Top 5 online (some free) learning platforms for restless learners

There is no denying that the self-isolation and quarantine brought on by the pandemic has resulted in increased media consumption and completely changed the form of home entertainment with most people turning to streaming subscriptions like Netflix, Amazon Prime, HBO, Hulu, and more. As theaters & museums closed down and live sports competitions and concerts got canceled, we found ourselves spending endless hours in front of our screens streaming our favorite series for the third time and playing video games with our kids. During this time, what has been traditionally viewed as an alternative pathway, online learning, one that is particularly suited for adult learners seeking higher education opportunities, has required all students and educators around the world to quickly adapt to virtual courses. The shift to online learning due to Covid-19 was so abrupt, it took all of us by surprise. While the shift was happening for schools back and forth between the physical location and online learning due to surges in the infection, both parents and non-parents alike, bored being stuck at home, delved into online classes to pick up a new skill or a hobby or earn an online certificate from an Ivy League school that they once aspired to attend in person and hence fulfilling a life-long dream from the comfort of their homes within their own timetable.

For our blog post, after doing some legwork I’ve compiled a list of top five online learning platforms that I think you might find interesting – these platforms offer the most comprehensive mix of free and paid classes, courses, training, certificates, and more to help you make the most of your online experience.

Coursera

Coursera is one of the most well-known platforms for online classes, and its catalogue is so extensive that you could even complete a degree on the website. The platform was founded in 2012 by Stanford University computer science professors Andrew Ng and Daphne Koller. Coursera works with universities and other organizations to offer online courses, certifications, and degrees in a variety of subjects. According to CNBC “more than 150 universities offered upwards of 4,000 courses through Coursera, which features over two dozen degree programs at prices that are lower than many in-person school offerings.”

You can join Coursera and follow many of the classes for free. However, to submit assignments, get grades and eventually obtain a course certificate, you will have to pay. Some courses have a one-time fee, or you can pay a monthly subscription fee to access a related set of courses, called a “Specialization.” You can also pay a yearly subscription fee for Coursera Plus, which gives you access to and allows you to earn certificates for most of Coursera’s classes.

edX

edX was founded by Harvard and MIT in partnership with other universities, including Berkeley, Brown, and Cornell, to provide courses online. The site has a broad variety of classes, including subjects that range from data sciences to the arts and humanities. Most courses are free to follow, while verified certificates cost $50-$100. Multi-course programs and MicroBachelors, MicroMasters, and master’s programs are also available.

Khan Academy

Khan Academy is also a non-profit organization that started as one man tutoring his cousin. Today it has grown into a company with more than 150 employees. Instead of displaying ads or subscriptions for revenues, the academy is supported by individual contributions from people like you. It offers practice exercises, instructional videos, and a personalized learning dashboard that empower learners to study at their own pace in and outside of the classroom. The courses tackle math, science, computer programming, history, art history, economics, and many more. The firm has also partnered with institutions like NASA, The Museum of Modern Art, The California Academy of Sciences, and MIT to offer specialized content. The resources are translated into more than 36 languages in addition to the Spanish, French, and Brazilian Portuguese versions of the website. The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation is among the key supporters of the Academy, having donated $1.5 million to Khan Academy on January 11, 2021, Elon Musk also donated $5 million through his Musk foundation.

Harvard Online Courses

Harvard offers online courses on a variety of subjects; the classes go from 2 to over 12 weeks – these listings link to edX, which is where you can take the classes. Topics vary from the latest in computing trends to learning how early explorers navigated using the stars or tackling a perfect storm: the economic impacts of the post-COVID world and effective policy response. The site lets you easily filter the results based on duration, subject, price, and start date to find courses. Most courses are self-paced and include both lectures from Harvard professors and additional study materials. Every piece of audio or video content comes with a transcript to provide greater accessibility. The paid courses cost anywhere from $25 to over $7,000. If you want a certificate to prove you’ve finished a free course, that will come with an additional fee (the ones I have looked at ranged from $30 to $1600).

Udemy

Udemy is an American MOOC (massive open online course) aimed at professional adults and students. Its learning experience arranges coursework into a series of modules and lessons that can include videos, text notes, and assessment tests. Udemy’s video player has functional features like closed captioning and note-taking functions. Courses cannot be downloaded for offline viewing; however, the Udemy mobile app allows users to view classes offline and to listen to lectures on the move in the app’s podcast mode. Udemy users can also watch courses through Apple TV and Google Chrome. Udemy has more than 40 million users learning new skills from 70,000 expert instructors who’ve produced over 155,000 online courses. Tutorials reach students from more than 180+ countries in over 65 languages, and thousands of enterprise customers use Udemy for employee training. The company was launched by Eren Bali, Oktay Caglar, and Gagan Biyani in 2010. It is headquartered in San Francisco, with offices in Denver, Brazil, India, Ireland, and Turkey.

While there is an endless number of sources offering online learning, this list reflects our personal choice. If it is any guide, we hope you will find it helpful and are excited to pursue knowledge and sharpen your skills. We wish you good luck in your classes and wherever this new information may take you.