In the last decade or so, online learning has gone from an ancillary service to a full-time, main educational function. A lot of schools and universities have first introduced online learning to their campuses after the start of the COVID-19 pandemic to make sure students don't miss out on quality education. 

Nowadays, a lot of these institutions are realizing how much cheaper and more efficient online learning actually is, both for the student and the school. The time invested in teaching and learning comes down drastically when online learning methods are involved. Here are 5 of the best online learning platforms for students.

Coursera

Students use the internet for a variety of things, including education. Coursera is an online learning platform that lets students access university-level lessons and certified courses. These lessons are taught by top professors and teachers who have taught at universities like Stanford, Oxford, Yale, and more. Thanks to them, you'll deem psychology a good major and find motivation to study it. Each course costs up to $99 and starts at $29 if you require certification. However, if you're willing to learn without graded assignments and bonus materials, you can choose the audit option and take the course for free. New users can get a 7-day free trial for subscriptions. 

Skillshare

Known as the online learning platform for creatives, Skillshare offers a library of 27,000 courses that can allow them to learn a variety of things in creative categories. These lessons are divided into three main areas - Thrive, Build, and Create. Each area aims to teach different skills to students that can prepare them into well-rounded individuals who can succeed in creative fields such as:

• Painting;

• Photography;

• Creative Writing;

• Graphic Design, and more.

Skillshare can be accessed for free as well as with a monthly or yearly fee. The premium version also has a 30-day free trial that students can use to test the waters before paying. 

Udemy

Udemy is one of the most content-filled learning platforms available online for students to use. Equipped with a whopping 150,000 courses, it allows a student or working professional to learn anything in any field. 

The main difference between Udemy and other online learning platforms like Skillshare and Coursera is that you have to purchase each course or lesson individually, instead of accessing them all on the whole. However, they start at extremely low costs such as $9 which makes it easier. You can also get a refund for a course if you don't like it within 30 days of its purchase.

Students often choose to take online courses in addition to their college education. However, they sometimes find that they can not keep up with a course due to the number of assignments they have. This can be a bummer, as students often choose courses that they find fun as well as more effective than their main disciplines at school. To manage both your college and online courses, try a top rated essay writing service. Their professionals can take on some of your more boring and time-consuming tasks, leaving you free to tackle that course you like.

edX

Founded by Harvard and MIT, edX is the go-to for college STEM courses. Another great thing about the platform is that all courses except for the professional education ones can be accessed for free. The Free Audit Track allows students to receive a plethora of study materials including video lectures, assignments, reading materials, and more.

To get a certificate after completing a course, students would have to enrol in the Paid Verified Track, allowing them to share the verified certificate on their resumes. 

Udacity

Mostly known for its Nanodegree programs, Udacity is an innovative online education platform that job-seekers love to use. Its mini-sized courses can be completed by those looking to add new skills to their resumes in just 3 to 6 months. The subjects they offer range from artificial intelligence, business, and data science, to robotics, mobile programming, and more. This online learning platform offers students a comprehensive learning plan, a personal mentor, and a career coach if required. 

Final Words

Each online learning site we have talked about caters to a particular category of students. Coursera is for the general crowd, Skillshare is for creatives, Udemy is for those looking to gain specialized knowledge, edX is for STEM students, and Udacity is for job-seekers. We hope that this variety helps you understand what you want and go after the education of your dreams.

Author’s Bio - Merissa Moore

Merissa Moore is a student counselor and educator who has spent years in the industry. Her focus is on helping students achieve academic goals outside of school. She has contributed to her local newspaper’s columns in the career and higher education sections.