Covering Disruptive Technology Powering Business in The Digital Age

There are several steps along the journey to become a top technology leader. As you climb the corporate ladder, you may find yourself working in a variety of tech-focused roles or moving to different cities as you build your expertise.

Regardless of their specific job or city, all IT professionals must keep learning as technology evolves. It’s critical to stay on top of trends in technology and management in order to remain competitive in such a rapidly growing field.

For example, professionals who possess skills in data science, big data, and analytics are in high demand as companies generate greater amounts of information and seek to maximize their use of it.

Big data and analytics aside, tech pros will also need to stay updated on the growth of technologies including security, cloud computing, and machine learning. With the wealth of information to learn, you might think you would have to go back to school to earn another degree.

Fortunately, this isn’t the case.

A growing number of online learning platforms have begun to offer free courses in tech topics like programming, web development, enterprise security, data analysis, and machine learning. IT pros can use these resources to build on their current skills or develop new ones.

Here, we spotlight eight platforms where you can find free online tech classes and suggest some courses in each site. Have you used any of these platforms? Would you consider it? Feel free to add your thoughts and suggestions in the comments.

Codecademy

Codecademy takes an interactive approach to teaching programming. Whether you’re new to coding or want to develop your skills in a specific part of the field, you can use Codecademy to find intuitive and interactive courses to build your expertise. Courses are either beginner or intermediate level, and each includes projects and quizzes students much complete.

Aspiring website builders can explore Make an Interactive Website or Deploy a Website. Programmers can take courses on Python or Ruby, while business pros can learn SQL: Analyzing Business Metrics.

Alison

Alison is an online learning platform with offerings for professionals, employers, publishers, teachers, and students. IT pros can explore classes focused on information technology, app development, business, project management, web development, programming, or statistics.

Some specific courses that may be of interest include the Fundamentals of Network Security, Developing a Global Online Enterprise, and Reports in Google Analytics.

Coursera

Coursera is a platform that aims to provide universal access to some of the world’s best education. The company has teamed up with top universities and organizations to make hundreds of courses available to anyone online. Prices for Coursera classes vary; some require payment for course materials and a certification while others offer materials for free and the option to pay for a certification.

The platform offers courses from top schools like Columbia and Stanford on topics including mobile and web development, software development, security and networks, data analysis, and probability and statistics. IT pros may want to start with a course such as Stanford’s Machine Learning, which teaches students about effective machine learning techniques and the practical knowledge needed to apply them. Course materials are available for free, but you’ll have to pay if you want a certification.

For those who want to learn more about another topic, like cloud app development, Coursera also offers Cloud Computing Apps Part 1 and Part 2 from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.

MIT Open Courseware

The idea behind Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) OpenCourseWare (OCW) is to publish all course material online so it is broadly accessible to everyone. MIT OCW is a web-based publication containing content from 2,340 courses. It’s available around the world and a permanent fixture at MIT.

With OCW, educators and students benefit from additional resources. Independent learners can study the material to learn about a new topic or further their education in a chosen professional field.

IT pros may be intrigued by courses such as Prediction: Machine Learning and Statistics, Building and Leading Effective Teams, or Data, Models, and Decisions.

Anyone in the midst of a digital revamp may want to read up on Managing Transformations in Work, Organizations, and Society.

Khan Academy

Khan Academy offers practice exercises, instructional videos, and a personalized dashboard for students to learn about a range of topics at their own pace. The site offers courses on topics including computer programming, math, science, economics, history, and more. Sometimes Khan will partner with industry leaders including NASA, MIT, and The California Academy of Sciences to create specialized content.

While many of the courses are entry-level, there are some in the computer science section that may also appeal to IT pros. The Journey Into Cryptography, for example, explores the evolution of ancient cryptography into modern security and how the protection of data has changed over time. In The Journey Into Information Theory, students examine the evolution of communication.

EdX

EdX is an educational platform designed to broaden access to quality education and advance teaching and learning through research. The online learning and MOOC (Massive Open Online Course) provider was founded in 2012 and now has more than 90 global partners, including universities, nonprofits, and other institutions, to provide courses to students all over the world.

EdX courses range from computer science, to biology, to philosophy. IT pros may be interested in offerings such as Columbia’s Statistical Thinking for Data Science and Analytics or Big Data Analysis with Apache Spark from UC Berkeley. Both are available for free with an optional certification for $99.

Microsoft Virtual Academy

The Microsoft Virtual Academy offers free online courses to developers, IT pros, data pros, and students on a broad range of topics including Windows 10, web development, cloud development, database development, enterprise security, desktop and device management, Office 365 for IT pros, Windows Server, virtualization, business intelligence and advanced analytics.

Microsoft reports hundreds of IT training courses are available and new ones are added each week. Some target advanced learners, but you can also start with the basics. If you’re hoping to broaden your programming skills, for example, take a look at C# Fundamentals for Absolute Beginnersor Xamarin for Absolute Beginners.

Other courses specific to IT pros include Database Fundamentals and Power Tools for Windows 10.

OpenSAP

OpenSAP is SAP’s learning platform for enterprise MOOCs (Massive Open Online Courses). The goal behind this initiative is to help professionals, developers, entrepreneurs, consultants, students, and professors stay current on new SAP services and how they can affect the business. The platform leverages educational techniques like gamification, and connecting students with fellow learners and SAP pros, to enable effective training. Aside from optional system access, courses are free of charge.

If you’re looking for a course to get started in OpenSAP, you can try the self-paced Implementation of SAP BusinessObjects Cloud. It instructs students on SAP’s cloud-based app for business-wide analytics. You’ll learn how to implement a cloud solution like this one, which questions to ask customers, and best practices.

Other OpenSAP courses worth exploring include Text Analytics with SAP HANA Platform and Leadership in Digital Transformation.

This article was originally published on www.informationweek.com and can be viewed in full

(0)(0)