Gone are the days when you had to enrol in a university or college course if you wanted to learn something new. Online learning platforms bring affordable education to you, with no applications or entry requirements needed. Some are even free! Ready to learn?
1. Udemy
Best for: Variety Cost: Varies
Udemy is a marketplace for online learning, where experts create and publish courses in their field of expertise. There’s a course for almost anything. You can learn life skills, like time management and confidence, or focus on specific subjects, such as coding, creative writing, or how to play the guitar. The courses are pre-recorded, so you can complete them in your own time. Some courses issue you with a certificate of completion at the end. Most require video streaming, so you’ll need a large data bundle.
Tips: Use the star ratings to help you decide which courses to buy. Many courses offer a free or at least cheaper mini-course as a trial.
2. Vodacom e-Learning
Best for: School work Cost: Free
Vodacom’s CAPS-aligned online learning platform covers the school syllabus from Grade R (Life Skills, Literacy, and Numeracy) all the way through to matric. The course material is available in multiple languages and includes workbooks, posters, and quizzes that test your knowledge as you go along. Learners who struggle to keep up in class will appreciate that they can learn at their own pace in their own time.
Tip: Vodacom e-Learning is zero-rated, meaning you can use it even without data.
3. GetSmarter
Best for: Career development Cost: Varies
Studying a short course through GetSmarter’s online learning platform is like attending an online university. Each course is run by a course convenor over a certain number of weeks, and there are set start and end dates. Although a lot of the work happens in your own time, you’ll have assignments to complete with due dates to submit them for marking. During the course, you get access to a forum where you can ask questions and chat with your classmates. If you pass the course, you get an official certificate from the university that the course is affiliated with. These include prestigious institutions like the University of Cape Town, the University of Oxford, and Harvard University, among others.
Tip: Courses are a little pricey, but there are different payment options, including a guide to requesting assistance from your employer.
4. Khan Academy
Best for: Little kids Cost: Free
Created by an American teacher, this online learning platform began as a YouTube channel and still posts videos regularly. You’ll find hundreds and hundreds of educational videos, ranging from numbers and letters to story time, songs, and themed lessons. It’s now also available as an app in the Play Store and the App Store.
Tip: There are lessons for older kids, but keep in mind that it’s American, so it won’t follow the SA syllabus.
5. Tech Company Online Learning Portals
Best for: Learning about new tech Cost: Free
Did you know many of the big tech companies offer free online learning around their products and related topics?
Grow with Google: Free training to help you grow your career and your business.
Microsoft Learn: Helps you structure a personalised course plan with free training modules to match your career goals.
OpenAI Academy: Learn how to use ChatGPT with free courses for different roles and tasks.
Tip: The tech world moves fast, so check in regularly to stay current.
Thanks to online learning platforms and fast internet, it’s never been easier to access education.
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