Consciously or subconsciously, we keep on learning new things every day. So why not do it with more purpose and passion? Especially in this age of the internet, when a whole array of new learning opportunities are available on your screen.
Yes, many may think that the need to upskill ends with retirement. However, you don’t. You are here reading about these opportunities. You know it’s time to embrace new possibilities—pursue the interests you once set aside and make them your own.
Because this time you wouldn’t be taking up a subject just to keep pace at work. This time you would start learning again for the sake of the most important person in your life — yourself.
WHY OPT FOR ONLINE LEARNING
- Suits your lifestyle and schedule
With no physical classes to rush to, you can learn in the comfort of your home at your own pace. These courses follow a structured framework and are mostly pre-recorded. You can easily watch a lesson while sipping chai on your balcony.
- Keeps you mentally sharp & agile
The brain is like any muscle of the body. The more you exercise it, the better it performs. When you employ your brain in learning a new language or skill, you also improve its problem-solving capabilities, memory and cognitive functions.
- Makes you socially active
Through such courses, you get opportunities to connect with like-minded people via forums, group projects or video streaming in live classes. This also gives you a chance to expand your social circle.
TYPES OF LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES AVAILABLE ONLINE
Nowadays, you can find almost every kind of course online at your fingertips. From knitting to coding, the list of courses is endless. Many of them are even available to learners for free.
A quick search online would give you a list of courses in these key areas of learning:
- Digital Literacy: This generation is dependent on the internet for daily activities. Everything is available digitally. Everyone is connected online. In such a scenario, it becomes a necessity to acquaint yourself with its ease and usage.
Digital literacy courses help you with that. They cover everything—from browsing the internet and social media to using email, online banking, and essential productivity tools.
- Health & Wellness: These courses help you make informed choices for better health. You get guidance on useful topics like stress management, gut health management, nutrition or exercise.
Choose the one that concerns you and take the first step towards a healthier version of yourself.
- Creative Pursuits: Have a camera lying unused for years? Or do you dream of playing a guitar at least once in your lifetime? The online creativity lessons ensure that you can finally begin the journey towards your dreams.
These courses offer classes on creative writing, arts, painting, photography, video editing or any hobby you want to pursue.
- Tech Skills: If you love brainy quests, enrol for a technical skill course now. You can choose the ones that interest you the most. The Internet has courses on web development, data analysis, cybersecurity and basic coding.
At the end of a course, you can even start a project to challenge yourself on what you learnt. - Business Skills: Want to re-enter the workforce? Stay updated with relevant courses that boost your soft skills like customer service, leadership, communication, negotiations and project management.
These courses keep you informed on the industry trends and give your profile an extra edge. Thus, complementing your overall work experience.
While it might seem tempting to start a bunch of courses together, it is advisable to start with a single course. Go ahead and browse the online platforms to find the one you really want to pursue.
TOP ONLINE LEARNING PLATFORMS IN INDIA
Once you decide on the subject, the next step is to look them up online. Here is a list of platforms where you can find the course of your interest with ease:
- Coursera (@coursera.org): Here you get access to university-certified courses from IIMs, Stanford, Oxford or even Yale. Most of its courses cover topics on wellness, digital marketing, finance and business. Few courses are available for free too, however certification mandates a payment.
- Udemy (@udemy.com): This platform is known for its affordable courses on everything from photography to AI. If you want to learn business-related skills or new hobbies, this is the platform for you. Once you purchase a course at Udemy, you even get lifetime access to it.
- edX (@edx.org): It is perfect for elders who are looking for structured academic courses from top universities like MIT, IIMs or Harvard. Similar to Coursera in some aspects, they have few free courses. However, verified certificates ask for payment.
- Skillshare (@skillshare.com): A simple search and voila! You get thousands of classes covering topics on your favourite creative skills and hobbies. It is a subscription-based platform. Thus, you have to pay an entry fee. But once in, you get access to unlimited courses.
- Duolingo (@duolingo.com): Have international travel plans and want to explore a new country like a local? Download the Duolingo app and start learning the new language in the most fun and engaging way possible. Its each lesson takes only 5 minutes. Best of all, it’s free!
- GetSetUp (@getsetup.io): This unique platform is specifically designed for elders and offers live interactive sessions too. Here you can easily find courses on topics like online banking, social media usage and tech troubleshooting.
FINAL WORD
If you’re worried about how much of your precious time a course will take, don’t fuss. Most basic courses can be completed in 2-3 days. Also, these platforms Offer beginner-friendly courses to you. So you can start with easy lessons and then slowly build confidence. All you need is a bit of willingness, patience and determination to follow through.
Remember, age is just a number and learning is a lifelong process. So select a course you think would be fun to learn, and get started. For any questions, feel free to share them in the comments section.
