Are you interested in pursuing online learning? This style of education can be massively beneficial since students have increased flexibility to manage their schedules.
Not to mention, you won’t have to worry about commuting to school. Instead, you can merely learn online. As a result, you don’t even have to leave your home!
Yet when you enlist in an online course, it’s important to pick the right learning platform. To help you to make an educated decision, we’ve highlighted some of the best online learning platform examples and explained a little more about them.
Online Learning Platform Examples
1. Skillshare
If you frequently watch YouTube videos, you will likely have watched a sponsorship for Skillshare. After all, Skillshare is one of the most popular and widely-used learning platforms on the market.
Skillshare’s popularity is understandable. It’s host to a wide variety of different courses, the majority of which are taught through educational videos.
- Learn new skills
- Explore your passion
- Take classes on the go.
"1 year in and still going, their content and courses are great"
Just bear in mind that these courses aren’t accredited. Instead, Skillshare is more focused on teaching practical subjects. It’s especially well-suited to creative subjects such as art and design, as well as technology.
These classes are taught by experts in these subjects. Most courses on Skillshare will only take a few hours to learn. They have been broken down into bitesize episodes that tend to be just a few minutes long.
There is also a project component in every class. To finish a course, students must complete this class project, which is an outstanding opportunity to show off all that they have learned throughout the course.
Skillshare has a free trial option. For instance, Skillshare Premium is free for 7 days. Skillshare Premium grants unlimited access to courses. So why not try it out?
2. Coursera
With thousands of courses to offer, Coursera is a recognizable online learning platform.
Having been created by professors from Stanford University, Coursera works alongside many different universities to deliver its high-quality courses.
As a consequence, many of the courses on Coursera are university-level. This makes it incredibly easy for users to change their careers and learn something completely different. You can even earn degrees through your Coursera studies.
It’s much cheaper to earn a degree through Coursera than it is to enroll at an in-person university. Not to mention, your study will be considerably more flexible when using Coursera.
Degrees, Certificates, & Free Online Courses
- More than 5,000 courses
- Professional Certificates
- Degrees from the Top Universities
Coursera’s courses are individually priced so it’s worth taking some time to carefully compare different courses before committing to one.
On the other hand, Coursera Plus will give you unlimited access to courses, meaning that you won’t have to pay for them individually.
3. Udemy
Up next, Udemy is another phenomenal platform for online learning.
Udemy is known for its diverse range of subjects. You can learn pretty much anything when using Udemy. Many of these courses are related to jobs. Hence, Udemy has become quite popular with employers.
When using Udemy, it’s important to remember that every course is differently priced. This contrasts with many of the other platforms on this list, which typically charge users a subscription fee.
The prices for these courses differ massively. Some courses will cost just $10, while others can be as costly as $150. Therefore, it’s important to compare these prices so that you can find one that is within your budget.
Generally, the more expensive courses are more comprehensive, though this is not always the case. Yet, you can still learn some incredibly valuable skills through cheaper Udemy courses. Plus, Udemy offers a refund for many of its courses.
Another quality that makes Udemy stand out is that some of its courses allow users to get certified.
4. MasterClass
When using
MasterClass has developed a reputation for its famous instructors. Among the most famous instructors who have provided classes for
As a result, you can enroll in courses that are taught by well-known instructors and celebrities who are experts in the field.
- Learn from the best!
- New classes added every month
- 180+ classes to choose from
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MasterClass has a smaller number of courses than many of its competitors. It’s home to just over 150 courses. Yet, these classes cover an impressive range of subjects.
Plus, they are of amazing quality. It’s easy to tell that these courses have been carefully constructed.
Not to mention, the fact that these courses are taught by celebrities and professionals means that you can pick up some valuable tips.
As a result, the courses are best suited to people who merely want an overview of a subject instead of a more in-depth experience.
5. Linkedin Learning
Linkedin is best known as a social media service. But interestingly, it also houses a brilliant online learning platform, known as Linkedin Learning.
The courses on Linkedin Learning are split into three different categories, namely Business, Creative, and Technology.
The Business courses cover subjects such as management, marketing strategies, leadership, branding, and communication.
Meanwhile, the Creative section is home to topics like video production, modeling, photography, animation, and manufacturing.
Lastly, the Technology section covers data analysis, spreadsheets, visualization, and business intelligence.
So if you think that any of these topics could be beneficial for you, it might be worth signing up for Linkedin Learning.
Instructors are great at breaking down these complex subjects into bite-size chunks, making it easy to learn these skills.
This platform is particularly useful for people who already have an account with Linkedin. This is because any certificates that you earn can be automatically transferred to your Linkedin account.
6. Teachable
Next on our list is Teachable. While most online learning platforms use professional instructors to produce their videos, Teachable uses everyday people as teachers.
This may sound like a disadvantage, but the truth is that the Teachable structure allows for some unique instructors to produce beneficial videos. Thousands of creators use Teachable to produce excellent educational videos.
Teachable is incredibly straightforward to use. Even people who are not tech-savvy can easily learn online when using this platform.
It’s aimed more at instructors than students themselves. Therefore, if you are a creator who is searching for a way to impart knowledge, Teachable is an excellent choice.
7. OpenLearning
OpenLearning is an Australian online learning platform that features over 4,000 classes.
This platform works alongside many established and well-known learning providers, such as the University of Technology Sydney and Charles Sturt University.
As a result, these academic resources are of exceptional quality.
One of the reasons that we love OpenLearning is that it has a social aspect. Users can comment, allowing for a social learning community. Consequently, students can motivate one another.
The courses on OpenLearning all have different prices, though many are free. This platform also offers university credentials, though you will have to pay to access these courses.
These courses tend to cost between $100 and $550, though this is still much cheaper than pursuing a degree from a traditional university.
8. Blackboard
Blackboard strives to provide more than the standard online learning experience. It has lots of interactive features that can improve a student’s progress, including whiteboards, breakout groups, and polls.
For that reason, Blackboard is brilliant for students who are looking for a social element that many online learning communities fail to provide.
Additionally, Blackboard is a learning management system (LMS) that is brilliant for academic education as well as business learning.
Blackboard also comes with a handy app that can enhance a student’s learning experience. Thanks to a 30-day free trial, you can test Blackboard to determine whether or not it is suitable for you.
9. Khan Academy
Formed by Salman Khan in 2008, Khan Academy is yet another excellent educational platform.
One of the advantages of using Khan Academy is that it’s completely free. This is because it was set up as a non-profit educational organization.
As a result, Khan Academy is dedicated to providing good quality education across the globe for free. Yet, you can donate to this organization if you feel inclined.
Khan Academy specializes in more academic subjects, primarily science and math. These subjects are primarily taught in the form of educational videos, which are convenient for users to watch.
This platform is not only brilliant for students but also for teachers. Professional educators can use Khan Academy as a tool to support their learning.
To encourage students to progress with their education, Khan Academy has included gamified features. This includes streaks.
Though Khan Academy is suitable for all learners, it is best suited to younger users. Many users enlist in Khan Academy to help them pass the SAT.
10. Treehouse
Lastly, Treehouse may not be as well known as some of the other learning platforms on this list, but it is nonetheless a valuable tool for online learning.
Treehouse has a more niche focus than many of its competitors. This is because it focuses on technology and computer programming.
So if you are interested in learning more about computing, Treehouse is the place to go.
Courses cover a wide range of computer programs, such as HTML, JavaScript, CSS, and Python. Since these are some of the most popular computer programs, this can be incredibly useful for people who have a passion for computing.
Treehouse courses are predominantly taught through videos. However, courses are also structured with workshops and quizzes. As a result, students can engage with different educational strategies to maximize their learning.
How To Pick The Best Online Learning Platform
Before launching into an online learning platform, it’s important to carefully consider your options. This is because there are just so many different platforms to choose from.
So if you are struggling to make a decision, here are some of the most important factors to consider:
Price
While there are some free courses available on these platforms, many are behind paywalls. Most of the time, these courses are of better quality and substantial than the free courses.
Yet, you won’t want to spend a fortune on these courses, especially if you are unsure whether or not they are of high quality.
Therefore, it’s important to consider how much you are willing to pay. Once you have made this decision, set aside a budget for your online learning.
The good news is that most platforms are quite flexible about these payment options. For instance, many platforms provide free trials, which will allow you to see whether a course is suitable for you before you start paying.
This is a wonderful way of ensuring that you don’t spend money on a service that isn’t suitable for you.
Content
To ensure that a learning platform is suitable, you must research the content of its courses. Different platforms will offer different courses.
Therefore, if you want to learn a particular skill or subject, it may not be featured on a platform. This is especially true if you are studying something quite niche.
Before paying for a platform or specific course, it is worth investigating the content.
Course Structure
Every learning platform uses slightly different educational techniques. Though most courses use videos, these courses can be differently structured.
To make the most of your online learning experience, it’s advised that you research the course structure before signing up for a platform.
This can be as simple as seeing how long the educational videos tend to be. After all, some people may benefit from long lessons, while other learners will prefer something short and sweet.
Reviews
Lastly, you should also take a look at the reviews for a learning platform. This is because they will give you insight into the experience of the users.
If an online learning platform has earned overwhelmingly negative reviews, it may be worth looking elsewhere for your online education. You may even find reviews for specific courses, which can be incredibly rewarding.
Final Thoughts
Online learning is a great tool for people to quickly develop new skills. However, it can seem a little daunting thanks to the wide range of available online learning platforms.
Hopefully, our guide to the main online learning platform examples has helped you to find a platform that’s suitable for you!
