Learning on Lockdown

27 April 2020

Whether you’re unemployed, furloughed, or working from home, we’re all spending a lot more time stuck indoors at the moment. The good news is this is a great time to learn something new and add some skills to your CV. There are so many great resources online to help you out – here are some of our favourites:

Skill up

Futurelearn offers a huge range of courses from top universities and cultural institutions around the world, and most of them are completely free. So why not learn how to make your own podcast, launch a successful social media campaign, or take an introduction to film-making?

If you’ve always wanted to learn to code, or want to develop your digital skills further, Codecademy is a great interactive learning platform covering everything from basic web development tools like HTML and CSS to more complex programming languages including Python and Ruby. The site offers several free courses as well as a more in-depth offer for Paid Pro users.

Other places to check out…

• Skillshare
• Udacity
• Coursera
• Udemy
• edX

Broaden your cultural horizons

Browse the British Museum on Google Street View

Fancy a trip to the Tate, the Louvre, or the Metropolitan Museum of Art? Their doors might be closed right now but you can still explore their amazing collections through free online interactive tours. Lots of the world’s most famous museums and galleries are offering virtual tours at the moment, so it’s time to start ticking off your cultural bucket list and get inspired.

Loads of theatres are also putting up shows from their archive online – so you can watch great productions from the National Theatre, Soho Theatre, Shakespeare’s Globe and others from the comfort of your living room. This list of online theatre content is being updated regularly.

Another great resource is Open Culture which has an incredible compilation of free cultural and educational content online, with links to hundreds of free audiobooks, eBooks, films, and places to learn languages.

Tips for online learning

1. Set a goal – and break it down into small achievable chunks. Decide what’s realistic for you and then commit to it – whether it’s completing one module of your chosen course each week, or spending 30 minutes a day studying.
2. Give yourself structure – think about when you’re most productive and block out that time in your diary to focus on your learning goal.
3. Find a buddy – do you have a friend or family member you can chat to about your goals? Checking in regularly with each other can help keep you both motivated, and it’s fun to share the wins along the way.
4. Do your research – when you look at job descriptions, is there a skill they always ask for that you wish you had? Now’s the time to work on any gaps that are stopping you from getting your dream role.
5. Don’t be too hard on yourself – this is a stressful and uncertain time for everyone, and the most important thing is to prioritise your own wellbeing. Don’t put too much pressure on yourself to be productive 24/7, find a balance that works for you.

Words by Beth Kahn

Illustrations © Black Illustrations

Image © Google Street View