The internet is a vast repository of knowledge, not just for what’s happening in a celebrity’s life or the next cultural trend, but also a wealth of online learning platforms. Any African Freelancer who wants to improve their skills and enhance the quality of their freelance services will not overlook the importance of online courses. 

If you’re new to freelancing, your best bet in gaining the required knowledge and skills for your new freelance career is taking online courses on top online learning platforms. The best part about these learning platforms is that you can learn at your convenience, right from the comfort of your own home, which has made them popular among freelancers. Ideally, freelancers work from home, and that means they should be able to learn from home; a perfect synergy. Get to know the best online learning platforms best for you in this article. 

What Are Online Learning Platforms? 

First, they are online, and then secondly, they are for your learning. Online learning platforms are websites and apps that provide learning material on different topics and skills of your choice. Some platforms have an inexhaustible list of freelance skills you can choose from. 

These platforms provide you with the information you need on a subject, enabling students to learn at their own pace and take an exam at the end to receive a certificate. It is such a perfect way for people to learn new things or increase their knowledge, especially in this time and age. The courses come in different formats, like videos, text, web-based lessons, assignments, and quizzes, all organised neatly into sections, chapters, and modules. 

Many African freelancers prefer these online learning platforms because: 

• The flexibility that comes with learning. 
• Learning on your schedule and your own pace. 
• Perfect for freelancers with busy work schedules. 
• Extensive range of courses to choose from. 
• Courses that cover niche and specific skills. 
• Lower learning costs than traditional learning. 

Best Online Learning Platforms to Choose From 

There are top online learning platforms that provide effective learning practices and help you acquire your needed skills with ease. These platforms include: 

LinkedIn Learning 

You might know LinkedIn for its great networking and job opportunity features, but what other thing it does that makes many freelancers love LinkedIn is its learning platforms. 

LinkedIn Learning is among the top online learning platforms, offering high-quality courses from industry thought leaders. You can learn everything from copywriting to editing, SEO, and web design.

Through the platform, you can download the certificate of completion once you’ve finished a course and add it to your LinkedIn profile. A potential drawback is that some employers may not accept certificates from LinkedIn Learning. Nonetheless, they are sufficient to improve your freelancing capabilities.

edX

One of the top online learning platforms every freelancer might want to consider is edX. With edX, you have access to free online courses from top-ranked universities and organisations from across the world. edX offers freelancers formal, self-paced education and partners with some top universities, like Harvard and MIT. There are courses on IT, data sciences, business, and linguistics.

The courses are of high quality, and many platforms accept the completion certificate. In addition, most of the courses are offered at no cost, and you may be eligible for financial aid for other courses that have a fee.

Coursera 

One of the most popular online learning platforms offering bachelor’s, master’s, and certificate classes from accredited universities is Coursera. Most of the courses available here are in the fields of health sciences and computer sciences. However, you can also enrol in courses in communications, cybersecurity, English, project management, content marketing, and digital marketing. Coursera is best for freelancers who can afford the monthly or annual fee and would like to learn more extensively.

You can access quality courses taught by expert professors in schools that collaborate with Coursera.  Additionally, the completion certificates are accepted by most institutions and employers.  

Udemy 

Udemy is ideal for African freelancers seeking to acquire skills in design, personal branding, marketing, programming, or general freelance areas. The good part of Udemy as an online learning platform is that you will be awarded a certificate upon completion of the course, which you can use to improve your freelance portfolio. 

Udemy is one of the world’s largest online learning platforms, offering thousands of courses that cover a wide range of topics. Each course has its own pricing scheme, with some free online courses available. Often, they have monthly offers that subsidise their courses or offer course bundles.

Skillshare 

Skillshare is another extremely popular online learning platform that contains thousands of courses, ranging from web design and writing to social media marketing and video editing. The course platform features a subscription model, allowing you to access as many courses as you wish by subscribing on a monthly or yearly basis. It is best for anyone who wishes to try out several courses. 

The drawback is that Skillshare does not provide certificates for the courses. Therefore, you can utilise it simply to learn the necessary knowledge and not to receive a certificate that you would use to get hired. Like Udemy, anyone can post a course, so some courses may not be excellent. But it is still a good choice because you don’t pay by the course.

Final Thoughts

The days when you had to buy various hardcover books, travel down, or even worry about managing your current work to gain a new skill. Here’s why online learning platforms are the most innovative form in the educational sector. They are a blessing to African freelancers who can learn and acquire certificates and skills from countries outside Africa without necessarily travelling. And for more information on freelancing in Africa, you can join us to stay updated on African freelancing news.