Wherever there’s conversation around personal development today, it’s quickly pointed out that the internet has made learning easy at a little cost.
This is true as institutions continue to create free online courses on every subject imaginable. Yet, the variety which makes online learning so appealing, sometimes makes it difficult to find the right choice.
Luckily, we’ve narrowed it down to some of the best options available today.
Top 5 Online Learning Platforms
1. Coursera
This online learning platform gives you access to courses from top universities like Harvard, Stanford, University of Toronto and more. Coursera allows you free access to most of the available courses. But, you are required to pay to acquire a certificate.
Now, depending on the subject you’re learning, this may not be an issue. For instance, you may not need a Creative Writing certificate but the knowledge you gain will definitely improve your skill. If you do need certification and you do not have the required financial capacity, you can apply for Financial Aid from Coursera.
The application process is simple and straightforward. All you need to do is provide some information about yourself and your current financial condition.
2. Edx
This online learning platform also hosts a wide variety of courses from ivy-league universities. It is also more flexible because you have the option of self-paced courses. Most of the courses are free but some professional certificates require a fee.
3. Alison
Here, you have the options of completing a certificate course, getting a diploma or going more in-depth and joining a learning path designed to improve your skill set or broaden your knowledge on a particular subject. Online Learning on Alison is completely self-paced. It’s completely up to you how or when you complete your chosen course.
4. Udemy
This is more of an open-sourced online learning community. Anyone can put a course together and publish it on the platform. You’ll find courses on various topics of attractions on Udemy.
5. Udacity
If you’re looking for a more structured platform with access to top instructors from the world’s biggest institutions and are able to invest in your education, then Udacity is the online learning platform for you.
Most Courses or “Nanodegrees” on Udacity take 3 months to complete. Here, students also get access to personalised mentoring dedicated to helping them succeed.
Udacity is a great hub for technical subjects like Programming, Artificial Intelligence and so on. Thanks to their partnerships with companies like Google and IBM.
How To Derive More Value From Online Learning
1. Prepare and Plan Ahead: Deciding to take an online course is the first step. You need to ensure that you create the time and prepare the resources that will help you through the learning period.
For instance, will getting access to a stable internet connection make studying easier? Would it be more convenient to download a mobile app for easier access? Are you able to download your course materials ahead of time?
2. Use Your Time Effectively: You’re not going to magically have more time to pursue your goals and you have to actively make time for your learning. It will be easy to procrastinate or forget about your commitment entirely. Especially because it’s free and you don’t have to answer to anyone.
A solution will be to dedicate a specific time and day to your education. The time should be considered sacred and must be adhered to strictly.
3. Be Consistent and Hold Yourself Accountable: Starting a free online course is very easy but it requires a lot of self-discipline to complete one. When you’re trying to create a new habit, it’s important that you do it every day. If you do miss a day, don’t miss the next day.
4. Reward Yourself: There’s a lot to be said for delayed gratification, the ability to put off something you enjoy now, in order to gain something that you’ll enjoy even more later. When you’re preparing to sacrifice your free time, sleep and other resources to take an online course, promise yourself something nice if you finish successfully.
This could be anything from a day trip to Takwa Bay to indulging in Ice cream or whatever delicacy you fancy. Giving yourself something to look forward to, will keep you motivated to attain your goals.