Telecommuting Part 3: The Best Remote Learning Resources

In 1959, then-senator John F. Kennedy introduced a new trope to the western world when he famously evoked the Chinese word wēijī – “crisis”. It’s composed of two elements, said the future president: danger (危 – wēi) and opportunity (机 – jī). Kennedy wasn’t quite accurate in his translation, but his view of the potential that a crisis can offer was prescient.

Lots of us have extra time on our hands now. For example, you may no longer have to endure daily commutes. Why not incorporate gaps in your schedule into a new learning and professional growth routine? This can be a time to hone old skills or to develop new ones in a way that leaves us better placed to re-enter the post-crisis workforce with more to offer. The skills we’ll have a chance to develop while working from home will be invaluable when we get back to normal.

Why is Remote Learning Important?

Employers will always place a high premium on ongoing development and training, though we know that that’s easier said than done right now. Scheduling, access, and the pressure of working from home while supervising housebound children are all factors. To help, we’ve put together a quick guide to some of our favourite remote learning resources:

• Coursera is an aggregator for university courses from around the world. You may need to dig a little to find what you’re looking for and it may be too advanced for absolute beginners. You can enhance your skills in technical communication, data visualisation, informatics, professional writing, and more with a mix of free and paid courses.
• Khan Academy is a vast resource, aimed at younger users but a fantastic place to explore lots of subjects at beginner or intermediate level, including courses on the basics of writing and storytelling. It’s clearly structured, supremely accessible, and 100% free.
• Udemy offers a huge range of very well-built paid courses. You can use the site to build on your knowledge of technical writing and communication, data visualisation, information development, copywriting, storytelling for business, and more. Many of its courses are currently on special offer but you can still expect to pay a few hundred euro for the most in-demand ones.
• Open Culture provides a dizzying range of courses, books, audiobooks, films, music, tutorials and more. It can be a bit difficult to find your way around, as it hasn’t changed much over the years. As it’s all free, you can expect to be harangued by pop-ups requesting donations. Among its 1500+ lecture series, there are dozens dedicated to different types of writing. The site also offers thousands of useful textbooks for download.

At TWi, we also offer online technical writing training. Our Technical Writing Skills training course is held over two half-days, and is ideal for professional, business, and technical staff who need to develop effective writing skills. To get more information or sign up, see Technical Writing Skills.

Images Used

• Image by J. Kelly Brito, licensed by Unsplash