While there’s no shame in spending your time at home during this pandemic binge-watching TV or having a virtual happy hour with friends, if you’re feeling the itch to learn a new skill, there are a variety of free virtual classes that have popped up in recent weeks.
And while joining a class is an interesting way to pass the time while you self-quarantine, acquiring new skills like photography or coding could also advance your career or even help you land a new job. So, take a look below at some of the free online courses that you can enroll in right now.
SEO
Are you a small business owner or someone who wants to learn more about search engine optimization (SEO)? Then you will want to check out the free courses offered by Moz, a software tool company, from now until May 31. All you need to do is register on the site, and you can access classes like SEO Fundamentals, Local SEO and Finding Potential SEO Clients.
Crowdfunding
Thanks to platforms like Kickstarter and GoFundMe, crowdfunding has become a popular way to raise funds for creative projects or business ventures. But doing it well requires some skill and know-how. That’s what makes this free five-hour Coursera crowdfunding class appealing. It promises to “reveal the science behind successful crowdfunding, drawing on data from hundreds of thousands of campaigns.” Students will learn about different ways to approach crowdfunding as well as tips on how to crowdfund successfully and what mistakes to avoid.
Photography And Filmmaking
If you’ve ever dreamed of getting paid to take photos or shoot videos (or if you simply long to kick your Instagram photos up a level), Nikon is offering free streaming photography and filmmaking classes from now until the end of April. Fundamentals of Photography is a perfect course for beginners. There are also classes on Photographing Children and Pets, The Art of Making Music Videos and Exploring Dynamic Landscape Photography, among others.
Viral Marketing
Viral Marketing and How to Craft Contagious Content is just one of the online classes offered for free via Coursera this month. The marketing course is conducted at your own pace and, according to the description, you’ll discover “how to make ideas stick, how to increase your influence, how to generate more word of mouth and how to use the power of social networks to spread information and influence.”
Building Websites With WordPress
Udemy is another online platform offering free courses this month. In this free class, students will learn how to make their own professional-looking website or blog with WordPress, an open-source content management system. No coding or technical skills are needed to learn WordPress; if you know how to use Microsoft Office, you can easily learn the ins and outs of WordPress.
Coding With Java And Python
On the other hand, if you do want to learn how to code, the online education company Pluralsight will be offering its entire library of tech-related video courses for free to anyone who signs up for an account during the month of April. Among the classes you can take are courses on Javascript and Python coding, AutoCAD, network security and more.
Harnessing Psychological Science To Handle Stress
Finally, if you’re looking to manage your work-life balance better during this pandemic, Punch Through Pandemics With Psychological Science is a class that could benefit just about anyone right now. Offered for free from Oregon State University, the 10-week course is taught by psychology experts and teaches students how to handle the stress and other feelings that might come up during the COVID-19 pandemic.
This story originally appeared on Simplemost. Checkout Simplemost for other great tips and ideas to make the most out of life.
