There are a variety of reasons why online education is worth pursuing, and whether it’s about finally getting that diploma or simply learning a new skill, a growing number of platforms can help to guide our learning and even provide us with accredited documents upon completing a course.
Online learning is incredibly popular. In fact, a quarter of students are enrolled in at least one online class. It’s also nothing new, and though we may associate it with the advent of the internet, it wasn’t uncommon for people to complete their degrees through the mail before computers became the primary way that we process information. The proliferation of distance learning also means that virtual degrees are now viewed by employers as just as valuable as conventional ones, so long as they have the right accreditation.
There are also a range of benefits that online education provides which simply cannot be matched by in-person classes. Sure, in many of our selections you’ll be missing out on the college experience (and it’s worth bearing that in mind before you make your decision to go virtual). But what you’re getting is accessibility: you can complete your course virtually anywhere, you can choose modules that suit your busy schedule (if you’re holding down a job or looking after a young child, let’s say) and there are often far fewer requisite requirements to enrolling.
These factors have opened up online learning to people of any age, and continue to raise its popularity. With them in mind, we’re going to go over some of the best platforms in which online education can be pursued, examining them based on their pros and cons.
The Open University
Beginning as an initiative by the British government at the end of the 1960s, the Open University has now spread in various forms around the world, with the philosophy that anyone should be able to receive a degree level education.
What this means in practice is that there are often no formal requirements for signing up to their courses. And there are many: in areas of law, economics, psychology, and a raft of other subjects. The idea is that individuals who have not achieved the right qualifications, yet are passionate about a subject, should be encouraged to pursue it.
In the England of the 20th century, it was common for people to leave secondary education in order to work. So, with the hope of improving the level of education across society, the OU was founded. But applications aren’t limited to just British citizens, and as the OU has expanded over the years, so has its mission. It’s more than willing to take international applications.
Their business school has received the Triple Crown, meaning that it’s been accredited by the three main business education accreditation bodies – the AACSB, AMBA, and EQUIS – placing it in the top 1% of UK business schools.
Funding is achieved through traditional tuition fees, which makes it one of the more costly platforms on this list, though their degrees are still slightly cheaper than conventional universities. They also provide over 1000 free courses through their service OpenLearn, with a simple sign up required.
Pros:
• A number of courses on a range of subjects, including law, economics and psychology.
• No formal requirements to entry.
• Willingness to take on international students from around the world.
• Triple Crown accredited business school.
• Some features of a conventional university, including the opportunity to participate in an in-person graduation ceremony.
Cons:
• As you’re receiving a conventional degree, you’ll be expected to pay tuition fees.
Udemy
Udemy is an online teaching program that burst into the distance-learning landscape in 2010. Beginning as a Californian start-up (something you may have surmised from its name, a portmanteau of ‘you’ and ‘academy’ in very much the Silicon Valley tradition), it has since expanded into a worldwide institution, with offices in Ireland, Turkey, India and Brazil. We can only assume that this is to capitalize on a wider audience by providing a greater number of courses in a range of languages. 75 languages, in fact.
It’s an admirable achievement, but what’s even more impressive is the more than 230,000 different courses that they offer. These are often taught by industry professionals rather than conventional teachers, and cover a range of topics and skills, many of which can help you to get ahead in our ever more interconnected age.
Whether it’s coding, design, music or photography, you’ll be learning from individuals with hands-on expertise. Their courses are also ranked by reviews from other students, which can help you to decide which is right for you. It also provides the confidence that you’ll be getting your money’s worth. There’s no rolling subscription or tuition fees, just a set cost paid upfront that varies from course to course. For new learners, these are often offered at a discount.
The downside is that neither Udemy, nor its teachers, offer accredited courses. You won’t be getting a conventional diploma, nor gaining any qualifications. If you would like to bolster your resume with certain skills, say, Python or Amazon Web Service faculties, however, then Udemy might be the online learning platform for you.
Pros:
• A huge number of courses – over 200,000 – covering a range of areas.
• Courses come in a variety of languages.
• Excellent for picking up individual skills.
• Review system so you can read the thoughts of other students.
• No tuition fees or rolling subscription. You pay by the course.
Cons:
• Udemy is not an accredited institution. You won’t receive any qualifications by completing their courses.
• Courses can vary in cost and length, so make sure you do your research before purchasing.
EdX
EdX is a remarkable online education provider. Created by scientists at MIT and Harvard, and backed by those Ivy League institutions, it provides everything from free courses developed by various businesses and educational establishments, to master’s degrees from prominent universities.
Whether it’s a free introduction to screenwriting written by the University of Cambridge, or a complete master’s in cybersecurity from Berkley, edX is unique among many online learning tools due to the relationships it has built with over 230 institutions, which include top-rated universities, businesses and NGOs.
With over 40 million users, edX is one of the largest online learning platforms. It’s available to students from around the world and can provide accredited certificates, diplomas and degrees. The cost of these, and the amount of learning you’ll be expected to do to receive them, will ultimately depend on the program being offered.
Professional certificates are typically between $100-400, and feature a few hours of learning per week. Master’s and Bachelor’s degrees are funded through tuition fees, and can be applied for on a full or part time basis. Free courses can be enrolled in through a simple sign up.
Pros:
• A huge number of options, including bachelors and master’s degrees, and free courses.
• Education provided by highly ranked universities.
• Accredited certificates and diplomas provided.
Cons:
• More expensive than some other online learning platforms.
Coursera
Coursera is Stanford University’s equivalent to edX, and fundamentally similar in that it works with various universities and international corporations to provide online degrees, certificates and free courses. Among its partners are the University of Pennsylvania, Duke University and Google.
It’s bolstered by a greater number of courses than its Harvard backed competitor, offering over 5000 different opportunities for learning, compared to edX’s 3000. Both appeared in 2012 as a response to the increasing demand for online learning, and Coursera has emerged as the more popular option, with over 118 million total users.
Ultimately, your decision between these two offerings should be based on the particular course you’re looking for. Their various non-degree options run entirely at your own schedule, and typically last from four to twelve weeks. Don’t be fooled by the start date listed on them, they’ll start at whatever date it is that you load up the webpage.
Though free to enroll in, many courses actually require a paid subscription to do more than a simple audit. However, unlike platforms like Udemy, you’re guaranteed to be getting expert information from lecturers and business leaders.
Pros:
• A huge number of courses, provided in partnership with top universities and international corporations.
• Accredited professional certificates and degree programs available.
• Expert information provided by lecturers and business leaders.
Cons:
• Courses may be more expensive than some other online learning platforms.
Skillshare
Skillshare is unique in its emphasis on community based learning. Unlike a conventional university, though similar to our previous pick, Udemy, courses are created by industry professionals. The difference is that Skillshare works on a subscription based module which allows you to enroll in as many courses as you like instead of paying for each course individually. This is a big advantage to the consumer ahead of similar platforms, as if you find that a course simply isn’t working for you, you can effortlessly switch to another one.
There are downsides however, though Skillshare may boast about its relationships with industry leaders – and there are plenty of familiar faces to be seen on their website – none of their courses are accredited.
Providing professional certificates or diplomas has never been a part of their business model though, which instead focuses on individual skills, many of which have practical application, at least in the abstract, when it comes to your resume. In order to write that you can program with Python or use Adobe Lightroom, for instance, it’s important that you can back that up with some degree of know-how, and a course undertaken on Skillshare might go some distance towards that.
Skillshare’s thousands of courses are conducted entirely at your own pace, and the service offers a seven day free trial, allowing you to explore it before you commit to a subscription.
Pros:
• Thousands of courses that can be conducted at your own pace.
• Subscription based model which allows you greater freedom to choose.
• A range of topics covered by industry professionals.
Cons:
• No accredited courses, nor professional certificates provided.
Future Learn
We’re finishing our list with Future Learn as it fuses together attributes of many of our previous picks. Like Coursera and edX, it works with internationally recognized institutions to provide courses, microcredentials (accredited professional certificates) and whole degrees. Like Skillshare, it operates on a subscription model, allowing access to unlimited short courses based on a monthly fee. It’s also jointly owned by the British Open University.
Owing to this, its founding partners are of some of the UK’s top universities, but the organization has since expanded its outreach. Residents of any country can apply, and courses are offered in English, French, Dutch, Spanish and Chinese. With over 3000 short courses created in participation with these highly regarded institutions, there are a huge range of topics to choose from.
Learning is largely flexible, with students expected to commit a few hours a week to their course. The number of weeks varies depending on the course load. A subscription costs £29.99 ($28.56), though in the first month it’s £14.99 ($18.62)
Pros:
• Over 3000 short courses developed in participation with highly regarded educational institutions.
• A range of other options from microcredentials to whole degrees available.
• Subscription based model that allows for unlimited learning.
Cons:
• Fewer US based university partnerships.
Conclusion
Ultimately, which of these platforms you’re going to use depends on whether you’re looking to participate in a conventional educational program, or simply hoping to pick up a new skill.
If it’s the latter, we’d opt for Udemy or Skillshare. Both excel in the number of classes provided by creative talents, but you’ll find plenty of helpful tutorials on software development and programing as well – familiarity with which is an often sought after attribute on an individual’s resume.
If you’re looking for a conventional undergraduate or master’s degree, we’d opt for the Open University – just make sure that your particular course is accredited before committing to costly tuition fees. EdX, Coursera and Future Learn also offer pathways to complete degrees in collaboration with their partners.
If you’re looking for professional certification, we’d choose EdX or Coursera. Their relationships with industry leaders will demonstrate your competence in whichever field you’re studying to a potential employer.
References
https://www.onlineschools.org/visual-academy/the-history-of-online-schooling/
https://www.open.ac.uk/courses/do-it
https://www.edx.org/masters?linked_from=sitenav
https://www.businessinsider.com/guides/learning/what-is-coursera?r=US&IR=T
