The TRUE Value of Online Courses in 2024
You probably know I created a C# and .NET Bootcamp on Zero To Mastery by now.
But before (and besides recording the course), I am mostly a consumer of online courses as part of my everyday learning.
I am 100% passionate about software development. Why would I create videos for free, write articles, etc., if I wouldn’t love what I do?! It wouldn’t make sense.
You reading this tells me that you are passionate as well.
You may have made a New Year’s resolution to invest in your future.
The same was true when I worked as a software developer from 2006 until February 2023. I always wanted to learn about what’s happening in the world around me and my company.
For example, I learned Android app development in 2010 while working with Java and C at my day job.
Later, I worked with C# and the .NET Framework from 2010 to 2018. Modern .NET (Core) was never an option at my day job. Nonetheless, I wrote a lot of code to stay updated with the new world.
I learned about Microsoft Azure services, serverless programming using Azure Functions, Azure DevOps, etc.
It paid out.
I am now a content creator and professional .NET developer with a lot of knowledge about current topics, trends, and features in .NET.
Whenever I want to learn something new, I always wonder where I could possibly find the time to spend learning new things.
This is where online courses come into play.
In comparison to in-person training, online courses are affordable.
The goal of an online course is to save the student time in learning a desired skill.
The creator usually spent much time mastering that skill and how to present and teach it best.
An online course makes learning a new skill much more efficient.
There is a lot of competition, and only the best courses and creators make sales.
It’s great for students.
Whenever I hear companies with a small or non-existent budget for their employees to improve their knowledge, I make this calculation:
For a student:Â When I spend $50-100 on an online course and learn a new skill, I will make it back with the next promotion I might get a little bit sooner.
In software development, that will be a 10x or higher return on investment within a year or two.
For a company: When I spend $50-100 per employee on an online course, and they learn a new skill that makes the code more sustainable or the product better in any aspect, I will get a 10x or higher return on investment for each employee.
The employees may stay longer because the company treats them well and allows them to advance in their careers.
Pro tip
Next time you want to learn a new skill, ask your employer to pay for it. It’s a win-win.
Those are my thoughts about online courses, why I created one, and why they are a great resource in modern software development.
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- ​How to Use Tailwind CSS in Blazor | Quick Start​
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