The pandemic has completely changed the concept of online learning. It’s no longer just for the working parent pursuing their degree after their children fall asleep or the college student whose professor is out sick. It’s for all of us. It actually has been for a while, but we somehow managed to not notice all the opportunities right under our noses and next to our open Twitter tabs.
So, how about spending this weekend diving into all the lessons that the magical internet has to offer? We know, weekends are typically when you take a break from work but since our world has been flipped upside down, habits have changed.
To keep the momentum going, here are some interesting online classes that you can take this weekend. After all, schools may be closed but learning doesn’t have to stop — even on a Saturday.
For just $18.99, you’ll learn the ins and outs of coding while using Python 3, one of the most popular programming languages in the world. With resources like five hours of on-demand video, you’ll be taught how to work with JSON, send HTTP requests to web servers, manipulate TXT files, and more.
The objective of this Coursera course is to understand why and how leadership skills are so important to a team’s success. With a better understanding, you will be able to better execute the skills that are expected from leaders. You’ll learn how to work more effectively with others as well as take control of motivation. Individual courses start at $39 each. If you’re not sure about the commitment just yet, you may want to check out the list of 85 courses that they are offering for free.
Are you bored with all the video game options out there? They say if you want something done right, do it yourself. Well, now you can. Using Unity Developers, this course will teach you how to completely upgrade your game design. For just $22.99, you’ll learn how to create and edit props, add levels, apply animations, and more. Just make sure you’re using a PC/Windows computer.
Whether you want to become the next big YouTube star or the most popular TikTok creator, you’ll need to learn how to edit videos and you’ll want to do it with the best of the best. Premiere Pro CC will bring all your ideas to life. You can master how to use all it has to offer with this course for $29.99. It’ll cover various topics including adding video and audio transitions, adding titles, correcting and grading the color, and more.
Udemy’s Mindfulness Practitioner Course lasts between 6-8 weeks but can end up changing your life forever. For just $15.99, you’ll receive the tools and techniques that are necessary in order to apply mindful principles to your everyday life. With the help of videos, articles, and more, you’ll be taught how to be more self-aware, make better decisions, and take control of your emotions.
The NBA season may have been cut short, but your backyard hoops sessions don’t have to be. Since you can’t practice your jumpshot in the park with friends right now, why not practice it with Golden State Warrior star Stephen Curry? That’s the kind of mind-blowing experience Masterclass offers. Within 12 video lessons, Curry will show you all he knows about ball handling, screens, and more. Individual classes cost $90, but right now you can get two year-long subscriptions for $180. Treat yourself — and a friend.
You don’t necessarily need a professional camera to take professional-looking pictures. While home this weekend, head to Skillshare, the platform made for creatives. Their photo taking course will teach you the ins and outs of exposure control, shot composition, and more. Plus, since you’re home, you have all the time to practice. You’ll have the carton of orange juice in your fridge looking like the next cover of Vogue. Sign up now for $19 per month.
Do you have Excel listed as a skill on you résumé? Do you know how to use pivot tables, pivot charts, slicers, and time lines? If the answer to either of those is no, you may want to take this Udemy course. For $28.99, you can perfect your Excel skills so that you can handle any project an employer throws your way. The course teacher will even provide real-world examples to test your knowledge before you go around claiming to know it all.
While we may not be traveling right now, it doesn’t hurt to prepare. Rosetta Stone’s interactive and in-depth daily lessons will leave you with not just a better Spanish vocabulary but a better understanding of the culture surrounding it. From including a quick lesson on a fruit mainly found in Mexico to engaging info about a Venezuelan holiday tradition, the platform will teach you much more than just how to ask where the bathroom is. Its TrueAccent speech recognition technology will even make sure you have the pronunciation down. Monthly subscriptions start at just $5.99.
With the economy struggling, there’s been a lot of talk about now being the best time to invest in the stock market. That’s a great idea — if you know what to do. It’s not as simple as throwing your money at a brand name and hoping for the best. This $18.99 course will teach you how to manage a portfolio, how to build financial models, how risk management works, and so much more. Plus, it’s taught by a former Goldman Sachs financial analyst.
This Udacity course will teach you how to make personal connections and get noticed by employers — also known as networking, one of the most important parts of the job search process. Networking used to mean collecting all the business cards you could and attending every industry-related cocktail hour. Today, it means LinkedIn. You may not be taking full advantage of the platform though, which is why Udacity has created a course to teach you how. Most courses typically start at $200 per month but right now, Udacity is offering free access for one month, which includes this LinkedIn course.
