A guide to online learning

We live in an age of constant technological transformation that is driven by quite possibly the greatest invention of all time - the Internet. The history of the internet is vast and dates back to work done in the early 1960s. Fast forward to now and it is a major part of our daily life. It carries and stores our information, helps us connect, gives us the latest global news in real time and is the ultimate source for entertainment. 

The internet has adorable cat pictures, memes, funny videos, epic fails, YouTube, Google and so much more. For this week however, we are ignoring all the fun and amusing things that the internet has to offer and instead will be looking it internet in terms of learning and acquiring skills.

The easiest way to learn and pick up a new skill online is by enrolling for online classes. E-courses are ideal for those of you who want to learn new things but do not have the time. 

A wonderfully short substitute for a college semester, online courses cover just about every skill and subject that you can think of, and also look great on your resume once completed.

There are websites dedicated to providing you with quality learning and are actually equipped with excellent teachers. So what are some classes that you can take? And where do you look? Here is our pick of the best learning sources online. 

COURSERA.ORG
Coursera is perhaps the most popular for online courses at the moment. Partnered by universities such as Stanford, Duke and Michigan, this website has dozens of specialised classes that you can choose from. 

Always wanted to do an introduction to classical music? You can learn at Coursera under Yale University. The website is user friendly and has categories from top rated courses to the most popular to the new and the unique. 

Coursera also offer you that college education without that hefty college price tag. You can pick from hundreds of different courses from Literature to Psychology to Cryptography. The best part: the courses are taught by professors from top institutions.

UDEMY.COM
Second on our list is Udemy. With over 11 million registered students, Udemy is perfect for those who are learning on a budget. Known for their popular Java Tutorials, this website offers you dozens of free courses with even the best courses setting you back only 20 to 30 dollars. Their free courses have an incredible enrollment rate with over half a million people learning HTML5 Programming and Java. The classes are flexible and you can take your time and learn at your own pace. 

LYNDA.COM
Lynda has recently been making waves on the internet with some amazing video tutorials. It is definitely the site to look for if you are, for example, a business student looking to expand your range. They also provide many courses and classes, a lot of which come with step-by-step tutorials. 

Lynda courses can be divided into three major categories. With Business, you can learn Leadership, Marketing, Project Management or you can go creative and try out Music and Design. It also offers great courses on technology including Developer, IT and the Web. It is definitely one of the most well thought-out education websites, especially for those looking to earn online as well. Lynda requires a subscription after a one month free trial, but rest assured of definitely getting your money's worth. 

ALISON.COM
Last on our list is Alison. It offers free online courses from the world's best publishers. You can do Diploma courses, language courses, Financial and Economic Literacy courses, Personal Development Courses and so much more. They have great teachers too but what sets them apart from the rest is their online community. 

Alison has a community where people come together and share things. Also known as the Watercooler, the community offers courses of the day, latest stories from students and top tips on different topics. For those of you who like a little bit of chit chat in between your learning, Alison is definitely the one for you. 

Now that you know where to learn from, there are only a few things left to go over.

First of all, online courses are just like real life courses; they can be just as hard and usually follow a syllabus. The course overview you receive once you choose a course will outline the topics that will be covered.

For some courses, text books are required and these can usually be found online. You will be assigned chapters to read, and will need to answer questions and submit assignments on time.  Some courses require you to collaborate with other students online, which is definitely a unique experience. In order to pass your course, you will need to take the exam that will be online but can come in many forms depending on your course. And finally, the teachers are usually friendly and helpful and can be reached via email or Skype during office hours.

The internet is the present and the future, so why not learn from it now? Online classes are a great way to earn a skill, especially for someone who does not have the time or opportunity to attend those classes physically. So keep all this in mind and take up something new today. Remember, the online student has to be committed to the courses to be successful. Happy hunting!

By Naveed Naushad