You want to advance your career, but how do you know which online courses are worth your time? (2024)

To understand which online courses are worth your time, consider how the course gets you closer to your learning/career goals. Also, understand what are your internal motivators behind wanting to take a class. If you're being forced/assigned and have no interest in the topic, it's safe to say you won't find it worth your time. If you're trying to focus on a skill (i.e. Excel) that will help you be more efficient at your job, it's best to get clear on what part of Excel should you focus on learning first. Get dialed in on the micro-skills/learning you want to accomplish to help you find the right course, delivered in the right format for you, and helps you make progress on your goals.

To answer below questions may help to define the objectives:- Imagine you have reached your career goal. What person you are then? What qualifications do you have? Make list.- What barriers are now blocking your career progress? What type of learning can minimize them?- Consider your strengths. How you can maximize them through passing a course to be more productive and have better performance?- If you want to decide on changing your career, is there any online course to give you a taste of your next career plan?Consider that such coaching questions are defined to make your objectives clearer without making any direction or bias. It is vital to know why you are going to invest on online training.

You can make three types of course validation:Provider Validation: Sometimes one provider is most times providing the best courses. For instance, HBS probably does not compromise the Harvard's brand to provide low quality courses. So knowing the course provider is a well known institute can help very much.Teacher Validation: Can Charles Darwin mess up the Biology class? He will not! Sometimes knowing that a course teacher is a high-level teacher and very well-educated and capable of teaching is enough to buy an online course. I would be more than glad if I could learn psychoanalytics from C.G. Jung himself.Content Validation: Finally you are familiar with the subject and can simply assess the course table of contents and validate.

En suma, en efecto, existen multitud de empresas o profesionales que ofrecen cursos de calidad y actualizados pero al mismo tiempo también existen cursos que no están actualizados, no ofrecen una capacitación real, no tiene validez profesional y lo que es peor, no vas a conseguir formarte y aprender con ilusión a través de profesionales. Investiga antes de comenzar, analiza quién imparte y el que, sus temarios, actualizaciones y veracidad así como validez de tu inversión personal y profesional.

Translated

Look for courses that offer interactive elements such as quizzes, projects, and discussions. Practical application of knowledge is crucial for skill development.

En este punto comparto toda la explicación anterior. Lo primero que debemos hacernos es una serie de preguntas como:1.- de que tiempo dispongo?2.- puedo asistir personalmente?3.-soy de interactuar, me gusta preguntar y analizar en grupo?4.-de que presupuesto parto y podría llegar?5.-mi aprendizaje anterior y exitoso se ha basado en algún tipo de impartición concreta?6.-puedo estar supeditado a un horario establecido o solo podré hacerlo a horas despectivas?Estas preguntas son varias de las cuales debemos hacernos para tomar esa decisión tan importante

Translated

One thing I've found helpful when checking the requirements for an online course is to carefully review the course description, rating, review and syllabus. This will give you a clear understanding of the prerequisites, equipment, software, and any other specific requirements. If there are any doubts or questions, it's always a good idea to reach out to the course instructor or the course provider for clarification. They can provide you with the necessary information and guidance to ensure that you meet the requirements and can fully benefit from the course. It's better to be well-prepared and confident before enrolling in an online course.

Totalmente de acuerdo. Hay que analizar los requisitos previos así como la titulación, diploma o acreditación que pudiera necesitar. Si una o varias de estas partes no las verificó con anterioridad, no lograremos lo que buscamos, necesitamos o requerimos en el curso elegido.

Translated

Not all learners thrive in the same environment, so understanding the course structure, flexibility, and interaction styles is vital. It's about finding the format that aligns with your learning style, schedule, and budget.Online learning can be isolating, and having a support system keeps you motivated and on track. Engaging with instructors, joining communities, and involving friends and family in your learning journey can make all the difference.

Hay que tener en cuenta y tratar de conocer antes los distintos grupos o foros. Por lo general, la mayor parte de los comentarios que las personas hacen son negativas. Bajo este estado de enfado o desilusión, es cuando por lo general, ocupamos el tiempo para exponer nuestras quejas y lo que venga bien en el afán de que la mayor parte de personas posibles se enteren de nuestra disconformidad, llevemos o no razón. Por esta razón, debemos buscar aquellos foros, redes sociales y comentarios veraces, tanto positivos o negativos, pero con criterio, mayoría y documentados.

Translated

I would put the opportunities the course offers to apply the learning and get feedback at the top of the list when you’re evaluating options.At the end of the day, knowledge doesn’t do much for you if you haven’t converted it to actionable skills, and building skills requires opportunity to apply them.This means look for application that goes beyond a quiz. Even though a well structured quiz can create opportunity to apply critical thinking, it still won’t be sticky until you actually practice doing whatever it is you’re learning.The good news is, generative AI is making these opportunities much more scalable, so we can expect to see more and more of them in online learning programs.

While I wholeheartedly support continuous learning in all its forms, from reading to formal education and beyond, it's also important to consider whether additional learning is truly necessary. Often, we may lean on acquiring the next course, qualification, or certification as a form of procrastination or to avoid taking a more challenging and uncomfortable leap forward. We might believe that further study will compensate for our self-doubt or lack of confidence. Therefore, while it's essential to continue your education and learning, always reflect on your motivations. Are you pursuing this out of fear and scarcity, or is it genuinely for the love of professional and career growth?

Assess the career trajectory that you want to take, then go deeper into why you want to move into that career path. As you make your assessment, you will learn where the gaps are in your skillset for that particular career move.I would also encourage you to go to a platform like Udemy and research the top 10–15 courses in the area in which you want to advance your career. Look at the course outlines. Some of the courses also give you the opportunity to do a free trial of part of the course. Doing this will help you determine if that particular course is suited for your career development.Remember, your career development should be in alignment with your vision for your life and not what someone else dictates for you.

Free Trials and Samples:Many platforms offer free trials or sample lessons. Before committing, take advantage of these to assess the course content, teaching style, and platform usability.Networking Opportunities:Some courses provide networking opportunities with peers, instructors, or industry professionals. Building a network can be as valuable as the course content itself.Check for Updates:Ensure that the course content is regularly updated to reflect changes in the industry. Outdated information may not be beneficial for your career growth.