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According to a survey by Pearson in India back in 2019, 62% of university graduates positively rated the concept of online education.
Since the start of the coronavirus pandemic, this percentage has grown significantly. We have analysed the experiences of students who studied online during the pandemic and compiled top tips for professionals choosing an online educational course.
How can you choose a course that will help you master the current profession?
- Pay attention to the prospect of employment. Study the labour market, the number of attractive vacancies in the industry, and salary brackets.
- Calculate how long it will take for your investment in the course to pay off. For example, programming and analytics courses can be recouped literally from the first salary, but programs dedicated to marketing or design will have to "work out" for several months.
- Take the time to study the selected programs. On average, lessons (if we are not talking about programming) will take about 5 hours a week. However, do not forget about homework and tests - they allow you to learn and work out the acquired skills. Evaluate the programs of the courses you have found, check that your free (namely free, and not the classic "a couple of hours after work, if I don't get tired") time will be enough to study the profession. Do not choose programs based solely on good reviews: we all have our own personal characteristics. Make your decision based on what method of presentation of the material or the type of educational process best suits you.
- Carefully compare courses for cost versus benefit. The course price is often dependent on the length of study, so the most extended programs (usually with an internship or practicum at the end of the course) are the most expensive. However, even mini-courses in the contemporary world may cost as much a Miami mansion. Ask yourself the question: "Is the knowledge gleaned from the course, really worth the money?". The decision depends on you.
- Don't get hung up on the fame of online universities. You may be surprised to learn that sometimes a small local school specialising exclusively in one niche produces more competent specialists than a huge online university. Give preference to companies that focus not on a prestigious diploma, but on the depth and relevance of knowledge.
- Check if the course includes real-time online classes, mentoring programs, coaching sessions. Their presence is a "meaningful sign" indicating that the course authors are interested in students' professional development. Challenging to learn material is almost impossible to study without a teacher's support, so some professions (the same developers or designers) are not suitable for entirely independent study.
Online education is an excellent option for professionals seeking to improve their skills or change their profession during the coronavirus pandemic. Choose your courses wisely with our advice, and do not seek a prestigious university certificate at any cost just to show it to an employer. Real applied knowledge is always more precious.
