We’ve had to make significant modifications to the way we operate and engage with one another since the start of COVID-19. Part of this is the development of online learning. Many people have taken advantage of the chance to learn new things and acquire new talents. There are several excellent learning applications and websites that provide fantastic, interesting reading content as well as useful support when needed.
Many people are unfamiliar with remote working, although distance learning is a well-established practise. Similarly to how you may use an all-in-one desktop app to stay in touch with coworkers, you can watch live or recorded online courses and seminars.
Many of the strategies presently being employed in the workplace were previously used for online learning.
However, there are so many different alternatives for online learning that it can be difficult to choose which service is ideal for you.
You can learn online from the comfort of your own home and advance your profession without spending a dime if you use the appropriate applications and courses.
In this digital age, there are so many online learning materials that it is difficult to select the finest ones. But what if you could discover free classes from some of the world’s top educators on your smartphone?
Today, we’re going to show you the top five apps for free courses that can do just that.
Khan Academy
Khan Academy is a non-profit organisation whose mission is to “give a free, world-class education to anybody, anywhere,” and it definitely lives up to that promise. Khan Academy has it everything, whether you want to brush up on your arithmetic abilities, master personal financial skills that were never taught to you in school, or prepare for an impending AP Chemistry exam.
Learning with Khan Academy is self-directed and does not provide the opportunity to obtain a degree, as some of the other applications on our list do. However, if you’re seeking for a free college-level education, Khan Academy is sure to exceed your expectations with its great visual content and frequent tests to evaluate your understanding.
There is also a strong emphasis on assisting students with their tests, such as the AP or SAT. Certain courses, such as US history or macroeconomics, have AP/college versions designed to help you pass examinations, including “Mastery Points” that allow you to track your progress as you answer quiz questions.
eDX
While Khan Academy has its own collection of courses, eDX has collaborated with colleges such as Harvard, MIT, and Berkeley, as well as industry behemoths such as Google, IBM, and Microsoft, to give over 2,800 courses in a variety of fields. Engineering, law, and philosophy are examples of such fields.
However, while eDX is a for-profit organisation, it does provide some benefits if you pay for a course, such as archived course materials, professional credentials, and graded assignments/exams. The contents for free courses are only available for a limited time, but you may always start a course and then upgrade before the upgrade deadline.
Having saying that, the free courses are more than adequate for broadening your knowledge on a certain area. Most are self-paced and include time estimates for completion as well as how many hours you’ll generally spend learning in a week. There are also some instructor-led courses with a set timetable and materials that are issued on a regular basis.
With a straightforward appearance and basic course structure, watching classes via the app is simple. If you have any queries, you may even download videos to view offline and join in discussion boards.
Coursera
Coursera, like eDX, collaborates with major schools and businesses to provide courses. It is regarded as one of the world’s premier learning platforms, with over 2,500 courses in virtually every area. Coursera appears to prioritise professional advancement, including lectures from Google, Meta, and Hubspot, as well as Coursera credentials that can help you acquire a job.
Coursera, like eDX, derives income by giving certificates for course completion. When you pay for a course, you have access to all course materials and graded assignments, as well as a digital certificate that you can print or add to your LinkedIn profile.
There are thorough premium courses and degrees that take months to finish alongside live classes, but doing the free courses will teach you more than enough.
Despite its similarities to eDX, the Coursera app is easier to use and appears to have been designed with the user in mind. It responds quickly and provides extensive explanations of each course. You may download courses for offline viewing and even go audio-only so you can listen to things like an audiobook or podcast.
Udemy
Udemy, like eDX and Coursera, uses crowd-sourced learning. However, teaching is not confined to universities; anybody with a certain set of skills can instruct a course on Udemy. This particular approach might be beneficial for obtaining a different point of view from someone outside of academia.
The online courses cover a wide range of disciplines, including Amazon AWS, Microsoft Excel, and photography. It’s also worth mentioning that Udemy has many specialist courses, like free training on aromatherapy, mental health skills, and guitar playing.
The software is well-designed, with a simple video interface. Because Udemy is largely a fee-based business, you may find it difficult to discover free courses through the app.
However, we discovered that Googling “Free” in the app was the quickest method to find free courses, but this isn’t ideal. Signing up for a class on Udemy’s free courses website, then navigating to the My learning area and continuing your course from there, may be easier.
Alison
Alison offers a diverse range of courses, with over 4,000 programmes available in a number of areas. These programmes have a considerably stronger emphasis on career-related training, including certifications and degrees in areas such as ISO 9001, retail management, and chemical safety.
Diplomas provide a broad overview of a certain profession, whereas certificates teach specialised abilities. Either of these would be a fantastic addition to your CV and LinkedIn page.
Every course on Alison is free to take, and access to examinations is unrestricted. After finishing a course, you can acquire a certificate or diploma. Both are fairly affordable, with actual certificates costing up to $50 and physical diplomas costing up to $150.
The career guide is a useful tool that divides diverse sectors into distinct positions and then gives information on practically every facet of the work, from needed abilities to a predicted career map. Of course, Alison recommends which of their courses will be most beneficial in advancing in this profession.
The Alison app is simple to use, and resources are given in a simple interface. Some courses may not include or have limited video content, so keep this in mind if you prefer visual learning. However, we’d like to note out that the app has advertisements, which can be a bit unpleasant, but you can eliminate them for a little monthly price.
Gain Education Advancement for Free
For some of us, the search of knowledge never ends. Using these applications, you don’t have to spend hundreds of dollars to extend your horizons. Instead, all you need to do is devote your time.
Whether you want to master cutting-edge skills that will get you a well-paying job with a tech behemoth or brush up on history you learned in school, these online learning sites will help.