There are many online learning platforms out there like Skillshare, MasterClass, Udemy, and the rest. And in this review, we will be looking at one that focuses on higher education, which is Coursera. Coursera is a learning platform that is fully online and provides a variety of topics. Coursera offers college-level instructions from professors at accredited institutions, which is what sets it apart from other competitors.
No.1. What are Coursera's main features?
There are 8 main features that you have access to when you start a Coursera organization plan that is not enjoyed in the public course catalog. These features include;
1.Efficient program utilization
You will be able to optimize your program usage as you can swap out any employee when you need to. You cannot transfer payments made on an individual account to other accounts. So the way you can get the flexibility to remove and add learners without having to make any other payment is by utilizing the Coursera organization plan.
2.Learning program centralized payment and budget management
When you take on the Coursera organization plan ensures that you do not need to individually reimburse employees. Budget predictability is provided since you pay quarterly.
3. Extended timeline for course completion
As an employee in the Coursera organization plan, you have enough time to complete your courses, as it extended to the end of the 1-year plan. If you are utilizing the public course catalog, you will have six months to complete the course.
4.Company branded, curated learning program experience
Utilizing the Coursera organization plan, you will be able to customize the learning programs with your banner image and company logo. You can select the courses you want to be included in your program to make sure that your organization’s development and learning goals are met.
Additional Coursera features for large organizations
Setting up a large organization plan grants you access to extra options and features.
5.Deployment support and training
Throughout the duration of your contract, you will be provided with platform support and platform training prior to launch.
6.Content strategy and pedagogy expert consultation
You will be provided with curriculum recommendations by pedagogy experts that would suit your organization’s needs.
7.Dedicated account managers
Opting for a large organization plan, your main point of contact will be a dedicated account manager from the start to finish of your contract.
8.Employee course activity and grades tracking and reporting
You can monitor the progress of employees in the course and also provide them with support if it is needed.
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No.2. What is the best course on Coursera?
One of the best ways to further hone your skills after work is to learn online. In addition to completing courses from renowned organizations and universities, you will also be in touch with high-class teachers and obtain a certificate in the end. The following are the top courses on Coursera;
- Google IT Automation with Python, by Google
Google provides you with this beginner-level, six-course certificate that offers in-demand skills to IT professionals. These skills include IT automation, Git, and Python, and can aid in advancing your career.
- The Science of Well-Being, by Yale
Taking up this course will see you engage in a variety of challenges that have been made to build more productive habits and boost your happiness. After taking this course, you will have all you need to integrate a particular wellness activity as a part of your lifestyle.
- IBM Data Science, by IBM
One of the hottest professions now is in the field of Data Science. Also, the demand for data practitioners is always rising. This course provided by IBM is made for people that have desires to develop the experience and skill needed to go for a career in machine learning or data science.
- Machine Learning, by Stanford
Getting the computer to act without the need for explicit programming is what is known as machine learning. In recent times, it has become so pervasive that you might use it a lot in a day without knowing. In this course, you will gain knowledge about the most efficient machine learning techniques and also get them to work for you.
- Python for Everybody, by University of Michigan
With the use of Python, fundamental programming concepts including databases and data structures are introduced. In this course, you will be able to design and create your applications for visualization, processing, and data retrieval with the technologies learned.
No.3. Is Coursera legit?
When it comes to picking Coursera, this is a question that is often asked. Coursera is a fully legit platform and it does not pose any scam traits. It was launched in 2012 by two Stanford professors and has since gained over 47 million registered users. It also has about 300 staff employed by the organization underpinning it.
There are a number of universities that are linked with Coursera and they include the University of London, Northwestern, and Yale. Also, there are big companies that provide training through this platform such as Google, Intel, and IBM. They provide a long specialization course for upcoming IT support professions; a course that runs for eight months.
No.4. Can Coursera get you a job?
On Coursera, you can get a full degree and it is easily one of the best learning platforms you can utilize now. Also, you can do everything remotely. While Coursera is such a great platform, it is not automatically guaranteed that you will land a job just because you completed a course or you obtained a certificate. Rather, you should focus on the practical implications that are provided by having a Coursera course. Because you have obtained better skills, you will be a lot better at what you do, and you will be able to perform better than someone that is going for the same job position as you.
Obtaining a Coursera certificate would definitely have a positive impact on your job hunt. You need to figure out where you are lacking in the job that you do and work on it. Utilizing a platform like Coursera would help you fill those gaps in your CV and skillset so that you are more attractive to employers. So, while Coursera would not automatically hand you the job, it provides you with the needed tools to get the job.
No.5. Coursera Certificate
The course certificate is an official Coursera credential that shows that you completed a course on Coursera successfully. On your accomplishments page is where you can see all the course certificates you have earned. This is where you would be able to download, print, and share your certificates. These are the items included on the course certificate;
- The name of the course
- The signature of the instructor
- If the partner institution includes it, the logo of the partner institution offering the course will be provided.
- A verification URL
- A statement, which shows confirmation of the identity of the learner.
No.6. Coursera free courses
Till December 31st, 2020, Coursera is offering 100 classes for free in response to the coronavirus that has placed one-third of people in the world under lockdown. These courses spread out across different categories, which include language learning, cloud technology, career development, and mental health and well-being. These are the steps to enroll in Coursera courses for free;
- Browse the categories and select the class you wish to take, ensuring that the top of the page contains a blue promo. If it is not there, reload the page.
- Then click the “enroll for free” button.
- Click on “purchase course”. You will see “your promotion will automatically be applied at checkout” if the promo has been applied.
- Then, the course would be free at checkout.
No.7. Coursera app
You can download the Coursera app if you want to use Coursera on your mobile device.
For iOS devices
Go to your iTunes app store and browse for the Coursera app if you want to download the Coursera app on your iOS device.
All payments made on the iOS app will be processed through Apple and not Coursera. If there is any issue with your payment or you want to request a refund, you will need to contact Apple.
Android devices
If you want to use the Coursera app on your android device, it would need to be running on Android 5.0 and above. The app is not supported on Android 4.4 and lower.
No.8. Coursera vs Udemy
If you are looking to venture into a new line of work, learn a new skill, or try out a new hobby, Coursera and Udemy are both excellent options to take an online course as they offer legitimate educational options.
When it comes to teaching, anybody can teach a course on Udemy. It is a site that is branded as a course marketplace. On Udemy, it is easy to teach, but there is almost no quality control when it comes to how legitimate the teacher or the tools provided are. Also, the courses are not run through an approval process on Udemy.
However, Coursera only allows the best. Only professional educators, instructors, and experts are allowed to teach courses on Coursera. In actuality, these are the people you expect to see in front of the class when you attend a traditional college. Courses on Coursera are mostly partnered with accredited universities such as the University of Michigan or Duke University.
Coursera courses are operated like online college classes. You have to enroll on a particular date and then follow the course syllabus as you would in a traditional college. You have to complete assignments, watch lectures, chat with other students, and receive instructor and peer feedback.
On the other hand, Udemy courses are self-led. The instructors upload video lectures and give you guidelines and articles, and then leave the rest to you. You get lifetime access to the course and all the materials you need.
No.9. Coursera vs Udacity
Coursera and Udacity both boast of industry-recognized certifications and expertly designed classes.
The Udacity catalog is relatively smaller than Coursera’s catalog as they offer a few hundred, highly specialized courses. You can go for Udacity if you are looking to hone your skills in things like web development, AI programming, or C++. Udacity courses are developed by education and industry experts and are taught through mentoring, projects, videos, and exercises.
You should opt for the Coursera catalog if you are looking to get something more, such as an actual university degree. The classes on Coursera are similar to the ones offered by the universities they partner with.
With both of these courses, you will get access to free courses. But, it is important to note that there would be some kind of limits as you are not on a paid subscription. There are over 900 courses you can take on Coursera for free, while Udacity gives you access to about 200 free courses.
Conclusion
If you are looking to further your education without the expense or commitment of a traditional university degree, then it is recommended that you opt for Coursera. You can benefit from Coursera from the comfort of your home and it allows you to learn something new every day.