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Writer's pictureJan Svamberg

How to choose the Best online course?

Updated: Aug 19, 2020

Have you notice that every course claims it's the best one in the field, has the best content and is the most credible one? Such claim might be right but is it really the best course for you?


Don't start with the course

The secret is not to choose the right course but the right platform. It sounds confusing, I know. Don't skip the important step before you even start to look for the best platform for you. It's the reason why you want to study. What drives you to study online? Is it because you want to learn a new skill, get a new job or promotion? It's like you would go to the shop without knowing what you want to buy. If you want buy a grocery you will chose a different shop than if you would like to buy a computer. It's the same with online courses (eventhough it might be the best course on the market but it doesn't mean it's the best course for YOU and for what you want to accomplish).


The reason to study is the key

As the most important step, find out what is the reason why you want to study. What drives you to search for an online course.


Hobby or skill

1) Would you like to learn a new skill/hobby or update an existing one? In this case you don't need an expensive accredited course and you might be focusing more on hands on skills and experience (photography, painting, writing, etc.) Courses in this category are not usually accredited, recognized and have officialy low to no value for employers but they do have value for YOU. Such courses are available for a low price 10-30$. If you would like to learn photography, you can learn it for 10-30$. Is it what you were looking for? Then it has a value for you and it's still cheaper than attend a private lesson where you can easily spend more than 100$.


Work

2) If you are aiming on getting a job or a promotion then your focus should be shifted towards accredited and recognized courses within your desired field. I've been there. I know you want to spend as less money as possible and to get the highest value. In this case the lower price the lower performance. Many people are studying courses from paragraph above (10-30$ course) and hoping it will help them to get a job or a promotion (it might work but don't rely on it). You are welcome to try but you will end up most likely with wasting your time and money. On the other hand you don't need to spend 5000$ dollars but don't rely on getting a job based on 20$ online course. The higher is course credibility, content quality and it's recognition the higher is possibility of achieving your goal.


Don't buy a microwave if you want a fridge

You just found out you need a new fridge. You go to the shop and learn the price for a fridge is out of your range so not to leave with empty hands you buy at least a microwave hoping it will do the same job. Will it really do the same job? It's still in the kitchen so it means it's close enough. Keep there a milk for a week and then taste it. Did it really do the same job? You will most likely end up going to the shop again anyway and getting the fridge this time for sure.

It's the same with online courses and the important decision with what drives you to study online. Don't forget to follow your decision up to the end of choosing the best course for YOU. If you are looking for a course to accomplish a promotion then courses designed to learn a new skill/hobby are not the best match for you.


Choosing a platform

When you are decided what is the reason you want to study online you can move to the second step. Now is the time to choose the right platform. Why not to pick a course right away when I know my reason to study online? The knowledge of available platforms is essential in order to accomplish your goal. The number of available platforms Worldwide can reach up to a few hundreds. If we take into consideration only international with content in English the number drops to around 50 where the number of the most well known is under 10. Some of them are focusing on learning a new skill/hobby and credible university like couses in general or platforms aiming on specific field such as programming, hospitality, health&safety, leadership&management, creativity (painting, playing on an instrument), etc.


TOP 5 platforms Worldwide

This list of 5 websites contains the most well known online study portals Worldwide with the biggest collection of online courses. No matter which course you are looking for you will most likely find it here. (In case you are looking for something very specific, I will share with you other smaller platforms in another articles.) These are the most well known online study platforms but each of them has a different use. The certificate provided upon successful course completion on each platform has a different value. Platforms are sorted according to the certificate credibility. If you are looking to learn a new skill/hobby or update an existing one then start from the bottom of the list. If you are aiming on promotion, getting a new job or university like courses then start from the top of the list.


1) EdX

2) Coursera

3) Futurelearn

4) LinkedIn Learning

5) Udemy


I passed 46 courses altogether on listed online study platforms above. Let's explore each of them and which one is the best for you. I will share first hand information on studying a single courses on each platform and what it can offer. (I will explain multiple course bundles, professional certificates and MicroMaster degrees in another post.)


Find out more about each platform


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