How to Pick Up New Skills Using Online Resources

Although most of us would consider our education over by the time we leave college or university, learning is actually a lifelong pursuit. Think about the last time you started a new job. Even if you were already experienced in the position, you still needed to learn additional skills in order to fit into a different workplace with a new role and an unfamiliar team around you. In fact, we pick up new knowledge all the time. When we upgrade our mobile phones, buy a car, or take up a hobby, we are teaching ourselves how to do something that’s new to us.

There is a more deliberate way to learn more skills, however. The internet is an almost limitless resource of information; some of it is useless, but some of it holds the key to whole new skill sets. The important thing is to find a trustworthy platform that presents clear information in an accessible way so that you can concentrate on learning and putting your hard work into practice.  We’ve put together a list of some of the best online resources for picking up new skills from all walks of life.

Specialist Platforms

If you’ve already chosen the specific area you want to learn more about, then the best way forward is to go straight to the professionals. For example, if you’re interested in growing some green fingers, then you can make use of the RHS (Royal Horticultural Society) learning portal available on their website. They have everything from advice on how to identify plants, to growing your own veg, to going for a full RHS qualification.

Alternatively, if you’ve decided that you want to develop your logical thinking abilities, then learning a classic game like poker or chess can help you with that. Poker has long been seen as a thinking person’s game, and online platforms like PokerStars have a number of different versions that you can try out. With a specialist platform, there are resources outlining the rules for each variant which can be helpful for players to consult before they dive into a live game or tournament. At Chess.com, you can learn from real chess masters, read about famous opening gambits, and try out playing from different positions, all with the end goal of improving your chess skills and cultivating your login credentials.

Social Media

You can’t believe everything that you read online, but if you choose wisely, you can access a whole world of free practical education. Whether you’re a new homeowner or just fancy brushing up on your DIY know-how, YouTube is the perfect place to look for real-life advice.

There are hundreds of channels out there, with both professionals and accomplished amateurs eager to broadcast their hard-earned knowledge and teach viewers how to do tasks for themselves. Whether you want to put up your first set of shelves, change the oil in your car, or whip up a brand-new pair of living room curtains, you’re sure to find a step-by-step guide on YouTube.

For short form content with the same subject matter, you could turn to Instagram Reels or TikTok videos. Whereas these social media platforms were once only used to share selfies and unappetizing photos of latte art, they are now great resources for information on all sorts of practical skills. Searching hashtags such as #DIY and #lifehacks will bring back thousands of relevant results.

Online Learning Portals

For a long-term learning opportunity, which could last for a matter of hours or weeks, depending on what you choose, you should look to platforms like Skillshare and Masterclass. These online learning portals offer specialized video content alongside written information and practical lessons to teach subscribers skills. The skills on offer range from social media advertising to sketching with watercolors to using photography software.

Although these courses do usually come with a price tag, there are often discount codes or free giveaways that can provide you with an introduction to the format.