12 Free Skill-Building Resources to Explore during Quarantine

As most work has transitioned remote, many of us are finding ourselves with a good amount of free time on our hands (outside of binge-watching Netflix, endless Zoom calls, and eating all our quarantine snacks). A valuable way to make use of this free time is to learn new skills. Keeping your mind active by learning or brushing up on a skill can ease the feeling of boredom and isolation during the extended period of staying at home.

There are businesses, institutions, and individual instructors that stepped up to offer free premium courses and resources on a variety of topics. Here, we’ve gathered a list of free platforms and  resources to help you take advantage of your time at home and learn new skills:

1. Codecademy

Codecademy offers a basic account that gives you access to basic courses and limited mobile access. From beginners to experts, there are courses for a variety of skill levels to help you develop new skills or brush up on your existing skills. Courses include:

• Web development
• Programming
• Data science
• Design
• Game development, as well as 
• Languages such as Python, JavaScript, SQL, C#, and Swift.

2. EdX

EdX is a massive open online course (MOOC) provider offering university-level courses developed by nonprofit organizations, schools, and corporations (Harvard, MIT, Berkely, and more). All programs offered through EdX are free and you’ll find courses from universities and once you complete the courses, you’ll get a certificate. Courses consist of:

• interactive learning exercises
• video tutorials, 
• online forums for students to connect and ask questions, and 
• online textbooks

3. Harvard Online Learning

Ever dreamt of studying at Harvard? Now you can! Harvard Online Learning (HarvardX) offers free online courses that are self-paced and require around six to nine hours of commitment per week, and most take anywhere from five to 13 weeks to complete. These online programs taught by Harvard University faculty and staff themselves (so you’ll feel like a true Havard student) allow you to earn a verified certificate from Havard upon completion. It’s a great option for self-motivated learners who want to learn new skills and expand a specific knowledge area.

4. Linkedin Learning

Linkedin Learning is an online learning platform that offers courses on popular various topics. You can choose from a number of skills in tech and more. You can also find courses that will help you master popular software such as Tableau, WordPress, and Excel. As a result of COVID-19, LinkedIn has rendered some of its courses free to help users navigate the challenging time. Courses include: Job seekers navigate career strategies in today’s job market, Professionals remain productive and efficient while working remotely, and Professionals manage stress and build mindfulness practices into their workday.

5. Microsoft Learn

Enter Microsoft! Microsoft Learn is a free online training program that offers training and certifications on specific Microsoft products. Each self-paced learning module includes an introduction to the topic, a lesson with all relevant information about the topic, and a knowledge check for you to complete to make sure you stay on track and grasp important concepts. Microsoft Learn also offers certifications that you can earn for different Microsoft tools and software — and it’s all free. Courses being offered include:

• Azure
• Core Cloud Services
• Microsoft 365
• Power BI Desktop
• Microsoft Team

6. MIT OpenCourseWare

The Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) offers all its course material for free online. Applying to get into this prestigious institution is a myth with their online OpenCourseWare where you get access to any undergraduate and graduate-level courses taught by the institution at the touch of a button.  You’ll get instant access to lecture notes, projects and examples, assignments, instructor insights and it’s all free. The university offer courses in computer science covering topics such as:

• Programming, software design
• Data mining, networking
• Artificial intelligence 

7. Udemy

Udemy - the popular online marketplace for educational courses. Here, users can learn from professionals at an affordable price; in fact, many of their courses are free. Users can learn about photography, development, design, and more through Udemy’s free courses. Of particular interest are the courses on social media marketing. Nearly any topic you want to learn about is found on the site, and with plenty of free courses to choose from, you can keep your continuing education budget-friendly.

8. Ahrefs Academy

Ahrefs, the popular digital marketing analysis tool, is offering its premium educational content for free!. You can view in-depth tutorials on SEO tactics, topic research, outreach, and more. The Blogging for Business course is of particular interest. Formerly priced at $799, this course is now free! The course offers 10+ video-led lessons on how to grow your blog and generate new leads that turn into customers.

9. Skillshare

Skillshare, an online learning platform, is offering two months of free premium access to their courses.

Skillshare offers a broad range of courses on a variety of topics, from entrepreneurship to intuitive illustration. Users can browse courses by specific skill set to find the perfect class for them.

10. The YouTube Creator Academy

YouTube developed the YouTube Creator Academy to help new users learn the ins and outs of creating and promoting video content. Users can take in-depth courses on content strategy, production, channel optimization, and more. For beginners, the quick start guide to YouTube is a good place to start.

11. Coursera

Coursera is a platform that hosts a variety of courses taught by instructors from world-class universities and companies. Users can choose from three different course types:

• Courses. The standard courses, delivered as video lectures and exercises, help you learn a new topic or skill in four to six weeks.
• Specializations. Focus in and go deeper with specialization courses that help you master a skill. These more in-depth courses last four to six months on average.
• Professional certificates. Professional certificate courses are ideal for people who want to start or change their careers. These intensive courses involve hands-on projects and are meant to have you job-ready in under a year.

12. Facebook Blueprint or Facebook for Business

Facebook offers a variety of courses that teaches you new marketing skills and it is absolutely for free. You can explore self-paced and step-by-step tutorials that can help you build your digital marketing knowledge and bring your business online. You also have an option to proceed with a test for the certification to verify your skills and use it in your business or career.

These courses and platforms can help you make use of this digital age, adapt to new paradigms, and ensure you keep up with your self-development. And now that it’s never been easier, make use of your spare time and learn things that can help you stay flexible with the changing job market. 

** Hired Institute does not endorse any of the above-listed websites.