8 Online Learning Sites: Pros and Cons
Whether you’re looking to advance your career or just pass the time in a productive way during quarantine, taking online courses can make you a more well-rounded person. They give you the opportunity to take courses that interest you but may not necessarily fit into your school curriculum. Due to advances in technology, there is a wide variety of websites offering these courses. This fact also makes it difficult to determine which website and course is right for you and your interests. Weighing the pros and cons of these sites is an important way to decide what’s best for you as well as your budget and schedule.
1. Google Partners
Google is known as the leading search engine, but it has evolved to have many more services, such as email, web browsers, and even electronic devices. Most companies and organizations deal with Google for search engine optimization (SEO), which helps them get higher in search engine results, which in turn brings in more website traffic. This brings in more customers – whatever the “customers” of the organization are. These organizations may choose to buy digital ads through Google, which helps them get traffic. This is the basis of Google Partners, a learning platform that teaches people how to deal with digital advertising and AdWords.
Pros:
The courses are free and you will receive a certificate at the end of each course. The courses can help you gain the knowledge you need to pursue a new career. At the end of the course, you have the opportunity to take the exam to become a Google Partner, which allows you to add a special badge to your resume and business cards. This is a great way for you to learn about a possible new career while getting recognized by a well-known company.
Cons:
The courses are only available to companies that work on selling and managing client ads. According to the site's terms and conditions, individuals are not eligible to take these courses unless they want to own their own business to manage ads. Skillshop is the best option for individuals who want to learn about such things without being affiliated with a company. However, even with Skillshop, you will have to renew your certification every year.
2. LinkedIn Learning
LinkedIn is the leading social media site for making professional connections. Even if you choose not to use these courses, you should definitely create a LinkedIn account to help advance your career and meet people in your field. LinkedIn Learning, which used to be Lynda Learning, is a platform that offers courses on a variety of topics related to the skills you may need.
Pros:
LinkedIn Learning offers courses on a variety of different topics. These courses are useful in the workplace, whether you want to improve your communication skills or your skills in a specific software. Once you complete the course, you will receive confirmation of your completion on your LinkedIn profile and will receive a certificate. This way, you can show your current and/or future employers that you are passionate about learning new things and showing what you know.
Cons:
If your company or university does not cover your LinkedIn Learning costs, you will need to pay for the service. If you have to pay out of pocket, the cost is $25 per month. However, you can check with your school to see if they cover alumni. If you are working, see if your company would consider at least partially reimbursing you, or see if your local library offers a way to access the course.
3. Khan Academy
You may already be thinking about your schedule for next semester. If you are taking advanced courses in science, math, or even the humanities, you may be worried that you are not prepared, especially if you are struggling with the lower levels of the subject. You may also be thinking about taking the Graduate Record Exam and looking for help. Fortunately, Khan Academy has tools and resources for things like this and more.
Pros:
Khan Academy is a nonprofit organization that aims to provide a world-class, free education to students, no matter where they live. Everything about Khan Academy is free, no catch. The courses are designed to help you learn and fill in any gaps you may have that may be preventing you from achieving a higher level of success in the subject, or to review things you may have missed earlier in the semester. The site also offers various practice resources for some of the most common graduate school entrance exams.
Cons:
While anyone can join Khan Academy and take these courses, most of these courses are geared toward elementary school students. If you are an older student, this may make the courses seem like they are demeaning to your intelligence. Additionally, while you receive badges, you do not receive a certificate for completing the course.
4. Facebook Blueprint
Many people use Facebook solely as a social media platform to help you connect with friends and loved ones, even if you are far away. However, businesses and organizations use Facebook to reach out to potential customers and donors to help them grow their business and get their message out to more people. Since the site is constantly changing, it can be hard to keep up with the changes. Companies may decide to hire someone with knowledge, and that's where Facebook Blueprint comes in.
Pros:
Facebook Blueprint is a platform that offers courses on leveraging Facebook ads and other tools on Facebook to help reach a larger audience. The courses cover a variety of topics on Facebook ads and marketing using Facebook, ranging from beginner to advanced. Those who complete the course will receive a certificate for completing the course. The courses are relatively short, usually averaging around half an hour, depending on your reading speed.
Cons:
Facebook Blueprint focuses solely on Facebook marketing, so the content taught won't necessarily apply to any other social media site. Along these lines, this platform is geared toward those who want to learn about marketing and advertising, so all of the courses focus on those areas. This means that those who want a diverse range of topics will be disappointed with this platform. If you're interested in getting a Facebook Blueprint certification in any of the available subjects, the exam costs $150.
5. Courses
Coursera is an online learning platform that gives anyone the opportunity to take courses online from colleges and universities around the world. It also gives students the option of getting certificates for completing courses and specializations in selected topics. This can help you gain deeper knowledge about something you may have briefly covered in class, or give you an edge in your career.
Pros:
Coursera's courses are taught by universities and colleges around the world, so you know the courses and instructors are full of knowledge about the subject. You can audit courses for free, so if you just want to learn more, you can choose to take the course for free. You can also decide to take the course to get a certificate. Financial aid is available if you can't afford it.
Cons:
Students can choose to audit the course for free, but students who want to get a certificate or degree will need to pay for the course. For some courses, especially those that focus on a specific software, you may need access to that software, which can increase the cost of the course. While financial aid is available, it can take up to 15 days to process financial aid applications, which can delay your studies, especially if you want a certificate.
6. Udemy
Udemy is an online learning platform that offers courses on a variety of topics, from web design to personal development. While some courses are more expensive, many are only $20. These courses use resources such as PDF documents, PowerPoint presentations, videos, etc. to teach students.
Pros:
On Udemy, you can review the course information and structure before you decide to take a course. You can see what other students who have taken the course think and use that to decide whether to take the course. While some courses are paid, there are also multiple free courses to choose from. If you want to try a paid course, you have 30 days to try it out and get your money back if you decide it's not for you. Also, there are often sales on paid courses, so there are fewer courses you have to pay for.
Cons:
While there are some free courses, some high-quality courses are paid. Anyone can create a course on Udemy, so pay attention to who the instructor is and look them up to check their credentials in a certain topic. Free courses don't have certificates attached to them. Only paid courses have access to discussions with the instructor and the ability to message the instructor. Udemy instructors know very little about their students, so it's difficult to tailor course information to them and their interests.
7. Code Academy
In today's ever-evolving digital world, knowing how to code can help you stand out from your peers, even if coding isn't directly related to your job. Knowing how to code can help you build a professional portfolio that shows employers what you can do and what you've done throughout your career. If you've always wanted to learn, Codeacademy is a great place to start.
Pros:
If you're new to coding and are wondering if you should spend your valuable time learning it, you can take a quiz to figure out where your interests and goals lie. Codeacademy will suggest learning paths that fit your interests. You can also choose to browse the catalog even after you've taken the quiz and received a recommendation. The basic plan is free, so you can access some material for free before you decide if you want to code.
Cons:
Like some other online learning platforms, the only way to get a certificate of course completion is to pay for Codeacademy Pro, which currently costs $20 per month. Also, this may be obvious, but the site is only for those who want to learn about every aspect of coding, while other sites have more variety.
8. Edx
Like Coursera, Edx is a learning platform where users can take a variety of courses from colleges and universities around the world. Courses range from science to art. The site also offers professional certificate programs and "micro" degrees.
Pros:
Course content is free to view, and verified certificates can be purchased after completing the course with a passing grade. While courses have specific lengths and start dates, the content is self-paced and you can study ahead of time if you want. You can choose from a variety of courses in a variety of subjects that interest you or in which you want to gain more skills. While the majority of the platform's courses consist of courses from colleges and universities, the site also has courses for high school students to help them prepare for college-level courses and college entrance exams.
Cons:
Like many of the previous platforms, the content is free, but you will need to pay for a certificate of course completion. If you choose a certificate, you will need to pass quizzes and assignments to earn it, which can add to the stress, especially if you are not good at taking tests.
Using your time wisely, especially when you have free time, is crucial and shows that you have initiative. It may take some thought to find the platform or platforms that are right for you, but in the end, this effort will help you find the courses and certificates you need to achieve your goals and excel in your career.