Last Updated on February 24, 2025

Have you signed up for any online pre-recorded courses? What was your online professional learning experience?

During the lockdown, I completed several online professional development courses via one of the most popular online learning platforms to enhance my technical skills and expand my horizons. The overall positive experience was the reason why I made online professional learning a habit. Hopefully, this article will learn more about what to expect.

Benefits of online self-paced Courses

1. Learner autonomy
2. No complex application process
3. Learn with people around the world
4. Courses designed for full-time and part-time workers
5. Some selected courses may be free

Limitations of pre-recorded courses

1. Limited interaction with other learners
2. Free, but you often end up paying for your course
3. The marks may not reflect on the actual learning
4. You may not always receive a completion certificate
5. Lack of academic training

advantages of Online Professional Training Courses

1. Learner Autonomy

The online Professional learning system will prompt the learner to complete their course at a steady pace, the learner can always put off their assignment as needed. An online learning environment allows learners to learn whenever, wherever and however suits them best. Take learning styles for example. If a learner is an auditory and visual learner, they may watch the video. On the contrary, if they have difficulty in hearing, there is an option to read the scripts too.

2. No complex application process

Anyone can enrol in the course of their choice with just one click. It is not required to write a statement of interest, statement of intent, resume, cover letter and provide reference letters, official transcripts, proof of English proficiency (some courses are operated in multiple languages). Hence, learners may join a course and cancel it without penalty within the free trial period at their discretion.

3. Learn with people around the world

Some courses are interactive. Online professional learning platform offers learners to learn from each other, and in some cases, assignments are graded by other learners worldwide. Giving constructive feedback on co-learners’ work is highly recommended in terms of quality learning. The discussion thread is designed for learners to share their thoughts and reflect on their work throughout the course. All I can say is the Internet makes the impossible possible.

4. Courses designed for full-time & part-time workers

Due to the nature of online learning, learners can follow their own pace. There is no obligation to complete courses within the suggested timeline. Learners set their own milestones and timelines, so it is a stress free learning experience. From my experience, signing up for online professional development courses (if it is highly relevant to my industry) while working full-time is quite manageable.

5. Some selected courses may be free

Most courses include a free trial period; therefore, to avoid paying the fees afterwards, learners will need to cancel their subscription before it ends or choose to audit the courses instead. Tips: review the syllabus of each course, follow the instructions and read the company’s terms and conditions meticulously before proceeding further.

Limitations of Online Courses

1. Limited interaction with other learners

While some courses can be more fluid, I find most technical courses are conversely more focused on independent work. Despite discussion threads being available for learners, they are not always utilized appropriately. I have seen learners that literally leave a period (“.”) or “irrelevant” on the thread just to move forward. We cannot have it all. There will always be advantages and disadvantages on every platform.

2. Free, but you often end up paying for your course

As mentioned, this online professional learning platform offers a free trial period. For Fast learners and those who have the luxury of time, it is certainly possible to complete a course within their free trial period. Yet, if learners are not able to complete the course within the free trial period, they would be charged a monthly fee. Learners are responsible for cancelling the subscription even after a course is being completed. If a full-time worker is trying to change their career, the odds of them ending up paying for the course may be higher.

3. The marks may not reflect on the actual learning

Depending on the course that a learner selects, in order to complete a course, passing open book quizzes is not uncommon. In a perfect world, learners read the reading materials, partake in all the discussion threads and complete quizzes honestly before moving forward. In reality, I find many learners skip parts of the learning just to rush to the finish line.

4. You may not always receive a completion certificate

This happened to me recently. I signed up for a professional certificate offered by a global corporation and I paid for the course. Surprisingly, a certificate would not be issued unless I paid extra for it. Rather than giving me a completion certificate, I received a “badge”. Presumably this clause existed on the website and I agreed to it, it wasn’t a good feeling. To avoid any confusion, read carefully their terms and conditions prior to signing up for any course.

5. Lack of academic training

Courses are less likely to be advanced as many of the reading materials are from open sources. Moreover, there is not much academic related training. The materials are far too thin to be considered given any accredited credits. For this reason, learners who wish to obtain a formal certificate, diploma or degree, may still need to go through a complex application process with an educational institution of their choice.

Conclusion

Lifelong learning is an attitude, which determines your altitude. Learning is as well a significant part of our lives, ranging from learning how to speak a language to how to express your feelings and emotions in a healthy way. Our social environment will never be evolved into a cutting-edge society without learning.

The more humble you are, the higher you will rise. In my opinion, we can learn anything anywhere formally and informally. The Internet makes the impossible possible.

Reference

Villafuerte, M.R. (n.d.). https://www.pinterest.com/pin/499618152383945485/