Got time? Level up with these five free skill upgrades
While offices and workplaces are mostly open, the quarantine hasn't yet ended for students. For university students like us, this extra amount of time at home doesn't necessarily need to be all about online classes and virtual working or browsing social media. It's the perfect time for you to learn that new language you always wanted to learn or master that software you weren't able to find the time for. And the best part is you can do these without spending a dime.
Digital Marketing
Google Digital Garage gives you in-depth knowledge about the fundamentals of digital marketing. This free certified course is 40 hours long with 26 modules. It demands time if you wish to cover each video tutorial thoroughly. On the bright side, the video tutorials are short, crisp and very interesting. If you have already mastered the basics, then check out Blue Array Academy's SEO Manager Certification courses. The courses are worth £997 and will remain free till the end of June. To avail this you just need to add the coupon code 'WeGotYouCovered' before checkout and not even enter any credit card details.
Graphics Design and Animation
Graphics designing and animation are very hands-on subjects and it's important to choose the right tutorials for learning. The YouTube channel Gareth David Studio, formerly known as TastyTuts, has some amazing tutorials if you are just getting into graphics designing. There are free downloadable "Project folders" that allow you to follow along in the tutorials and learn through practical application rather than solely relying on passive viewing. The YouTuber has tutorials for Photoshop, Illustrator and After Effects covering a wide range of their functionality.
PowerPoint and Excel
Microsoft PowerPoint and Excel are essential software no matter what field you are studying or working in. If you haven't learned these already now is a perfect time. For PowerPoint, 10 Minute School's YouTube channel has a couple of o playlists that cover pretty much everything you can do with PowerPoint. Another alternative to PowerPoint is Adobe InDesign. The channel Gareth David Studio also covers this software. ExcelIsFun is the go-to YouTube channel for learning about everything Excel. The explanations are simple but advanced enough to have a genuine understanding of pretty much all the topics. There are also downloadable spreadsheets that match the video lesson allowing you to play with the formulas and test them out yourself. One downside of this channel is that it's difficult to navigate through. You should also check out the All Things Excel app, available only for android, for all the formulae, examples and hotkeys in Excel. It's perfect for beginners.
Programming
If you are interested to pick up HTML, SQL or JavaScript, Khan Academy has some of the best tutorials for beginners. For Python, W3schools is good for beginners. The downside is that it isn't very comprehensive. If you have free access to Coursera courtesy of your university, Python Programming: A Concise Introduction is a perfect course to enrol into. It is offered by the Wesleyan University and is ideal for even students with zero programming experience.
AI and Machine Learning
Elements of AI by Helsinki University is for anyone who wants to understand what AI does and what it can be used for, without getting involved in the underlying mathematics. It is an elementary level course made available for the entire world. Google AI also covers the fundamentals of AI and machine learning and its practical application. Check out the course Machine Learning course offered by Stanford in Coursera, even if you don't have free access. It is considered one of the most valuable online resources when it comes to learning AI. You will be able to learn for free but not get the certification, which is still completely worth it. AI for Everyone by deeplearning.io in Coursera is free for business major students and is highly recommended.
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