What is Skillshare? Our in-depth review
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Introduction
If you’re at all interested in online courses, you’ve probably heard of Skillshare. Over the past few years, their popularity has grown and positioned them as a leading name among online learning platforms. But what exactly is Skillshare and are their courses any good? In this comprehensive review, we’ll take a deep dive into what Skillshare offers to help you determine if it’s the right learning platform for your goals.
What is Skillshare?
Skillshare was launched in 2010 by Michael Karnjanaprakorn and Malcolm Ong with the mission of providing universal access to high-quality learning. The platform markets itself as a learning community with a clear focus on creativity.
Skillshare utilises a subscription-based model, where users pay a set fee for unlimited access to the course library. This differs from platforms like Udemy, where users purchase courses individually.
What type of courses are there?
Skillshare has a diverse catalogue of content, with categories including; Design, Photography, Video, Writing, Illustration, Productivity, and Personal Development.
How are the classes delivered?
All courses are taught via video tutorials by industry professionals. The instructors split their courses into units that build upon one another. These units are ticked off as you go along, which helps keep you on track with your progress. Teachers tend to split their style between informal lectures or follow-along tutorials. The majority have exercise files and projects to work through step-by-step alongside your instructor.
Platform features
Course notes
You can leave notes at custom marker points throughout a video. You have the option of making these notes public or private, and at different sections, you’ll see notes left by other students. This is helpful for marking points you want to return to later on.
Projects & Resources
The majority of the courses have project files to download. These contain the same material used by the instructor and give you the ability to work alongside them step-by-step. Students can upload their own projects for others to see and leave feedback.
Reviews tab
The review tab is where previous learners leave their feedback. This is great for knowing whether a course is worth undertaking before you commit your time. There is even a chart to tell you whether a course met previous students’ expectations.
Discussion tab
This is where students post their questions and where you can see examples of other people’s projects. You can then ‘like’ their posts or leave a comment, almost like on Facebook. This feature greatly increases the communal feel of the platform.
Learning Paths
One of Skillshare’s most valuable features is its curated learning paths. These offer structured progression through collections of courses arranged in a logical sequence. This is great for helping you master a particular subject area. For instance, if you’re interested in graphic design, a learning path might start with fundamental design principles, progress through specific tools like Adobe Illustrator, and culminate in advanced techniques for creating professional portfolios. Each path typically includes 4-8 courses, with descriptions of the required knowledge level and materials or software needed to complete the courses.
This systematic approach helps prevent knowledge gaps and ensures you’re developing skills in the most effective order. However, it’s worth noting that, unlike some competitors, Skillshare’s learning paths are more flexible, allowing students to jump between courses within a path if they feel confident about certain topics.
What happens when you complete a course?
Once you complete a course, Skillshare will reward you with a certificate. These certificates contain essential details such as your name, the class title, the issue date, and a unique certificate ID. They can be accessed via your profile’s Achievement dashboard, where you can post them to various social platforms, such as LinkedIn, or you can share them directly via a URL link.
Mobile App
The Skillshare app is available for tablets and handheld devices. With a premium account, you can download classes to your device to enjoy at your convenience. The app is well-designed and easy to use. One of the standout features is the ability to have to audio continue playing in the background, even when you open another app. This is great for when you don’t want to take a break from your lesson but need to quickly do something else on your phone such as respond to emails.
Are there any disadvantages?
When considering whether to use Skillshare, it’s important to consider its heavy focus on creative disciplines rather than technical or academic content. Those looking to develop skills in areas such as advanced programming, engineering, or scientific subjects may find the platform’s offerings limited.
What’s more, the sheer volume of courses creates a noticeable variation in quality. Unlike platforms with stricter vetting processes, the standard of teaching and production value can significantly differ between instructors. Luckily, the review feature largely avoids the risk of applying your time to a substandard course, but it’s still an important element to consider.
Is there a free trial?
Yes! And if you decide it’s not right for you, you’re free to cancel within this window period without charge.
Conclusion
Skillshare is a fantastic provider of online courses. Whilst it wouldn’t be my top choice for business-related subjects, there is a wealth of content for creative types to choose from. Their free trial is great for getting a taste of what’s on offer without needing to commit right away.
If you work in a creative field, Skillshare is great for fine-tuning your abilities and further developing your competency. Or perhaps you just want to try something new or gain another hobby. Whatever your reason, Skillshare is a great platform to utilise.