The on-going COVID-19 pandemic has led to a worldwide disruption of daily life. With strict lockdown measures in most countries, we are forced to stay at home. Unfortunately, a lot of people are finding it hard to deal with this monotony and are figuring out how to maintain productivity at work during the lockdown.
If you are caught in a similar situation and are looking for options to keep yourself engaged, you have come to the right place! We will tell you how you can use this opportunity to learn new skills, expand your knowledge and get closer to achieving your goals.
Check out these online courses that can help you learn something new and tackle the current situation in a constructive way.
Acquire New Skills By Taking Up These 7 Online Courses
1. Writing
Make the most out of the lockdown period by reviving the writer in you via this amazing online course offered by The Open University. The two-week-long online program is just what you need if you have a few good ideas for a fiction novel but don’t know where to start.
Learn how to design and develop your characters and weave engaging storylines with this online course.
Moreover, you will receive a free statement of participation on completion of the course. Find out more about here (https://www.open.edu/openlearn/history-the-arts/start-writing-fiction-characters-and-stories/content-section-overview?)).
2. Speaking Effectively
Speaking effectively can help you hone your English speaking skills. This 8 weeks long course conducted by IIT Kharagpur aims at introducing the applicants to the dynamics of spoken English. You will learn about vocabulary, structure, syntax, register and style. This course is offered free of cost by the Department of Humanities and Social Sciences.
Find out more about this course here (https://swayam.gov.in/nd1_noc20_hs14/preview).
3. Nikon Photography Classes
Here is a chance to learn photography from the experts at Nikon for free! That’s right, Nikon School will be offering its online photography classes for free for the whole month of April.
The school has 10 classes and each class is taught by an expert professional. While some classes revolve around Nikon specific products, others are more about the basics of photography. Learn more about this here (https://www.nikonevents.com/us/live/nikon-school-online/)
4. The Science Of Well-Being
Taking care of yourself is of utmost importance in these difficult times. This free online course offered by Yale University can help you learn how to build productive habits and stay happy and content. The class will help by equipping you with skills like savouring, gratitude, happiness and meditation. You will also receive a certificate upon completing the course. Learn more about it here https://www.coursera.org/learn/the-science-of-well-being.
5. Digital Marketing
This comprehensive digital marketing course covers YouTube Marketing, Facebook marketing, SEO, Google Analytics, Google Adwords and more. You will also receive a certificate of completion on finishing this course, which is currently available at discounted rates. Know more about it here https://www.udemy.com/course/learn-digital-marketing-course/.
A large variety of online courses at a fairly reasonable price makes Udemy one of the most preferred online learning platforms in the world. The platform’s 12 in 1 complete digital marketing course will help you master the skill via on-demand videos, articles and downloadable resources. Udemy offers multiple courses across various fields including business, marketing, design, photography, development and personal development.
6. Essential Skills For Your Career Development
With FutureLearn’s course on ‘Essential Skills for your Career Development,’ you can accelerate your career growth by identifying the skills you require to achieve your goals. The two-week-long course covers several important topics such as goal setting, building a professional network, career option in the modern professional landscape, using vision boards for identifying career roadmap and more.
The course is tailored for people who possess digital skills but are eager to build confidence in using digital technology. It is suitable for A-levels, degree holders and people who are willing to improve their career prospects or those who are trying to work after a break. You can learn more about this free course here https://www.futurelearn.com/courses/essential-skills-for-your-career-development
FutureLearn is a UK-based learning portal, which offers several online degrees and certificate courses. You can join the platform for free and gain access to a wide range of free courses in the fields of engineering, digital marketing, nutrition, politics, history, psychology, language, teaching, healthcare, law and literature. If you are looking to upgrade your skills, you can check out other free short courses offered by this extremely affordable learning platform.
7. Communicating With Confidence
Use this downtime to work on your communication skills with LinkedIn Learning’s ‘Communicating with Confidence.’ This short course covers skills like communication and public speaking. It will help you learn how to organise your thoughts, use your body language to reinforce speech, handle nervousness, speak with confidence, manage facial expressions and more.
Oral communication is a vital skill in the business world and instructor Jeff Ansell can help you master it through various communication tools, tips and strategies. Towards the end of the course, you will get a chance to put all that you’ve learned into use during two real-world coaching exercises. You will be awarded a certificate on completing the course. Click here to know more https://www.linkedin.com/learning/communicating-with-confidence
Embark on a journey of personal and professional growth with LinkedIn Learning. All you have to do is activate your Premium subscription at LinkedIn and you will be able to access numerous online courses. LinkedIn Learning can also help improve your online resume by letting you add certifications to your LinkedIn profile.
Focusing your energy into productive activities will make it easier for you to get through these trying times. Use this downtime to work on your personal and professional growth with the help of these courses and online learning platforms. A little research is all you need to find the perfect online course that suits your needs, schedule and budget. Stay at home, stay safe and start learning!
