Guest Post: Upskilling is the Future.
Of Transformations, and Curated Lists.
“A single conversation across the table with a wise (hu)man is better than ten years of mere study with books.” Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, 1807-1882.
Hello All! I hope you are finding the information contained in ‘TechMadeSimple,’ helpful, and insightful. Please share your feedback on what interests you the most via comment, DM, or email hellotechmadesimple@proton.me. Thank you.
Onto our post of the week - I am pleased to introduce you to
who, when he’s not working at his day job as a Financial Manager, supports people who feel stuck in their careers to achieve mindset shifts and implement proven strategies, to discover fulfilling work, make meaningful contributions, and become the top choice for recruiters, employers and clients. Join his substack ‘The Career Accelerator.'
I often write about the importance of a lifelong learning mindset to career growth, market relevance, and future-proofing our careers.
The job market continues to evolve at an increasingly rapid pace. To stay relevant and thrive in the face of constant change, professionals need to embrace lifelong learning as a key strategy and fundamental part of their career journey.
One of my favourite career growth stories is about how one of my colleagues was able to grow from an administrative role to performing financial analyst tasks for the management team. She simply learnt a few advanced spreadsheet skills, and within a short timeframe, was able to provide data-driven decision support and other actionable insights. The perception of her value to the organisation grew exponentially as a result. On a personal level, I have also used YouTube to upgrade on bridging skills when assigned new and unfamiliar tasks (literally, within minutes). Don’t miss an opportunity to showcase your value!
Here is my curated list of free courses offered by top universities to get you started. Curate your list of free courses on any topic relevant to your career, to help you take a step closer to your goals by creating one yourself, using the help of AI tools like chatGPT, following relevant publications, or learning from experts.
My curation is based on the following criteria: expertise, credibility, user feedback, future orientation, and course value to career growth.
1. Harvard University
Harvard Online Learning offers free courses in various fields including computer science, data science, business, and more
HarvardX on edX: Provides free online courses from Harvard University on the edX platform, covering a wide range of topics.
2. Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT)
MIT OpenCourseWare provides free access to course materials from MIT's undergraduate and graduate courses, including technology-related subjects
MITx on edX: Offers free online courses and MOOCs (Massive Open Online Courses) from MIT on the edX platform.
3. Stanford University
Stanford Online offers free online courses, lectures, and webinars on technology, entrepreneurship, artificial intelligence, and more.
Stanford Online YouTube Channel also provides access to videos on tech topics, guest lectures, and insights from Stanford faculty.
4. University of California, Berkeley
UC Berkeley Online offers free online courses and webinars on technology, data science, cybersecurity, and other tech-related fields. Berkeley is also offering a free ‘The Science of Happiness’ course that just opened for enrolment and is described as
“The first MOOC1 to teach positive psychology. Learn science-based principles and practices for a happy, meaningful life.
What happiness really means and why it matters to you
How to increase your own happiness and foster happiness in others
Why social connections, kindness, and community are key to happiness
Which mental habits are most conducive to happiness and how mindfulness can help”
They also offer a free ‘How to write an essay,’ class.
5. Columbia University
Columbia Online provides access to free online courses, workshops, and seminars on technology, innovation, and career development.
6. Yale University
Yale Online Learning offers free courses and resources on technology, programming, and digital literacy
7. Princeton University
Princeton Online Courses provides free access to online courses and educational resources in computer science, engineering, and other tech fields.
Feel free to click on the links above to explore the free training opportunities from these top universities. Most of these are tech-related, but you can explore other fields as well. You may be surprised at what is available.
8.Cambridge University in the U.K. offers the following creative free classes that may be of interest to this audience.
Writing for Performance and the Entertainment Industries with a description that cannot but intrigue one, but also text that Grammarly insists on correcting (sorry bot, Cambridge scholars cannot be wrong! ;-) ).
9. York University in the U.K. also offers free courses. An interesting free course on offer is ‘The Language of Truth,’ which is a logic class with the following intro:
“It just follows! If you believe that Mickey is a big mouse and Dumbo is a small elephant, you just have to believe that Mickey is a mouse and Dumbo is an elephant” Sure. “And that Mickey is bigger than Dumbo” No! That doesn’t follow.”
With an intro like that, who can resist it?
Miscellaneous Content that seems interesting - some fun classes that seem like a good idea are classes like Intro Course: Data Storytelling
Granted, in most cases, you won’t be able to become certified using the free route, though Coursera does offer many technical skills with free certifications, but at least you can upgrade your skillset and step up for new opportunities that come your way – you can always get certified later to upgrade your CV or LinkedIn profile.
As a writer on Substack, I’m considering the course, “Rhetoric: The Art of Persuasive Writing and Public Speaking”. In this 8-week course, you can delve into the theory and practice of writing persuasively, with a Harvard Professor as your instructor. This course teaches you how to construct compelling arguments, using speeches by iconic leaders such as Martin Luther King Jr. and John F. Kennedy as case studies. The course content includes the use of rhetorical devices, how to write a persuasive opinion piece, how to evaluate the strength of an argument, and how to identify illogical arguments.
I am happy to offer all TechMadeSimple subscribers, access to download my eBook for $0 (normally $5) by using the following link: The Ultimate Guide to a Fulfilling Career.
Thank you for reading.
The world of online learning offers boundless opportunities limited only by our time and inclination.
Whether you're seeking to understand the world of tech or digital shortcuts, insights to enhance your role as a writer, leader, or tech professional, or simply aiming to broaden your skillset,
is focused on making your digital life easier.I hope you will consider pledging your support to this publication, where all insights, tips, and information are curated out of the gate, saving you hours of research, comparison, and sifting through the needless to find the essential so you can focus on what you do best.
Are there platforms you use for learning or courses you have taken that you wish to share with us?
MOOC is short for massive open online courses that are self-paced learning classes using structured content with no enrolment limits.
 | A guest post by
|
Your generosity in showcasing and featuring another writer on your Substack space is truly admirable Jayshree! Keep shining a spotlight on fellow writers, as your support fosters a culture of collaboration and mutual growth. I look forward to reading these in the future!