Ask HN: What online course platforms have you used to *take* courses?
1 comments
Generally I get courses from 3 different places:
1) Udemy - I get a lot of courses here on random subjects that I find interesting, or don't even know I find interesting until I go through the course catalog. Udemy tends to have a lot of sales (courses for $10-15 each) and the content is generally well put together and informative. I've mostly taken photography courses from here, but they have a wide range of stuff.
2) Linux Academy - I like LA because they tend to have a lot of updated content on some of the newest in cloud and systems management technologies. They also have well put together packages for certifications and things, such as AWS.
3) A Cloud Guru - Always get my AWS courses from here. I always wondered if they would be successful since they were specializing in such a niche area, but with AWS' rapid development and release of new products, I am sure they are having no trouble. The content here is well researched and put together, and the course creators are very engaged with their community.
The main things that are important, I think, for an online course platform are: 1) Quality content - put some effort into knowing what you're talking about. Don't just seem like you're reading out of a textbook, or putting together slides based off of some other source. Provide anecdotal information during the course that goes along with the subject you're talking about, show you know your stuff. 2) Engage with your learners - as someone taking an online course, it's always nice to be able to ask questions about something either that I need more clarification on or want more details about. Provide a platform to ask those questions, and allow the community to chime in and answer. Also be engaged as the course creator.
1) Udemy - I get a lot of courses here on random subjects that I find interesting, or don't even know I find interesting until I go through the course catalog. Udemy tends to have a lot of sales (courses for $10-15 each) and the content is generally well put together and informative. I've mostly taken photography courses from here, but they have a wide range of stuff.
2) Linux Academy - I like LA because they tend to have a lot of updated content on some of the newest in cloud and systems management technologies. They also have well put together packages for certifications and things, such as AWS.
3) A Cloud Guru - Always get my AWS courses from here. I always wondered if they would be successful since they were specializing in such a niche area, but with AWS' rapid development and release of new products, I am sure they are having no trouble. The content here is well researched and put together, and the course creators are very engaged with their community.
The main things that are important, I think, for an online course platform are: 1) Quality content - put some effort into knowing what you're talking about. Don't just seem like you're reading out of a textbook, or putting together slides based off of some other source. Provide anecdotal information during the course that goes along with the subject you're talking about, show you know your stuff. 2) Engage with your learners - as someone taking an online course, it's always nice to be able to ask questions about something either that I need more clarification on or want more details about. Provide a platform to ask those questions, and allow the community to chime in and answer. Also be engaged as the course creator.
So, what online course platforms have you used to enroll in (and ideally complete) a free, freemium, or paid course?
And particularly for paid courses, what induced to to make the purchase?