and marketing, personal development, IT, design, and so on. Udemy permits students to preview classes they’re interested in and does offer a 30-day refund if you’re unsatisfied. The costs of the courses vary, starting from $9 and you can also avail of great discounts that are often available on this site.
EdX
EdX is an online learning platform that offers many on-demand courses in a range of academic fields from the sciences and technology to humanities and business. The online learning platform offers six unique types of programs i.e one-off courses, Professional Certificates, XSeries Program, Global Freshmen Academy, and MicroMasters Program. These courses cover skill development courses for leisure purposes, meeting the demand of the current job market, and for students to get a better understanding of a topic. While students can take most of the classes for free, the “verified certificate” courses start from $50 and may go up to $300.
LinkedIn Learning
LinkedIn Learning is another online learning platform for career and business professionals to network, obtain resources and support, and build relationships with potential customers, clients, and partners. With more than 1,000 professional courses on topics like project management, web development, and digital marketing, they’re an excellent platform for working professionals looking to keep their skills up-to-the-minute. The platform also offers certifications that students can add to their LinkedIn profile, showcasing their expertise and improving their resume. LinkedIn Learning offers a one-month free trial program. After the trial period, the price starts from $29.99/monthly or $24.00/annually.
Conclusion
From online classes to OTT platforms, COVID-19 has become a catalyst for many industries to search for innovative solutions in a short period. If you are a working professional or a student, you are probably looking for opportunities to make the most of this time and learn skills to put on your resume. Studies have shown that people who pursue creative interests by trying to master a skill, even when that skill has nothing to do with their job, have on average better personal productivity outcomes than others. So, take chances, and learn something that fascinates you!
