Online Learning in Quarantine

Whilst the world braces for the impact of the emerging pandemic of COVID-19 caused by Coronavirus, people are looking towards activities whilst being self-quarantined or under enforced isolation. Nonetheless, this is the time to seize an opportunity to pick up new skills, learn a new language, indulge in activities that you kept postponing for different reasons, or simply expand your knowledge from the comfort of your home.

Here is a list of some of the best online learning platforms you can explore to brush up on your skills during this downtime.

• Udemy

This is one of the top online course platforms in the world. It offers over 100,000 courses at an economical price. You can opt for courses in Business Development, IT & Software, Design, Marketing, Personal Development, Photography, Health & Fitness, Lifestyle, Music, Academics, etc. One of the best things about this platform is that if a course is available, you can sign up for it whenever you want.  View or listen to lectures, complete exercises, take virtual notes, download supplementary files, and discuss course materials with your instructors and fellow students. There’s no time limit, so every course can be completed at whatever pace you feel comfortable with. However, courses require paying a tuition fee to enroll in; the price depends on the instructor who created the course. Courses on Udemy can cost as little as $20, and Udemy has tons of promotional coupon codes that can give you discounts on courses normally priced at $150 to $200!

• Coursera

Another extremely popular platform, which is known for its dynamic collaborations with leading universities in the world for developing enriching courses. The platform offers multiple free courses along with specialization courses, professional certificates, and degree courses. One of the best parts about this platform is that it is designed for a diverse global audience, including video subtitles in over 30 languages. You can simply join for free via your email or Facebook profile. Generally speaking, Coursera courses are free to audit (i.e. watch videos) but if you want to earn a course certificate, you will need to pay.

• DigiSkills

DigiSkills is Pakistan’s very own largest training program, which is offering absolutely free government-certified training in essentials skills required for online freelancing. The courses are available in a batch-wise system and require 3 months to complete. Courses offered include Freelancing, E-Commerce Management, Digital Literacy, Digital Marketing, AutoCAD, WordPress, Creative Writing, QuickBooks, Graphic Design and Search Engine Optimization. One of the best things about this platform is that training content is developed in primarily Urdu language! And there is the constant support of online coaches that are available to answer any query. You can simply signup via your email address, complete your online profile, and enroll in a course of your choice.

• Skillshare

This is a great learning platform if you’re looking to train casually, be practical in acquiring new skills and apply the knowledge right away. As a Skillshare member, you’ll have access to online classes that range from beginner to expert level; where you can watch video lectures on your own time, taught by creators, entrepreneurs, and professionals from around the world. Each class has short lessons and a hands-on project for you to work on. However, to be able to take the course, you would have to pay a monthly or annual subscription. The basic membership is free for the first month and the Premium version is $1 for your first two months. After the trial, Premium is $15 billed monthly, or $99 upfront for the year ($8.25 per month).

Whether for a career switch or simply to boost your job prospects or grow your current business, learning new skills online to achieve your professional goals is without a doubt a constructive way to cope with the current self-isolation.