An online course is a course that is focused on use of information and communications technology for learning. An online course does not require any face-to-face meetings in a physical location. A class taught to students via Internet or in an online learning environment. Students access class objectives, lecture notes, instructional materials, and exams via Internet.
5 benefits of an online courses–
1. Career advancement and hobbies
Studying online gives you more flexibility. You can work and fit your work schedule (and your hobbies) around your coursework more easily; even more so if you are taking an asynchronous class: an online class where you don’t have to log in at a specific time for a live session but you can study and interact with your instructor and your fellow classmates at your own pace through, for example, the discussion forum.
2. In a survey conducted by The Learning House, 44% of online students reported improvements in their employment standing, for example by obtaining a full-time job within 12 months of graduation, and 45% reported a salary increase.
By the time you finish your online course, you will have gained more work experience and learned new skills that will help you advance in your career!
3. Flexible schedule and environment
By studying online, you choose your own learning environment that works best for your needs: be it your bedroom, your study, the café across the street, or your local gym, listening to your instructor’s lecture podcast as you run on the treadmill. Isn’t that awesome?
Taking an online course also means that you don’t have to commute to class, which means less time spent on the bus and more study time sitting on your couch, the sound of a crackling fireplace in the background. You no longer have to worry about driving in the snowstorm and missing an important class!
4. Lower costs and debts
Studying online means that you pay the tuition fee, possibly book supplies, an online application fee, and few other items. You don’t, however, incur the costs of housing and transportation, which translates to lower debts and more savings.
5. Self-discipline and responsibility
Who says that having to be more self-disciplined is a disadvantage? It is true that studying online requires more self-motivation and time-management skills, because you will spend a lot of time on your own without someone physically close to keep you focused on deadlines. Look at it this way: your online course will not only teach you geology or poetry, it will also help you become more self-motivated, a trait that will make you stand out in the workplace and beyond. It will look great on your résumé.
6. More choice of course topics
Let’s face it, when thinking about what to study, besides for interest and career opportunities, where to study is also a deciding factor. This may limit the choice of subjects or courses to take. Studying online at your own convenience allows you to no longer worry about class location when choosing what to learn next. By taking an online course, you can really focus on the subject you are interested in and choose from the variety of online courses and programs.
Top 5 online courses that you can take in isolation –
1. . Lynda/ LinkedIn Learning (Largest Range Of Courses)
Price: 1-month free trial
Courses available: 13,000+
Certification: Free certificates included for all courses ✅
Coming in at the top of my list is Lynda.com (now LinkedIn Learning) which is one of the most well established and trusted online course providers.
Lynda made it into the #1 position, because in my opinion, they cover all the bases. Firstly, Lynda has one of the largest catalogs of online video courses, which is well over 13,000.
Secondly, their courses are taught by vetted industry professionals, so students know they are getting relevant and reliable information.
When it comes to consuming course content, it is extremely engaging with videos, quizzes, interactive lessons and more. Lynda also has Android and iOS apps for learning on the go.
As for the price, Lynda/ LinkedIn Learning offers a 1-month free trial with no commitments or upfront cost. Instant win!
During that trial period, users can take any online course and still receive a printable certificate for free. Simply cancel after you’re done! Happy learning!
2. Udemy (Great For Marketing/ Design)
Price: Free
Courses available: 823
Certification: Free certificates included for 823 courses ✅
Next up on my list is another well-established provider by the name of Udemy. While this provider predominantly provides courses for a fee, Udemy also has a great range of free video courses to choose from. 823 to be exact.
As an added bonus of selecting from one of their free online courses, users can also download and print a certificate of completion once done (it is sent via email).
Much like Lynda, Udemy also vets their tutors to ensure that the best learning material is available for students.
Some of their most beloved course topics that have been taken by millions of students include:
Spanish Language
Blogging
Microsoft Dynamics 365
Digital Marketing
Linux
Social Media Marketing
Excel
Blockchain
PowerPoint
Python
HTML
AWS
Salesforce
Java
Dropshipping
Premiere Pro
iOS
Graphic Design
NetDevOps
Final Cut Pro
Mobile Development
Programming
3. Alison (Great For IT, Science, Coding)
Price: Free
Courses available: 1,000
Certification: Free certificates included for some courses ✅
Do you know what free online course provider has over 13 million learners, 2 million graduates, and 1,000 courses? Ding, ding, ding! It’s Alison!
Unlike Lynda/ LinkedIn Learning and Udemy who create their own courses, Alison works more as a platform that organises to hundreds of free courses available all over the internet.
Some of their most popular course categories are IT, business, languages, health, humanities, science, marketing, lifestyle, math, design, web development and many more!
The major downside to Alison however, is that not all of their courses are in video format. They also don’t have a smartphone app for mobile learning either. So depending on how you absorb learning material, this might be a deal-breaker.
As a silver lining, Alison does provide a digital certification of completion (for some courses only) which you can download and print whenever you please. They also provide a paid service for receiving a hard/ digital copy of the certification as well!
4. Google Digital Garage (Best For Digital Marketing)
Price: Free
Courses available: 100+
Certification: Free certificates included for some courses ✅
While we all use Google on a daily basis, most users don’t realise that Google also has a full-fledged course platform for online learning.
As for the price… There no none! Most of these Google Digital Garage courses are completely free with included modules, no time limits, unlimited access, and videos.
Once users have completed their chosen course, they will also receive an accredited Google certificate that can be downloaded and put on a CV or resume.
I have personally taken the “fundamentals of digital marketing course” which is 40 hours of value-packed content. Courses are also quite interactive which keeps users engaged and eager to learn more.
Categories and classes include:
Digital Marketing
Productivity
Business Security
Business Communication
Social psychology
Google Cloud Platform
Big Data
Machine Learning
AI
5. Oxford Home Study (Great For Management)
Price: Free
Courses available: 15
Certification: Free certificates included in 15 courses ✅
Up next on my list is a relatively unknown course provider by the name of Oxford Home Study. While this provider is better known for their diploma distance education courses, they also offer up a hand full of free online courses.
This small selection of free courses (15 in total) include a free certificate with no hidden fees or nasty surprises. Simply sign up, start learning, then receive a certificate of completion once done.
While the included course lineup is quite limiting, there are hundreds of other courses to choose from. Just note that the courses outside of the below list do come at a price.
Here are the 14 courses that Oxford Home Study provide for free:
Business Management
Customer Service
Construction Management
Fashion Design
Hotel Management
HRM
Internet Marketing
Management
PR
Project Management
Risk Management
Starting a Business
Supply Chain Management
Tourism and Travel
Hopefully this article of free online course has been helpful to you. It’s never too late to learn new courses, if you are interested, now would be the perfect time to do it.
P. s. – Stay safe!