The current situation means we are all spending more time at home. Remote working and keeping in touch online is now very easy, but have you considered online learning? Now is a great time to enrich your skill set by completing an online course.
Different types of online learning
The first thing to think about is the type of learning experience that will best suit you. There are several different types of remote learning and everyone will have a different preference for which style will work best for them.
- Instructor-led training will see you being taught by an online trainer, either in a small group or on a one to one basis. This is good for those who find it beneficial to be led through classes.
- Distance learning allows you to take on part-time or full-time courses online, meaning you can be a bit more flexible around any existing commitments.
- Self-led online learning puts education in your own hands. It requires you to undertake study on your own accord with the use of materials shared online.
Finding the right course
There are many online courses to choose from so a good first step is to identify what skills or knowledge gaps you may have. You could choose to develop your soft skills such as learning software such as Adobe Creative Cloud or methodology skills such as Agile or Prince2 Project Management. When looking for a learning provider consider which industry might be the authority on this subject. For example if you are seeking Writing for Web training, look to publishing or journalism organisations that offer this training. Some examples of training courses can be found in our resources section below.
Talking about your career
It’s also a great idea to chat to your colleagues, mentors and friends to see if they have any recommendations or to discuss your long-term career aspirations. By mapping out a plan, you can see what additional training you may need, and how exactly it’s going to benefit you. Some questions to consider might be
- What skills am I missing?
- Is the course accredited?
- How long will the course take to complete, and can I commit to this?
- Is there a learning pathway to allow me to do more training in the future?
For those aged 18-30, working within the Publishing, Packaging, Print or Paper sectors, you may be eligible for a Print Futures Award to support your personal development with a grant of up to £1500. Check out our FAQs for more information.
Resources
- The Open University (www.open.ac.uk) offers flexible part-time study, supported distance and open learning including some free to access courses via OpenLearn
- Professional Bodies and Chartered Institutes (e.g. www.cim.co.uk, www.managers.org.uk, www.ciep.uk
- Consider www.nctj.com (National Council for the Training of Journalists) or the Publishing Training Centre (www.publishingtrainingcentre.co.uk) who can offer skills training for those within and outside of their industries, for example Writing for Web
- Look for accredited courses giving your software or methodology skills a boost, e.g. Adobe, Agile or Prince2 (visit https://www.study365.co.uk/all-online/ for ideas)
- Consider soft skills such as leadership or public speaking – check out Toastmasters (www.toastmasters.org) or ilm (www.i-l-m.com)
- Sites like barclayslifeskills.com can offer general guidance and articles to get you thinking
The Printing Charity does not endorse these training providers. They are a representation of some available remote learning providers. Please complete your own research and assessment to check a course meets your needs.