The internet brings with it many incredible opportunities for self-learning and upskilling, with educational platforms, courses, workshops and tutorials all at your fingertips. And with many employees now spending much more time inside, this could be a good time to utilise these resources.
Not only will these online learning keep you occupied, but it can help to increase your skills in your current role, or else improve your employability in an industry or profession that may be new for you.
There are a plethora of both free and subscription online education tools out there, which can teach you everything from coding and web development through to natural medicine. Whatever it is that interests you, we’ve put together a list of online education websites that can help you upskill and improve your employability.
Founded by Harvard and MIT, edX is a global non-profit with over 16 million users that offers highly actionable classes. Courses are offered from educational facilities around the world and can be taken for the pure pleasure of learning or else can see you earn a certificate or degree in your chosen area of learning.
This website has a variety of free video lessons, with subjects broken down into particular lessons. This can be ideal for those wanting to hone skills in one specific principle, as you do not have to commit to the entire course. For example, the biology subject has separate videos for evolution, photosynthesis, genetics, and so on. As all the lessons are video-based, this is a great platform for those who prefer visual learning, as opposed to written work.
The home of online career networking also provides a vast range of courses in categories such as business, design and technology. Learn InDesign, take a course in those tricky aspects of customer service, or fine-tune your WordPress skills with courses from industry professionals. The first month is free, so you can trial it to see if suits your needs.
This online streaming platform has a range of free lessons, as well as university courses from around the world offered at discounted prices. Coursera gives learners access to over 3,900 courses and specialisations, 13 professional certificates and more than 20 degrees, so even if you’re looking for a very specific area you wish to upskill, chances are you’ll find it here. You can undertake lessons at your own speed, get feedback from the global community and share your certificate of completion or diploma with your colleagues or potential employer.
University of Southern Queensland Australia Open Courseware
USQ’s courseware offers learners 10 different free online courses, mostly in the areas of technology, social science and management. Each of the course’s modules are laid out online, along with lecture notes and testing assignments, so you can access everything at your fingertips. While there is no way to network with any other enrolled students, you can gain a degree or diploma after completing one of the courses.
The General Assembly has more than a dozen physical campuses located across Australia and the world, but students can also take online classes taught by certified experts. GA specialises predominantly in the areas of technology, data, design, and business, and have a wide range of both free lessons and paid courses.
The Massachusetts Institute of Technology is one of the most recognised educational tech institutes in the world, and allows online users to download all the course material, which is nearly identical to the courses taught at MIT. Since it is an on-demand platform, you don’t have any ability to connect with others undertaking the lessons or get a recognised tertiary degree, however it is a great resource for independent study across a wide range of areas, including engineering and architecture, social sciences, management, technology and health sciences.
Gain creative, business, or tech skills from over 23,000 online courses available through this online video-streaming education platform. While you won’t gain a professional degree or certification from these courses, they are held by industry experts who transfer their knowledge and can also give you feedback on projects. With a two month free trial, you can try out several courses before committing to the subscription.
With such a wide range of online educational resources, it’s never been easier or more cost effective to access such a broad range of courses. Whether you wish to improve on a hobby such as music or photography, or work towards formal qualifications, there is no time like the present.
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