What to learn online

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July 9, 2020

If you’ve decided that you want to learn something new, but don’t know exactly what – here’s a post to help you come to a decision. We’ve already outlined some ideas for how to find a new hobby, but for those who’d specifically like to study, we’ve put together some further suggestions to help you get started.

What do you want to achieve with your learning?

Before we delve into the details of what to learn, let’s first take a look at what your aims might be. There’s never a bad time to learn something new, but having a goal in mind before you start can help you on your journey. Here are some popular learning outcomes to help you choose a goal.

Boost your employability

Although the world of work seems a little chaotic for many of us right now, things won’t always be so up in the air. When you’re considering what to learn online, you may want to improve your professional skills, ready for a promotion, new job, or even a career change.

With new technologies and processes being created at a fast pace, closing the skills gap can give you a significant advantage in your career. Whether you’re learning a totally new skill or improving on an existing one, it’s the kind of thing that can make you stand out from the crowd.

Expand your horizons

You don’t have to delve deep when you first start on your learning adventure. By taking an introductory course or studying the basics of a new subject, you can get a feel of whether it’s the right fit.

There are all kinds of hard and soft skills that you can start learning about. Even a small amount of study can support your existing knowledge and broaden your horizons. From there, you can think about the types of areas that will be most beneficial or interesting to you.

Improve your understanding of world issues

Many of us have been gripped by the coverage of current affairs related to COVID-19, with the feed of information almost constant. However, it can sometimes be difficult to focus on global issues aside from the headlines.

There are plenty of topics worth exploring that can give you a more detailed understanding of the world we live in. Studying the environment, human rights, ethics, religion, and other ideas and concepts can all help to give context to current affairs.

Build better relationships

If you’re not quite sure what to learn online, it’s worth giving some thought to improving your relationships. Emotional intelligence is an invaluable skill that can positively impact all areas of your life. Similarly, improving your communication skills can help in your personal and professional relationships.

Taking the time to work on your own wellbeing can bring significant improvements to your everyday interactions with the important people in your life. At this time of uncertainty, it could be just the thing you need.

Learn for pleasure

Of course, you may just want to study something purely for the joy of learning. There’s a lot to be said for picking a topic you don’t know much about and getting to know some of the basics. Lifelong learning is something that can bring benefits to all areas of your life, and you never know where it may take you.

To borrow from Dr Seuss, ‘The more that you read, the more things you will know. The more that you learn, the more places you’ll go.’

So, you hopefully now have a goal or two in mind for your online learning. The next thing to do is to actually choose a subject to begin studying, but where to start?

We’ve put together a list of some ideas – each with a free online course you can take – that align with all of the main goals we’ve outlined.

Learning to boost your employability

The most in-demand hard skills:

Let’s start with professional development. Whether you’re working from home, furloughed, or waiting for the job market to start moving again, now is a good time to boost your CV. There are both hard skills and soft skills you can work on, both of which can bring benefits to your career.

As we take a look at some of the learning opportunities available, remember that many of the courses we’ve outlined provide certification upon completion. Such an acknowledgement of your studies can strengthen your CV and show your dedication to continued learning.

A recent LinkedIn study looked at the most in-demand hard and soft skills. This is a great place to start.

Blockchain

You’ve no doubt heard of terms like cryptocurrency and Bitcoin. The latter had a meteoric rise and fall during late 2017 and early 2018 and continues to be an interesting prospect to this day. Blockchain technology is what powers the Bitcoin digital currency. It’s one of the cutting-edge financial technologies of the moment, and knowledge in this field is highly sought-after.

Cloud computing

Cloud computing is one of the technologies that will be the future of many businesses. Already, it’s a popular way of delivering data storage, software, analytics, and more. Essentially, it’s the use of the internet to offer fast and innovative computing services.

Analytical reasoning

Data is now the most valuable commodity for businesses, and companies across the globe are finding new and unique ways to make sense of it. Emerging fields such as web analytics and big data are growing at a rapid pace. As such, those people who can analyse data and give insights to its meaning will find they’re in high demand.

Artificial intelligence

Artificial Intelligence (AI) was once a science-fiction dream. Now, it’s very rapidly becoming a reality. Robots and AI can supplement and augment the way we work and live our lives. Those with an understanding of machine learning, big data, and other associated topics will find plenty of opportunities in the future.

UX design

User experience design is a field that focuses on how users interact with a product or service. Whether focused on apps, websites, or machines, UX design relates to the ease of use for the user. It takes into account aspects of design, market research, psychology, technology and business.

Business analysis

As companies generate more and more data, there is a need for people who can identify the business needs that arise from such data. Business analysts are the problem-solvers of modern organisations. If you’re wondering what to learn online, taking a course in a field such as big data analytics could be seriously beneficial.

Affiliate marketing

Social media and influencers are starting to replace traditional advertising. Whether it’s social selling, leveraging industry experts, or promoting other companies’ products, affiliate marketing is one of the hot new skills businesses are on the lookout for.

Sales

Companies always have and likely always will need good salespeople. Whether you want to learn about customer insight or customer engagement, you can find a course that’s going to boost your knowledge of the sales process.

Scientific computing

Continuing in the theme of technological advancements, scientific computing relates to a wide variety of professions. For newcomers to the field, a course on how computers work might be a good starting point. For the more experienced, we have an array of computer science courses on offer.

Video production

Video is becoming an increasingly popular medium for all things related to business. Customers love watching videos, so being able to produce high-quality content is a valuable skill. You can learn some of the fundamentals in our explore filmmaking course.

The most in-demand soft skills:

Some skills are hard to teach, quantify and measure, yet remain essential in the workplace. These soft skills are often known as interpersonal or people skills. Many businesses look for candidates with strong hard and soft skills, so it’s worth spending the time to develop both.

Creativity

Being able to connect ideas, come up with unique solutions, and generate original concepts is valuable in all areas of life and business. A course in creative problem solving could be just the thing to help you flex your creative muscles. If you’d like to look at a few more options, we have a collection full of courses designed to help you get creative.

Persuasion

Whether you’re negotiating, leading a team, dealing with suppliers, or any other business task, persuasion is a sought-after skill. Communication skills are useful in general, and none more so than being able to persuade. Check out our course on successful negotiation if you’re looking for inspiration.

Collaboration

The ability to combine ideas and collaborate on finding solutions is something that makes humans unique. When applied to the workplace, being able to work with others is almost universally required. Why not try our course on collaboration, communication and remote working to brush up on your skills?

Adaptability

The fast-paced and often unpredictable nature of modern life means that adaptability is essential to thriving in the workspace. The ability to change direction on the fly and still deliver results is a soft skill that employers frequently look for.

Emotional intelligence

It’s always useful to be in tune with your own and others’ emotions. It helps to build relationships and create a sense of togetherness. This emotional intelligence can help you understand others, resolve conflict, and make more informed decisions.

Learning to expand your horizons

If you’d rather spend your free time developing skills away from the world of work, there are plenty of options you can choose from. These skills to expand your horizons come in all sorts of shapes and sizes, meaning you can work on all kinds of areas of knowledge.

Languages

Learning a new language brings many benefits. It can help you connect with new people, give you a leg up in your career, improve your cognitive skills, and allow you to travel. By taking a language course now, you can put your new skills to the test on your next holiday. How’s that for motivation?

Cultures

Studying other cultures can be an interesting way of expanding your horizons. Our course on cultures and identities in Europe, for example, gives you the chance to develop a greater understanding of Europe and its people. Alternatively, you could choose to study culture in the digital age to see how technology has impacted our lives.

Coding

Coding and programming are tools that are becoming increasingly relevant and important. Studying in this field can give you a greater understanding of how technology works. It also gives you the chance to work on all kinds of projects, whether for personal or professional advancement.

Nature & environment

The natural world around us is ever-changing and fascinating. Studying in the nature and environment sector gives you the chance to explore topics such as sustainability, extinctions, upcycling and the value of the ecosystem.

Study skills

If you’re not quite sure what to learn online, why not study the art of studying? By brushing up on your study skills, you can make sure you’re performing at your best when you next choose a course to study. These are skills that can be useful both professionally and when you’re in a formal, academic study environment.

Learning to understand world issues

During the coronavirus pandemic, many of us have watched the global story unfold through the news and media. Although the virus has dominated headlines, there is still plenty to understand about the world. Choosing to learn about some of the key issues facing us today can be highly rewarding.

Climate change

As one of the most pressing issues of modern times, climate change is something that we’re going to have to face and overcome together. Learning about the causes of climate change as well as some of the solutions can help you stay informed about the latest developments in this area.

Crime and criminology

The true-crime fascination of the last few years continues to influence our TV, podcasts, books, and other media. Whether it’s a subject you’re already interested in or you’re a total newcomer, crime and criminology is a fascinating and relevant area to learn about.

Social issues

Our societies are rich, diverse and complex. If COVID-19 has taught us anything, societies can also be radically changed in a short space of time. Learning about some of the social issues that impact our lives can give you a greater understanding and appreciation of our cultures and values.

Politics

Like it or love it, politics are something that has a huge influence over our lives. By learning about how the government and politics work, you can make sure you understand how certain key issues impact society. It’s a varied field too, with topics as diverse as international development and gender identity.

Healthcare

The attention of the world is on our various healthcare systems and how they’re holding up during the pandemic. Now is the perfect time to learn about healthcare, especially with courses such as nursing in times of crisis and pooling healthcare data around the world.

Learning to build better relationships

We can all appreciate how important relationships are in our life, but sometimes relationships can suffer from negative patterns, poor communication, or just a lack of dedicated time. Consciously improving your relationships takes time and effort, but is incredibly rewarding as well.

Communication

The ability to effectively communicate with our friends, relatives, co-workers, and other people in our lives is often underappreciated. Yet it’s what brings us together and lets us understand each other. With courses available such as this one on intercultural communication, you can learn why communication is so valuable, and how you can improve your own skills.

Wellbeing

Taking care of your physical and emotional wellbeing is always a positive move. In terms of your relationships with others, it can help you maintain a healthy work-life balance, understand others’ thoughts and feelings, and boost your mental health.

Mindfulness

This is a topic that’s closely linked to wellbeing. Mindfulness is the act of being present in the moment and connecting with your feelings. Activities such as practising mindfulness can help you feel calmer and more appreciative about the important people in your life.

Management and leadership

The people we work with are often some of those we spend the most time with. It’s therefore worth the time investing in building relationships with them. Not only can learning about management and leadership help with that process, but it can also improve your career prospects overall.

Psychology

Psychology is a broad and interesting field. Learning about the inner-workings of the mind can help us appreciate the way we and others think. This understanding can help you build your relationships with others.

Learning for pleasure

Of course, many of us enjoy learning for the sheer enjoyment it brings. There are a whole host of topics we could include here, as well as all the ones we’ve already covered. However, we’ve tried to pick out some of the popular subjects that people are interested in right now.

History

It’s always fun to learn about history. The world that was has shaped the world that is, so it’s fascinating to look back and piece the puzzle together. We have a fantastic range of history courses on offer, covering British and Irish history, archaeology, military history and many more areas.

Creative arts

Whether you’re a film buff, culture vulture, budding photographer, or journalist in the making, the creative arts have plenty to offer. If you considering what to learn online and you’re feeling a bit creative, this is the perfect field to delve into.

Literature

If you’ve always wanted to learn more about literature past and present, you’ll find a wealth of courses and resources available to you. You can learn about the importance of words and the power they hold to help shape the world.

Music

Whether you’re learning a new instrument or studying musical theory, there are few better ways to get your creativity flowing than with studying a music course. Find out how to write your first song or gain a better understanding of how musical scores work.

Game development

Playing video games is a pastime that many of us have indulged during our evenings and weekends. With that in mind, now might be a good time to turn that hobby into a more creative one. A game development course could be just the thing to take on for your online learning project.

If you still haven’t found a topic that you’re interested in, perhaps you can find the right course by browsing our short courses and seeing what piques your interest.

Category Current Issues, Learning

How to find a new hobby

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onlinefreecourse

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July 9, 2020

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If you feel like you’re in a bit of a rut and you definitely don’t want to spend time watching yet another series, perhaps it’s time to find a new hobby? It can be difficult to find new things that you could be passionate about, but don’t worry! We’ve got you covered. Our list of 40 new hobby ideas is here to get you motivated and inspired to try something different. From relaxing, to energising, to expressive, there’s sure to be something for just about everyone.

Find a new hobby – what do you like?

First things first – it’s maybe not the best idea to throw a dart at a random list of hobbies to choose one. Unless, of course, darts is your new hobby. Instead, try thinking about the kinds of things you like to do.

Are you the creative type or do you prefer being active? Do you want escapism or tangible gains? Narrowing down your wants may make it easier to choose an activity that’s suited to you.

Is there something you used to enjoy as a child? Maybe you had a particular aptitude for something when you were younger but didn’t have the time to keep it up. Maybe it’s worth dipping back in and seeing if you still enjoy it as an adult?

Another point worth considering is whether or not you want your new hobby to be similar to your existing ones. It can be nice to find something that complements your existing skills, but it’s often refreshing to have a change of pace.

What’s your goal for your new hobby?

Although your hobby is probably a way to keep you engaged and happy, it’s likely that you have other goals in mind. Jigsaw-puzzling, for example, is a less physically intense pastime than weightlifting.

Here’s some inspiration to get you started:

Find a new hobby for relaxation

With all the stress of the world at the moment, finding a relaxing hobby seems like a sensible idea. They can give you some calm amidst the storm, and even help with your mental wellbeing.

1. Reading

As the great Joseph Addison once said, ‘reading is to the mind what exercise is to the body.’ Reading can be the ultimate form of escapism, helping you discover new worlds, learn about different cultures, and explore new ideas. If you’re looking for somewhere to get started, here’s a list of some classic novels to consider.

2. Writing

You may have heard the theory circulating that Shakespeare wrote King Lear during quarantine in the plague years. So, no better time to start penning your ideas down, right? If you need a bit of a primer, you can check out our courses on writing fiction and how to make a poem. Those who want to channel their creativity towards the silver screen should give our screenwriting course a try.

3. Yoga

Yoga is good for both your physical and mental wellbeing. It can help with strength, flexibility and balance, and just about anyone can get started. It’s a practice that’s around 5,000 years old, so there’s plenty of tips and information around, too! Yoga with Adriene is a YouTube channel that can guide you on your relaxation journey.

4. Mindfulness and meditation

Mindfulness is the practice of being present and paying attention to the current moment. It’s about noticing your thoughts and feelings without judgement, often done through meditation. The two practices can be hugely beneficial, improving both your physical and mental health. Our courses on mindfulness for wellbeing and maintaining a mindful life can help you get started.

5. Knitting

Knitting is one of the most timeless crafts around, and it’s had somewhat of a resurgence of late. As well as being incredibly chill, it’s also a practical pastime that can yield hats, scarves, tea cosies, and more. All you need to get started is some knitting needles and some yarn (worsted, medium-weight is good for beginners!). From there, you can try some beginner projects to get a feel for it.

6. Gardening

UK-weather permitting, now might be the perfect time to start gardening as a hobby. Whether you want to plant a shrub, sow some indoor seeds, or tackle your weeds, taking care of your garden can be rewarding and beneficial. As well as a sense of satisfaction of a job well done, it can also reduce stress and lower your blood pressure. Check out the Royal Horticultural Society’s guides on getting started.

7. Scrapbooking

If you’ve been looking for a creative way of displaying your memorable photos, a scrapbook could be just the thing for you. As well as all of your favourite snaps, you can use all kinds of decorations and memorabilia to give your creation some flair. It’s a relaxing hobby that can help you appreciate all the good you have in your life.

8. Listening to music

Of course, you probably already listen to music on a regular basis. However, there’s never a wrong time to start discovering new bands and artists that you like. As far as finding a new hobby goes, this is a fairly limitless one. Try jumping into an entirely new genre, ask your friends for recommendations, or using a tool like Gnoosic to find new music.

9. Colouring

Colouring is a hobby that’s suitable for people of all ages. It’s a relaxing and creative pastime that can give you focus and let you express yourself. Plus, it’s simple to get started with. All you need are colouring pencils and some templates, many of which you can find for free.

10. Baking

With the worldwide popularity of shows like The Great British Bake Off, baking has risen in popularity over the last few years. And, it’s not too late to get involved in the fun. You can try your hand at baking sweet treats or savoury delights with these simple BBC Good Food recipes. If you’re feeling adventurous, you can get involved with a sourdough science project.

11. Cooking

If baking isn’t your thing, but you still want to get creative in the kitchen, cooking can be a great way to relax. From trying new recipes to cooking up something entirely unique, you’ve got the freedom to experiment. There are learning opportunities too. Whether it’s learning about nutrition, mastering the basics of a healthy diet, or finding out how super superfoods are, the possibilities are plentiful.

12. Journaling

For those seeking a more introspective hobby, journaling can be incredibly therapeutic. It helps you organise your thoughts, relieve feelings of anxiety, practice gratitude, and let you reflect on your life. It’s also a project that you can start with ease – all you need is either a pen and notebook or a word processor. Don’t overthink it, just start writing and see where it takes you.

Find a new hobby to keep you fit

For some of us, our pent-up energy needs to be directed to something more physical. If you’d like your hobby to keep you fit and healthy, here are some options that will do just that.

13. Dancing

There are many forms of dance, and many ways to practice. What’s more, you can easily make a start at home. You can start small by putting on some of your favourite tunes and getting active for a few minutes each day. Those who are looking for a more structured approach can check out lessons on YouTube from the Passion4dancing channel.

14. Running

Running is one of the easiest keep-fit hobbies to get into. All you need to get started is a pair of suitable running shoes and somewhere to run. Along with bringing a host of health benefits, running can give you some time out from whatever is going on in your life. The Couch to 5K programme is an excellent resource to start with, giving you three runs per week until you can run 5K without stopping.

15. Boxing

If the Rocky movie series taught us anything (and it taught us a lot), it’s possible to train your boxing skills in all manner of ways, including at home. If you’ve always fancied getting into the sport, there are plenty of boxing resources available to get you started. Plus, you can practice things like stance, footwork, and basic punches at home.

16. Cycling

If running is a bit too high-impact for your joints, but you still enjoy getting out and about, cycling can be a great alternative. Aside from a bike and helmet, there’s not much you need to get started with cycling. However, as a new hobby, there are plenty of different areas of interest you might want to get into. Will you choose road cycling or are you more of a mountain biker? Either way, you can find cycling routes nearby to get you on your way. You can also read the latest COVID-19 recommendations around cycling.

17. Weight lifting

Despite what many people think, weight lifting isn’t just for bodybuilders. As well as building muscle, it can help improve your posture, balance and bone health. You don’t even need loads of equipment when you first get started. You can start with some simple bodyweight exercises such as push-ups, squats, and pull-ups. From here, you can move onto a simple dumbbell workout.

18. Skateboarding

Skateboarding is one of those hobbies that has quite a steep learning curve. However, once you start making progress, it can be incredibly rewarding. If you’ve always fancied yourself as a future Tony Hawk, now might be the time to get practicing. All you need is a skateboard, protective gear, and some smooth concrete. This wikiHow guide on skateboarding gives an excellent intro to practicing the basics.

19. Roller skating

If you’d like a quick way to get around and don’t completely blanche at the idea of going to a roller disco, perhaps you could try out roller skating. Much like skateboarding, all you need are some skates, protection, and a place to practice. Start slow, learn to fall, and soon you’ll be rolling with the best of them.

Hobbies that teach you a skill

Some people may find that they want their new hobby to be more skill-based than some of the ones we’ve mentioned so far. Thankfully, there are plenty of options available. Here are some ideas:

20. Play an instrument

Whether you can already play an instrument or not, there’s never a bad time to learn a new one. There are so many possibilities here; we could dedicate an entire post to just listing them out. You’ll find all kinds of resources for whichever instrument you choose, including hours of video tutorials.

21. Learn a language

Learning a new language brings many benefits and can be extremely rewarding. Plus, with all types of language courses available, you can choose one that sparks your interest. You can match your chosen language to your favourite food or travel destination and practice on your next holiday.

22. Blogging

If you enjoy writing and sharing your interests and opinions, blogging could well be the hobby for you. It gives you a platform to organise your thoughts, express your feelings, and connect with people across the world. It’s also a highly useful digital skill to master. It’s simple to get started, and there are plenty of blogging platforms available.

23. Acting

You may not immediately think of acting as the most obvious new hobby, but it’s worth considering. If you’re self conscious to being with, there are plenty of acting exercises you can do from home to boost your acting abilities, and many books on acting you can get started with.

24. Woodworking

Woodworking is one of those hobbies that can come in handy in so many ways. It’s also pretty easy to get started with. Providing you have a sharp knife, wood saw, hammer and screwdrivers, you can get started on a variety of simple woodworking projects.

25. Data visualisation

For those who like graphical representations of data, data visualisation could be the new hobby you’ve been searching for. It involves creating images, charts, graphs, and maps that show people what certain data sets mean. It’s a skill that allows you to flex your creative and analytical muscles at the same time.

26. Graphic design

On the theme of creating visually appealing content, graphic design is a skill that can easily be learned from home. You can start by looking at some content creators you admire and thinking about the skills and techniques they use. You can also find plenty of free graphic design software to get started with, such as Blender, Krita and Adobe Spark.

27. Chess

The Game of Kings can seem like a tricky one to get started with. However, once you’ve mastered the basic rules, chess is a hobby that can provide hours of entertainment (and frustration). The website lichess.org will walk you through the fundamentals of the game, and some higher-tier skills for when you’ve improved. You don’t even need a chessboard.

28. Game development

Many of us have spent time playing video games to a greater or lesser extent. But if you’ve ever fancied dabbling in creating your own game, now’s a good time to get started. With courses in video game design and development, as well as those that help you create your own adventure game, you have all the tools you need to get learning.

29. Coding

For those looking for a more general view of coding, you’re also in luck. Learning a coding language is a skill that’s increasingly sought-after. This course giving an introduction to web development covers the basics of HTML, CSS and JavaScript. As far as hobby/skill crossovers go, there are few as practical as coding.

Find a new hobby to express yourself

If your inner artist is trying to find a new hobby, these skills are some that you can easily explore from home:

30. Painting

If you’ve got some paintbrushes and paints knocking around, you can easily jump into painting as your new hobby. YouTube recently added 12 seasons of The Joy of Painting with Bob Ross. So, you can listen to his dulcet tones as you begin to master your new craft.

31. Photography

Photography is a pastime that’s become increasingly easy to get into. After all, most of us carry a camera around with us just about everywhere we go. Although your smartphone may not be the connoisseur’s choice of equipment, it’s more than sufficient for learning some of the basics of photography with. You can take an array of photos of the family pet, for example. If you’ve already mastered the fundamentals, now might be a good time to take your skills to a professional level.

32. Sculpting

This is a hobby that will probably require you to order a few bits in, but it can definitely be just as rewarding as any of the hobbies on our list. It’s also a skill that you can dive into and get creative with. For the future Michelangelos among us, this is definitely one worth considering. You can sculpt using a variety of materials – everything from clay to marble, depending on your confidence levels, space, and budget.

33. Writing music

If you’ve already completed hobbies eight and twenty on our list, you might want to try your hand at composing your own music. There’s a whole heap of resources available to get you started with. As well as an entire course dedicated to writing your first song, you can find free software such as GarageBand, Sibelius First, and MuseScore.

Find a new hobby for escapism

Many of us want to simply find a hobby that helps us escape the day-to-day for a time. There are plenty of great options here for you to try:

34. Film watching

It’s highly likely that you already watch films on a somewhat regular basis. However, watching films as a hobby means you get to delve deeper than you usually would. Instead of enjoying a movie at face value, you get to look at the cinematography, writing, set design, and more. Sound appealing? Our course on film education is a great place to start.

35. Film making

If you’ve always wondered what it’s like to be on the non-acting end of the camera, now’s your chance to get into film making. You can start by learning how films go from script to screen. From there, you can start penning your own screenplay or shooting simple scenes. With free video editing software such as Lightworks and Shotcut, you can begin getting a feel for composition and editing. If you’re interested in how films connect with audiences, we also have a course for that.

36. LARPing

‘What’s LARPing?’ we hear you cry. Well, it’s an acronym for live-action roleplaying… If you’re still not sure, it’s a real-life fantasy game where you dress up as your character and play as them. Think Dungeons & Dragons but on a grander scale, and with far better costumes.

37. Puzzles

Puzzles are a great hobby to get into for many reasons. Not only are they brain-teasingly satisfying, but they also help improve your memory and problem-solving skills. Things like jigsaw puzzles are a great way of taking your mind off your surroundings for a while. All you need to do is pick a puzzle and get started.

38. Board games

Many people assume that board games equal misplaced Monopoly money or outdated Trivial Pursuit. But there’s so much more to offer. Games like Catan or Ticket to Ride are equally good ways to alienate your loved ones. If you want something on-trend, give Pandemic a go. If you like fast-talking, Articulate! is the game for you. For those trying to find a new hobby to share with their household, this is a good option.

39. RPGs

RPGs (roleplaying games, for the uninitiated) are games where you take on the role of a character in a fictional setting. You then have to act as that character, making decisions for them and progressing their story. In video game terms, this means titles like The Witcher 3, Skyrim, and the Fallout series. In board-game terms, think Dungeons & Dragons and Gloomhaven. RPGs can be the ultimate form of escapism.

40. History

As we live through a defining part of history, it can be nice to go back and immerse yourself in a different time entirely. Our array of history courses gives you plenty to seek your teeth into. If you’re into podcasts, Dan Carlin’s Hardcore History is worth checking out. For history books, you’re spoilt for choice.

Final things to think about

So there you have it, 40 excellent options when it comes to finding a new hobby. Hopefully, it’s given you some inspiration about what you want to try. But there are some final considerations:

Do you want the hobby to turn into an income?

Is your new hobby something you want to make money from? Possibly not – it could just be something to help pass the time. But if it is, then you might want to think about where to invest your time.

As a side project, creative pursuits can be an excellent choice. Whether it’s woodworking, knitting, or painting, handicrafts tend to be pretty popular side earners. If you get good enough at a sport or physical activity, you can even think about progressing to teach.

If you’re thinking about developing your main source of income, there are plenty of strong options available. Digital skills and coding are increasingly sought-after and can complement a range of other professions.

How expensive can hobbies be?

Price is often a determining factor in finding a new hobby. Those that require a lot of specialist equipment can be pricey. Learning a new instrument, photography, and woodworking can all be expensive. However, it’s also possible to keep costs down by working with what you do have, and borrowing what you don’t.

Of course, there are plenty of free hobbies too. There are tons of free e-books available on Project Gutenberg, while writing only requires a pen and paper or computer. You can also often learn the basics of an activity before you choose whether to invest further.

Try it out

You don’t have to make your final decision about your new hobby just yet. You can spend some time trying a few different options to see which one is right for you. In fact, you can check out our list of courses related to new hobby ideas for some further inspiration. They can help you find a new hobby that’s perfectly suited to you.

Category Current Issues, Learning

Meet Moshood Sadiq, an Alison Graduate turned Contractor!

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onlinefreecourse

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July 8, 2020

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Meet Moshood Sadiq, an Alison Graduate turned Contractor!

Experts from all over the world apply to publish courses with Alison. In order to meet this high level of demand, Alison employs Contract Publishers who transform expertise and knowledge into high quality courses. Last year, Alison invited 100 Graduates worldwide to train to become Contract Publishers. Moshood is one of our Alison Graduates who went on to become an Alison Contractor.

Moshood, tell us a bit about your background before Alison.

First off, I am 27 years old, a Nigerian and a B.Eng. degree holder in Electrical & Electronic Engineering. Prior to my working with Alison, I did freelance work, including writing articles for a friend’s blog, annotating pictures and videos for deep learning applications, and also installing distribution transformers and solar panels. I also started a blog, where I write about energy and power systems. You can check it out here.

How did you discover Alison, and what was your experience as a learner?

Alison is probably the first e-learning platform I discovered back in my university days. That was around 2012 or so. A friend introduced me to the platform. When I checked it out, I liked how easy it was to navigate so I proceeded to study a course. The course structure made it easy for me to understand the course content. And, there were assessment questions too to help me learn more. Learning with Alison was a good experience, and still is.

Why did you pursue the chance to become an Alison Contractor?

I love to teach and spread knowledge because it gives me the opportunity to positively impact other people and also learn more in the process. So, when Alison came calling for Contractors, it struck me as a great chance to help spread knowledge to millions of people around the world. I grabbed the chance. Also, it was an opportunity to earn some cash.

How did you find the remote Contractor training?

Amazing and well structured, from the training courses to the test course, and on to developing courses which are now live. There was enough time to learn about the Alison publishing methods and I had a mentor who was ready to answer my questions. With the help of my assigned mentor, Kieran [Alison’s Instructional Designer], it all went great.

What was the first course you published on Alison? How was it?

The first course I published was titled Introduction to Biomedical Research. This course came at a time when many people wanted to know about the clinical process in biomedical research. The development of the course was easy, thanks to the mentorship of my assigned mentor, Kieran. The course is video based so I had to do some video editing with the aim of easing the learning process. The knowledge from the training courses was instrumental in developing this course and other courses.

How has your decision to work for Alison affected your career path?

At first, I didn’t think I would be able to handle both the Alison work and some other freelance work that I do. But it turned out I could handle it all well. My time management skills greatly improved.

What’s the best part of working as an Alison Contractor?

The flexibility of working from home. I actually started working as an Alison contractor when the Covid-19 pandemic was getting serious in my country. So when the country went into lockdown, I wasn’t completely locked down. I could still make an impact by developing courses for people to learn. And even though there were deadlines for development of courses, it still afforded me the liberty to develop the courses at my own pace.

If you could publish a course that would teach the world, or yourself, anything, what would it be?

It would be a course on solar power systems. The course would be about the step by step process of designing and installing solar power systems for homes. It would be comprehensive and would most certainly be a skills-based course. There are less resources about this subject on the internet today. I think I will publish this sort of course in the future.

Abasido Umoh: an Alison Contract Publisher based in Nigeria

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July 8, 2020

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Abasido Umoh: an Alison Contract Publisher based in Nigeria

Experts from all over the world apply to publish courses with Alison. In order to meet this high level of demand, Alison employs Contract Publishers who transform expertise and knowledge into high quality courses. Last year, Alison invited 100 Graduates worldwide to train to become Contract Publishers. Abasido is one of our Alison Graduates who went on to become an Alison Contractor.

Abasido, tell us a bit about your background before Alison.

My name is Abasido Umoh and I’m from Nigeria. I’m a final year student studying Computer Technology at the University of Calabar.

How did you discover Alison, and what was your experience as a learner?

Sometime in 2017, I discovered Alison while searching for free online courses on the internet. I was amazed to find that 100% of the courses on Alison are completely free. That’s unlike anything I had seen on any other platform before. The courses are of very high quality and the interface is simple and easy to use. Anyone would enjoy taking online courses on Alison.

Why did you pursue the chance to become an Alison Contractor?

I got an email from the Alison publishing team late last year and they invited me to join their team as a contractor. The opportunity seemed like a good one since I only needed a PC and an internet connection to do everything, so I decided to apply and see how it goes.

How did you find the remote Contractor training?

I’ve benefited a lot from the training I received. I’ve learnt a lot of new things in such a short time and I did all of it from right here in my home country.

What was the first course you published on Alison?

The title of the course is Introduction to Blockchain Technology and Applications. It’s a diploma course. It’s live right now on the Alison platform and numerous people have enrolled. It was an interesting project, a little challenging in the beginning, much like most things we get to do for the first time. But it turned out to be great and I benefited a lot myself from publishing the course.

How has your decision to work for Alison affected your career path?

I’ve always liked the idea of working remotely and this was the perfect opportunity. I get to make an impact on people around the world from right here. What’s more, my digital skills have improved a great deal and I believe skills like these are in higher demand especially given the recent turn of events in the world right now.

What’s the best part of working as an Alison Contractor?

For me, there are two things. First, it’s the flexibility and convenience of the work. I get to work whenever I’d like to and for how long I wish, just as long as I finish up before the deadline. Secondly, the courses I publish can be from a variety of different subjects so I get to learn a bunch of new stuff from different fields of study along the way. And then thousands of people also get to benefit from my work. Plus, I get paid for it. What could be better than that?

If you could publish course that would teach the world, or yourself, anything, what would it be?

I think a course on personal finance would be just right. Most people know very little about how to mange their money wisely. I believe a course that presented important information in a simple but effective way would go a long way to help a lot of people get more financial stability and improve their standard of living, both in this part of the world and beyond.

Summer Reading Contest Winner Week 1: On ‘I’m a Black American. I Had to Get Out.’

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July 8, 2020

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Winner

Ula Ekmecic, 16, from Roosevelt High School in Seattle chose an Opinion essay headlined “I’m a Black American. I Had to Get Out” and wrote:

Tiffanie Drayton fled to Trinidad to escape racism in America. All my friends have to do is re-curate their Instagram feeds.
I live in rich, white, North Seattle. Since the outcry following the murder of George Floyd and the resurgence of Black Lives Matter to the forefront of news, social media, and daily conversation, I have seen people come together for humanity in a way I have never before. But in the periphery of my vision, I can see the tide turning.
Classmates have begun to take down the links to petitions from their bios. Story posts highlighting their rage over the deaths of Oluwatoyin Salau, Breonna Taylor, and Rayshard Brooks have become interspersed with pictures of their 3-course brunch and throwback photos for a friend’s birthday.
They took a bite out of real America, racist America, and decided that one piece was enough. They decided that 3 weeks of action was enough to compensate for 243 years of inequality.
Reading “I’m a Black American. I Had To Get Out,” made me feel momentarily suffocated. Drayton described “The brilliant American landscape…[being] ruined by anti-blackness” and it was overwhelming. I am a person of color, but I am not black. I don’t feel like I’m being pushed into becoming a refugee from my own country.
Even as I write this I have the urge to turn on Gossip Girl and hide. But I don’t. Because the difference between me and Drayton is that I feel discomfort with my shifting reality. Surface-level fear. Drayton is scared for her life.

_________

Runners-Up

In alphabetical order by the writer’s first name.

Alexa Marsh on “Why Do People Love Games?”

Ava on “I’m Finally an Angry Black Man”

Benjamin Choi on “They Fled Asia as Refugees. Now They Are Caught in the Middle of Minneapolis.”

Bethany on “Doctors are Covid’s First Historians”

Elizabeth Hirschfeld on “America, This Is Your Chance”

Ellie Klibaner-Schiff on “New York Times Says Senator’s Op-Ed Did Not Meet Standards”

Moniola on “I’m Finally an Angry Black Man”

Rina on “Why I’ve Stopped Telling People I’m Not Chinese”

Samantha on “Silver Lining to the Mask? Not Having to Smile” (published in print with the headline: “How Emotions Play Out Behind the Masks”)

FutureLearn Festival of Learning June 2020

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July 8, 2020

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FutureLearn Festival of Learning June 2020

Two weeks ago, FutureLearn’s first ever virtual conference took place. FutureLearn’s Festival of Learning took place between 22-26 June 2020 and explored how education, healthcare and business will evolve in a post-COVID world, how we can all collaborate to achieve great things in the wake of upheaval, and the importance of learning together.

The festival was divided into 4 key tracks – Teaching After COVID-19, Learning Together, Supporting Healthcare, and Future Proofing Business, with keynotes, panels, masterclasses and more taking place every day throughout the festival.

Teaching after COVID-19

The week opened with a keynote from Lord David Puttnam CBE titled Education’s Darwinian Moment, so called because Lord Puttnam believes “just as after the publication of On the Origin of Species, there was no going back. People had to deal with the world as Darwin had revealed it. I think that the post-COVID world is going to be an extraordinarily exciting place, but a very very challenging place.”

The session was introduced by FutureLearn CEO, Simon Nelson, who discussed the changes we’ve seen in online learning behaviour over the last few months and speculated over what the future of education may have in store. Lord Puttnam then discussed a little of his experience of lockdown, how he’s managed to continue educating students remotely and his work over the last year as part of a parliamentary select committee looking at the impact of digital technologies.

Later in the week, we joined the second teaching session, a panel titled Educating the Educators chaired by Matt Jenner, Head of Learning at FutureLearn. This panel reflected on FutureLearn’s first ever own-branded course, a rapid response short course called How to Teach Online: Provisioning Continuity for Students. This course was built especially to support educators faced with the sudden shift to teaching online towards the start of 2020, and was built in just 10 days. In this panel, four mentors from the course joined Matt to discuss their experience of supporting the teaching community through this transition. Discussion was lively and saw many educators from around the world asking questions in the live chat, considering what the future of teaching may look like.

The final teaching session of the week was a Q&A, Mental Welling for Educators and Students, which brought together four brilliant partners involved in some of the top mental wellbeing courses on the FutureLearn platform. During the Q&A, panellists looked specifically at how we support students and teachers during this period of upheaval. The discussion was chaired by Finola Lang, Global Education Lead at FutureLearn, and covered topics such as spotting signs that a colleague or student needs extra support, working with different age groups, welcoming September intakes and more.

Learning Together

The Learning track was opened by Lord Jim Knight, Chief Education & External Officer at Tes Global. His keynote was titled Embedding the new realities of time and space for learning and offered a frank discussion around how technology can offer flexibility in where and when learning can take place. Lord Knight looked at the current situation in which many are home-schooling and considered how digital tools support this and empower learners and teachers to have more individualised experience. He believes one of the positives this challenge has presented is that “parents, those that have been able to get involved in their childrens’ learning, have been able to see how their child learns, they’ve been able to see the reality of how difficult it is for teachers, but they’ve also been able to see what sort of learning their child responds to and what they find disengaging.”

On the Wednesday of the Festival, FutureLearn’s own Learning Design team, made up of Matt Jenner, Monty King and Felicity Parsisson, ran Learning Design Masterclasses asynchronously throughout the day to over 500 attendees. During the sessions, these attendees had the chance to understand how our learning designers approach building online courses and were invited to take part in some practical learning design by participating in an online competition. You can watch one of these masterclasses back here and enter the competition here, the deadline for this is 10 July 2020.

Supporting Healthcare

We had two healthcare sessions over the Festival of Learning, the first, a keynote by Dean Patricia Davidson from Johns Hopkins School of Nursing, considered whether COVID-19 was a Watershed moment in Higher Education. Hosted by Holly Shifflet, Head of Partnerships at FutureLearn, Dean Davidson shared an overview of the university in contemporary society, outlined social, economic and political factors influencing higher education worldwide, discussed the impact of COVID-19 on the sector and presented approaches to invigorate the social contract of universities with society. At the end of her session she took questions from attendees and there was vibrant discussion around how the higher education sector must evolve to work more closely with industry amongst other things.

The second healthcare session came in the form of a panel titled Community through Crisis: COVID-19 and Healthcare Education, chaired by Helen Fuller, Global Healthcare Lead at FutureLearn. Helen was joined by representatives from the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, the University of Edinburgh, St George’s and FIND. During the COVID-19 pandemic, the healthcare sector has faced a number of challenges beyond the obvious threat to public health. This session explored how these teams responded by rapidly building courses and panellists shared their experiences of working quickly and collaboratively in the face of crisis, building courses for frontline workers and the public on COVID-19.

Future Proofing Business

Our first business session of the week was titled How is Learning and Development Future Proofing your Business? Chaired by Catalina Schveninger, Chief People Officer at FutureLearn, who was joined by a panel of business brains from the Foreign Commonwealth Office, Visa and NilesNolen. The session was first introduced by Ron Kalifa OBE, Chairman of the Board for FutureLearn, who discussed the impact he himself has witnessed of COVID-19 on business and learning. He then handed over to the panel who considered the crucial role of learning and development in ensuring your business thrives through challenging times and offered tips and tools to help those struggling in the difficult climate.

The whole festival concluded with a keynote by Sherry Coutu CBE, who presented a review of the solutions available to small businesses and charities facing challenges due to COVID-19 dramatically reducing their revenues. Sherry, herself a serial entrepreneur and angel investor who serves on the boards of companies, charities, and universities, gave an inspirational talk looking at her activity during the pandemic and how we help businesses survive and thrive through digital.

Overall FutureLearn’s inaugural festival was a success, and thank you to all those who attended the sessions live or have taken time to watch them back. Plans are already underway for the next Festival of Learning, so watch this space for more details of how we can celebrate the crucial role of learning together once again.

Category Research insights

The Role of MOOCs in Humanitarian Affairs

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July 8, 2020

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The Role of MOOCs in Humanitarian Affairs

Author: Draego Zubiri, Project Manager, FutureLearn

The Partnership for Digital Learning and Increased Access (PADILEIA) aims to facilitate access to higher education for those displaced and affected by the Syrian crisis in Jordan and Lebanon, including disadvantaged local populations. It is funded by the UK Department for International Development (DFID), through the Strategic Partnerships for Higher Education Innovation and Reform (SPHEIR) programme.

Together, FutureLearn, King’s College London, American University of Beirut, Al al-Bayt University, and Kiron Open Higher Education provide a suite of online and blended learning educational offerings to target learners in Lebanon and Jordan, ranging from online short course (MOOCs), study-tracks, and certificate programmes.

FutureLearn and King’s College London work closely to deliver a range of foundational short courses, with topics ranging from English, Healthcare, Business to Digital Skills. These courses are available to any learner across the globe, who will be given a Certificate of Completion from King’s College London and FutureLearn upon completion of the course.

As the project is now well into its third year, well-earned successes have been celebrated, considerable lessons have been learnt and acted on, and plenty remains in store for how the programme can continue to deliver even greater value to its target learners. As a key player in transforming access to education worldwide, FutureLearn must continue to posit the question: what role do MOOCs play in transforming and providing access to education for individuals affected by conflict and displacement?

What MOOCs have to offer

Firstly, FutureLearn’s social learning platform provides displaced people with a sense of shared learning, where learners are able to converse, tell stories, and share lived experiences with other learners, fostering a sense of community and identity which is often lost by these individuals. As two learners commented:

Thank you King’s College London and FutureLearn for this course. This is a great course, which has helped me improve my English. I enjoyed interacting with others in the chat. I made new friends and hope to see them again in the second week. See you soon!

I finally finished my first week and just wanted to thank my teacher for the support and for responding to my comments. I enjoyed meeting students from different parts of the world. This has been an exciting experience. Good luck to everyone in the second week!

Secondly, the affordances of MOOCs allow for themselves to be easily accessible to a broad range of learners. FutureLearn’s mobile-friendly programming ensures that the MOOCs are accessible to all learners across all smart devices. Similarly, courses can be designed to ensure they are accessible to even those with low bandwidths or slower internet connections. Language support may also be provided in digital formats for learners of varying cultural backgrounds on an as needed basis.

Thirdly, MOOCs are by nature scalable learning assets requiring minimal overhead from organisations while being able to provide learners with ongoing access to education anywhere in the world regardless of time and place. To date, 180,000 learners have accessed the FutureLearn MOOCs by King’s College London, with up to 3,700 learners self-reporting as refugees based either in Jordan, Lebanon, or worldwide.* It is also worth noting that more than 90% of these learners have reported a ‘positive’ learning experience with the MOOCs.**

Barriers and challenges faced

While MOOCs offer a number of powerful affordances that have been driven and enabled by the Digital Age, there remain barriers and obstacles specific to reaching these hard to reach audiences and displaced individuals. For one, in order for MOOCs to be successful they must be appropriately promoted to these audiences for them to be made aware of the offering. Refugees and displaced people may not always be directly accessible by conventional above the line marketing activities. And in such circumstances, stakeholders on the ground, such as governments, UN agencies (UNHCR), INGOs, educational institutions, and third sector parties, therefore play a pivotal role in promoting these MOOCs and ensuring they reach their target audiences.

MOOCs alone are also not always sufficient in providing the holistic support needed by these vulnerable populations. Learners may need additional face to face support and require additional scaffolding through their learner journey in order for such provision to be effective. PADILEIA has sought to set up study hubs, such as that in Bekaa Valley, Lebanon, for example, where the MOOCs as well as other PADILEIA educational offerings are delivered and facilitated through the support of a full-time facilitator. Alongside the option to learn on the blended and facilitated model, the study hubs also provide learners with access to computer and mobile devices, a stable WiFi connection, potable water, and public restrooms.

The future of MOOCs in humanitarian affairs

What does this mean for the use of MOOCs in contexts of mass displacement? FutureLearn and MOOCs alone will not be sufficient to close the deepening educational divisions left by the Syrian refugee crisis, as it is evident that such targeted interventions require multi-level and multi-stakeholder support and collaboration in order to maximize this provision and deliver the holistic support needed by such populations.

Programmes such as PADILEIA are fundamental in stringing together a wide range of stakeholders, with a variety of complex strengths, capabilities, and opportunities to reach the most vulnerable and displaced members of society. While barriers remain, the success of MOOCs in international projects such as PADILEIA, however, suggests that MOOCs will continue to play a greater role in humanitarian affairs in providing free access to education to those most in need. The way in which they are deployed, supported, and augmented by wider targeted international efforts and initiatives, however, must continue to be honed and refined over time. We are likely to see increasingly closer and more diverse forms of collaboration between private sector, government bodies, higher educational institutions, and non-profit organisations, in the wider quest to transform access to education for all, where MOOCs will undoubtedly continue to play a key role in achieving this.

* Based on an optional anonymised online survey on learner beneficiary status.

** Based on an optional anonymised online survey on learner satisfaction.

Category Research insights

How the University of York is using FutureLearn to support students and staff

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July 8, 2020

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Author: Iain Barr, Head of Lifelong Learning/E-learning and MOOC developer at University of York

The University of York combines the pursuit of academic excellence with a culture of inclusion, which encourages everyone – from a variety of backgrounds – to achieve their full potential. Since 2017, York has worked in partnership with FutureLearn to help further this mission by offering a range of online courses, allowing people all over the world to study with leading academics to explore a new subject area or prepare for higher education.

Designed by York academics, our online courses cover a wide range of subject areas, from nursing and the criminal justice system to modern sculpture and digital wellbeing, and we have seen over 100,000 enrolments across 15 different courses since the start of our collaboration.

However, over the past few months, the COVID-19 pandemic has completely changed the education landscape and online learning has become an essential tool for students and educators across the world. The entire sector has adapted quickly to ensure that students are still able to access a high quality education. The University of York has faced many of the same challenges, but like many of our peers, we’ve also been taking steps to adapt. Here’s how we’ve worked with FutureLearn to do so:

Transitioning to university, online

Earlier this year, we launched a new course on FutureLearn aimed at any students about to make the transition to university. ‘Next Steps to University’, helps students gain an insight into life and study within higher education and provides tips on how to make the most out of this experience. This course offers students the opportunity to prepare for and look forward to entering higher education. The pandemic has changed the traditional transition into university, which makes courses such as these a crucial way of engaging students before they begin learning in September. We have already seen that this course has helped prospective students get excited about starting university for the first time.

To support our prospective students, we are also offering exclusive online courses on FutureLearn designed to help students to feel part of York’s learning community before they arrive on campus. These courses will run over the summer, and content is tailored for both undergraduate and postgraduate students. It’s also part of a wider package we have to support new students and offer them meaningful engagement with the University, which is crucial at this time of uncertainty and self-isolation.

FutureLearn Campus

We’re also delighted to have signed up to FutureLearn Campus, an offering that provides the University of York community with upgraded access to our short courses on the platform until at least the end of September 2020.

Through FutureLearn Campus, we are also able to open up our courses to not just York account holders, but also students and staff from other leading universities partnered with FutureLearn. As all universities face challenges at the moment, being able to share online materials via short courses is just one way we can collaborate and keep our virtual doors open.

FutureLearn Schools

Students of all ages have been impacted by the coronavirus outbreak and although we are a higher education institution, we also wanted to find a way to support school children. The University of York was among the founding partners involved in the launch of FutureLearn Schools, meaning that students aged 13 to 18 whose schools sign up to the initiative have free access to all of our relevant short online courses currently available on the FutureLearn platform.

The University of York remains committed to opening up access to education for students across the world of all ages and backgrounds and we are proud to continue our work with FutureLearn to build on the foundations already laid.

Category Research insights

June’s industry round-ups

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July 8, 2020

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Opinion: What predominantly white colleges should say amid Black Lives Matter protests

Courier Journal, 9 June

In this piece Ricky L. Jones points out that companies and universities should not be praised at this moment for simply putting out statements regarding the Black Lives Matter movement as this is “the easy, popular and convenient thing to do right now.” Jones argues that institutions must back statements up with promise of action and says that what is most important is “being honest about where we’ve gone wrong, asking for forgiveness and then attacking the problem with an unparalleled ferocity.”

Editorial reporting: Calls grow for black history to be taught to all English school pupils

The Guardian, 8 June

Pressure is mounting on the government to review the national curriculum and make the teaching of black history mandatory for all pupils in schools in England. Campaigners are collecting signatures for an open letter to be sent this week to Education Secretary, Gavin Williamson, calling on him to make the teaching of black history compulsory in primary and secondary schools and across a range of different subject areas. The campaign, led by a group called The Black Curriculum, has attracted widespread support in the wake of the recent Black Lives Matter protests, and in light of the disproportionate impact of COVID-19 on black and minority ethnic groups. The letter states: “Thousands of us, the British voting public, are grief-stricken and concerned about the existing status quo in the UK, which disregards the lives and contributions of black British people.”

Editorial reporting: Australian government to build AU$4.3 million online microcredentials marketplace

ZDNet, 22 June

The Australian government has announced it will spend AU$4.3 million to build and run a one-stop shop online marketplace for microcredentials. According to the federal government, this marketplace will be designed to provide a nationally consistent platform to allow students to compare course outcomes, duration, mode of delivery, and credit point value. Currently, 54 providers have created 344 short online courses. As of June 22, IT short courses are the third most popular offering with 68 courses. “The microcredential marketplace will be a platform for job-seekers to see what skills they can gain by further study to help them get a new job or to get ahead in their current job,” said the Minister for Education, Dan Tehan.

New research: Looking Beyond the College Degree

Inside Higher Ed, 24 June

As the pandemic wreaks havoc on the job market, a quarter of American adults say they plan to enroll in an education or training program within the next six months, according to the latest results of a national poll conducted by the Strada Education Network. That share was 37 percent for 18- to 24-year-olds and 23 percent for 25- to 64-year-olds. But the survey also found most of the workers who said they would change fields if they lost their job due to the pandemic (35 percent of all respondents) are more interested in non-degree skills training (62 percent) than pursuing a college degree (38 percent).

Opinion: Students are the generation most affected by Covid-19. Universities must respond

THE, 17 June

This piece argues that a substantial challenge for universities across the world in the 2020s will be how they engage with a “Covid generation” who have seen their lives disproportionately disrupted by the pandemic. It argues that universities need to double their efforts to support students and engage them in university planning processes. It claims that higher education should be open to how young people might be able to re-envision universities’ purpose and practices in ways consistent with the new situation.

New research: Latest Ucas figures ‘welcome news’ for universities

University Business, 25 June

Enrolment figures released by Ucas will be “welcome news for universities”, the organisation’s chief executive has said, as it was revealed that deferral rates are lower than at this point last year. Applicants had until Thursday 18 June to choose if they wanted to accept an offer to study at university. According to Ucas, the number of applicants that hold a firm offer for an immediate start in September has risen by 1% compared to this point in last year’s admission cycle – 500,340 applicants have confirmed an offer to start their course in September, up from 494,530 at this point last year. The number of applicants choosing to defer their place has fallen by 1% this year. Deferral rates could climb in the coming months, but for now the anticipated drop in student figures has not materialised.

Opinion: Covid-19 has ushered in a paradigm shift in upskilling

HR Director, 14 June

This piece argues that rather than press the pause button on closing skills gaps, COVID-19 has created an unprecedented urgency to ramp up upskilling interventions. It also argues that companies that would otherwise be business competitors need to work together with governments and learning providers to deliver public/private-backed upskilling and reskilling opportunities to rapidly get people back into jobs. Accenture recently described this collaboration as building ‘shared workforce resilience’. It claims that before the pandemic, there was demand for professionally-oriented credential offerings such as microcredentials, nanodegrees and coding camps, however COVID-19 has accelerated this.

Category Research insights

How Lauren turned a hobby into a successful IT career

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July 7, 2020

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How Lauren turned a hobby into a successful IT career

My name is Lauren Parker and I am an IT Specialist at Sage Software in Oregon. When I began college a few years ago, I thought I wanted to be a mechanical engineer. After two very difficult terms, despite my best grades being in engineering courses, I discovered that mechanical engineering wasn’t really what I wanted to do and dropped out of school to move home. My very first job was working in a manufacturing facility for a well-known sports brand. When I saw what the engineers did day in and day out, I was sure that this field wasn’t for me.

I had always been interested in IT and was the go-to IT person amongst my family and friends. However, I had never viewed the field of IT as an option for a long term career. I knew I wanted to work with computers, but I wasn’t sure how. When my mom showed me the Google IT Support Professional Certificate, I was interested, but I didn’t realize just what I could do in IT and how many companies needed it. Upon taking the program, I realized that IT, which I had previously volunteered in and done for family and friends, could be my career. Needless to say, this changed the course of most everything in my life. Instead of being a hobby that I learned bits and pieces of, it became a skill set I could use in the field. I was able to explore more of what the field actually was, as well as put myself out there as a possible candidate for a new position. This course helped me with all of those goals, many of which in ways I would never have imagined.

After completing this program, I interviewed with Sage Services in Oregon for the position of Technical Support Analyst. My manager specifically asked about the Google IT Support program in my interview. The certificate helped me make a positive impression and show I was competent. I got the job, and I love it! There isn’t a single person on my team that I don’t love working with, and I am incredibly passionate about the work. I help accountants and IT people install, migrate, and troubleshoot systems issues over the phone. I also was just trained additionally to assist with data issues within the Accounts Payable module.

I love the feeling of a tricky case being completed, and knowing that I’m helping small businesses succeed.

The company is amazing, and I couldn’t be happier with how this turned out. The certificate improved my hireability and helped me decide that this was the career path that I was interested in.

I am working with an enrollment counselor to begin my Bachelor’s in IT at Western Governors University as soon as I complete my A+ certification. I will be receiving credit towards my degree from this as well as from the Google IT Support Professional Certificate.

I wouldn’t have gone after this job or degree at all without the Google IT Support Professional Certificate.

My advice to other students taking the course would be to dive all in and be curious. IT is fascinating and always changing, and you can really learn a lot just by being curious. It can be frustrating to try and learn what you need to, and it’s easy to get upset and give up. However, it’s just as easy to find something inspiring about the tech field. Focus on that, and learning about this subject becomes much easier. At my previous job, I worked twelve-hour shifts, and would be physically exhausted at the end of the day. I worked on the course during my lunches and breaks. Since I loved the subject matter, despite being exhausted, I still felt like it was a break to work on the course. I completed it in just over two weeks. Had I looked at it as another chore or had I not been as determined to complete it as I was, it would have taken me much longer and not been something that I enjoyed as much as I did.

Furthermore, put yourself out there. Even if you don’t see results right away, it never hurts to keep making a name for yourself. You never know. I’m still getting emails about dozens of opportunities that found me from applications from over a year ago!