Looking to motivate yourself and expand your horizons in the new year? Then why not take full advantage of the current work-from-home norms and try your hand at mastering some new skills? With the advent of the Digital Age, getting connected and tapping into online resources has never been easier. In fact, online learning has been burgeoning in popularity of late, no doubt aided by the breadth of options available and the flexibility of their use. In fact, according to Market Watch, online learning platforms are expected to grow up to US$47 billion by 2024. So be it dance, business management or coding, here are five online learning apps that can get you started.
Google Arts & Culture
Google Arts & Culture is a partnership between more than 2,000 cultural organisations around the world, all aimed at providing art lovers with a digital platform that grants them access to virtual tours of prestigious museums and art institutions across the globe, using high-resolution photos, videos and virtual reality.
Subscription: Free
LinkedIn Learning
With over 450 million member profiles and billions of user engagements, social networking platform LinkedIn’s dedicated online learning app, LinkedInLearning, offers insight into the most recent market trends. Boasting a vast library of data-driven content taught by experts across different professional fields, it offers an engaging learning experience that can help develop skills that improve productivity and excel in your profession whether it be in business or technology.
Free trial: one month
Subscription: HK$1,163 / year
Masterclass
With the aim to bring Netflix to the education platform, this app impresses with a wide range of well designed video content that resembles a docu-series production. The lessons offer valuable advice and inspirational experiences shared by respected experts with the likes of Vogue’s editor-in-chief, Anna Wintour, Master Chef’s Gordon Ramsay and tennis icon Serena Williams. Each class averages 20 lessons that play between 10 to 20 minutes in duration.
Free trial: 7-days
Subscription: HK$1,396 / year
Udacity
Founder of Udacity Sebastian Thrun was awarded the Smithsonian American Ingenuity in Education for the development of Udacity. The massive online learning course is geared towards helping aspiring programmers who want a leg up in the industry. With the intention of bridging the gap between the needs of the market and what is taught in traditional education, its selection of courses – all led by industry experts – range from data science and higher mathematics to modern technology and cloud computing.
Free trial: Free nanodegree programs available
Subscription: Price per class varies
Steezy Studio
Created by professional choreographers and YouTube dance icons, this app offers lessons across a wide range of dance genres that can galvanise you to get off the couch and move to the beat – in the right way. Sessions are led by top-ranked YouTube choreographers, and range from step-by-step guides for beginners to advanced choreography for more experienced dancers.
Free trial: Seven days
Subscription: HK$775 / year