Online learning platforms have radically changed the way we learn things. There are a host of reasons why online learning has become so popular in recent years. This way of learning is not only more effective but also cheaper and less time-consuming. It allows you to learn at your own pace and control your academic life. In this post, we will provide a list of online learning platforms and discuss them briefly.
List of Online Learning Platforms
1. MasterClass
These days, everyone is talking about MasterClass, a highly effective online learning platform. There is a big difference between MasterClass and all other learning platforms. Here, only world-famous celebrities and experts teach the courses. On MasterClass, Dan Brown will teach you writing, Gordon Ramsay will teach you cooking, and Martin Scorsese will teach you filmmaking.
You have access to as many classes as you want, only for a monthly fee of $15. There are about 20 lessons in each course, and each lesson lasts about 10 minutes. There are workbooks, assignments, video lessons and community activities. The platform allows you to connect with other learners. If you are passionate about self-development, you will find MasterClass very helpful.
You can take as much time as you need to learn something, because there is no deadline. You can use their app to download the videos and watch offline. There are nine categories: Writing, Culinary Arts, Film & TV, Sports & Games, Music & Entertainment, Photography, Business, Fashion, Lifestyle, Policies & Society, and Science & Technology.
2. Skillshare
This is another wildly popular learning platform. There are more than 20,000 classes, and they are divided into 3 main categories: Thrive, Build and Create. In the “Thrive” category, the classes focus on lifestyle and productivity. In the “Build” category, the classes are on Freelance & Entrepreneurship, Marketing, and Leadership & Management.
In the third category, the classes are on Film & Video, Animation, Creative writing, Music, Graphic Design, Web Development, Photography and more. Skillshare believes in the application of skills, and that is why the site has a project-based approach.
A list of online learning platforms is incomplete without Skillshare. But it is important to keep in mind that Skillshare does not offer any certificate once you have completed a course. It just helps you enrich your knowledge. If you just want to develop your skills, Skillshare is a wonderful platform.
In order to have unlimited access to the content, you need a premium Membership. The site also has live sessions in which you can participate. You can download the classes so that you can keep learning even when your device is not connected to the internet.
3. LinkedIn Learning Ex Lynda
Lynda is a really old e-learning site, and LinkedIn acquired it a few years ago. Now all the content is available on LinkedIn Learning. Here you will find numerous courses on Software programming, Web Development, Business Management, Economics, and many other subjects. Whether you are a beginner or advanced learner, you will find courses suitable for you.
By paying a monthly subscription fee, you can use the content available on the platform. The courses are short, which is a great thing because you can absorb information better when the courses are short. The platform has another convenience: you can download the courses and view them offline.
4. Edx.org
If you are looking for a college-level online course, edx.org can be a really good choice. The content is of high quality, thanks to the company’s founders—MIT and Harvard. On this site, you can take all the courses for free. To get this opportunity, enrolling in their Audit Track is a requirement.
There are amazing course materials including videos, lectures, and ungraded assignments. However, if you are using the service for free, you will not receive a verified certificate once you have completed your course. See any comprehensive list of online learning platforms and you will find Edx.org.
In order to receive graded assignments, you will have to enroll in the paid course. Once you have received the certificate, you can add it to your LinkedIn profile. It should also be noted here that all the courses have upgrade deadlines.
5. Udemy
Without Udemy, a list of online marketplaces is incomplete. With over 50000 instructors and 40 million students, Udemy is one of the most well-known platforms. No matter what skill you would like to develop, you will find a course on Udemy. The materials are available in various formats such as documents, PDF, text, PowerPoint, videos, etc.
A great thing about Udemy is that it does not charge any setup fee. You can learn at your own pace. No technical knowledge is needed to get started. The platform has an app that is available for both Android and iOS users. This app helps the users stay in touch with the platform.
Udemy still has its drawbacks. Interaction with other students is somewhat limited and that is not a great thing for you if you like to share your progress with your fellow learners. Personal branding is not allowed. If you are a course creator, you will have to face high competition with others. With that said, it is a great platform for educators, instructors, and course creators.
6. Coursera
In a relatively short period of time, Coursera has become a leading platform for online courses. The goal of this platform is to offer high-quality education and it has partnerships with some of the world’s most renowned universities including the University of Michigan, Stanford University, and the University of Pennsylvania.
Coursera is a very important addition to this list of online learning platforms. Courses on many different subjects are available here. Better yet, these courses are free. Just click on a category and the site will show you a list of available free courses. The platform also has a mobile app which is very easy to use. Coursera awards certificates on several courses.
7. Udacity.com
Udacity is one of the best platforms for nanodegree programs. But what is a nanodegree? Well, it is a degree offered by a project-based program. The courses are on topics such as Coding, Artificial Intelligence, Mobile Programming, Robotics, Data Science, Business, etc. In most cases, you can complete a course within 6 months.
In the field of online learning, Udacity has become synonymous with innovation. A certificate on a nanodegree program can make it easier for you to land a job. In spite of not being an accredited university, Udacity offers skills that are highly in demand. However, most users do not like the pricing. You will have to pay up to $2400 for a nanodegree program.
8. Khan Academy
If you are interested in online learning platforms, you have certainly heard the name of Khan Academy. We must add Khan Academy to this list of online learning platforms. This platform has a huge library of micro-lectures of numerous topics. The platform has material on science, math, humanities, economics, and computer programming. Khan Academy is a free platform, so anyone can use it.
Before you go for an advanced course, you can try Khan Academy to get introduced to a subject. The teaching style of Sal Khan, the founder of Khan Academy, has been highly praised by some famous people, including Bill Gates.
9. Alison
Alison is another great platform for online courses, partly because the courses are free. The platform has huge learning resources, and more than 10 million students. The platform boasts of its high-quality resources. Courses on technology, health, languages and business are available here.
The site has more than 800 free courses. So, no matter what subject you are interested in, chances are that you will find a course that interests you. Alison also offers diploma level courses. To pass, you will have to get at least 80% marks. This site can greatly help you develop skills and land a job.
10. Futurelearn
Futurelearn has partnerships with some highly reputable educational institutions. The course programs are offered by those partner institutions and organizations. If you want to go further, you can consider their full programs. Each full program contains a few courses. Do some research to find a list of online learning platforms and you will find Futurelearn.
Free courses are available on subjects such as law, business, art, literature, study skills, history, media, teaching, and so on. You can access the courses with your mobile device or desktop computer, and learn at your own pace. Futurelearn also includes social learning in the programs. It allows you to interact with other students who have taken the same course.
11. Codecademy
Codecademy is probably the best choice for people who are looking for a free platform to learn how to code. There are some other websites that try to do the same, but Codecademy is clearly superior to them. Codecademy allows you to learn at your own pace but also motivates you to learn fast.
It has support groups that motivate you to stick to your learning schedule. In a very short time, you can learn enough coding to develop an interactive website. The platform offers courses on JavaScript, PHP, Python, Ruby, and jQuery. Once you have completed a course, you will be able to work on projects.
The site has a dashboard that helps you monitor your progress. By joining their group, you will be able to find people who are learning the same thing. Community members can help you solve many problems.
Conclusion
We have tried to make a list of online learning platforms, but by no means is this list comprehensive. If you are looking for a good learning platform, we highly encourage you to learn as much as possible about the available options.
Do not hurry. Take your time and learn about different platforms. When choosing a platform, you should consider factors such as your level of skills and expertise, and the main focus of the platform. We hope this post will help you make an informed decision.