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The modern market for educational services allows you to acquire a master's degree or learn unique skills from the comfort of your own home.
There are so many online courses, programmes, workshops, webinars, and lectures available. Nevertheless, that's where it gets tricky, as you may gain access to the knowledge you didn't need, or even walk into "information business people". In a new article for Forbes, CEO and founder of the Lectera educational platform Mila Semeshkina discusses five rules for choosing an online course that will definitely not disappoint you.
- Try to narrow down your course search as much as possible. What knowledge exactly are you looking for? What skills do you need to learn or train? Do you have the time to acquire a new competency?
- Make out your true motivation. Through it, you can choose the most suitable programme for you. For example, long courses are a better fit for users motivated by the learning process itself, and ladder climbers seeking to take a vacancy that has just opened in a corporation should choose the shortest courses with a lot of necessary information.
- Be honest. If you do not have time for a full university-like study of a subject, don't buy a course that expects you to read it a few hours a day. Remember your priorities: you cannot cover all the bases and have it all at once. You will need to sacrifice something.
- Evaluate the course in terms of its actual use. Lectera CEO Mila Semeshkina advises to always improve in your professional field, alternating training with work. Make sure that the course you choose allows you to use the skills learned during the training immediately, and not in the long run! Check student feedback, course modules, teachers and their professional experience.
- Think strategically. Choose a course based on a set of skills and competencies that unite them, which you will receive in the end. Don't fall for a nicely done landing page or attractive-sounding promises from its creators.
You can read Mila Semeshkina's column for Forbes to find out about the methods of selecting perfect courses for professional development and moving to a new position: https://www.forbes.com/sites/forbesbusinesscouncil/2021/05/20/five-steps-to-choosing-an-online-course-you-will-succeed-with/.
