Best IT Courses Online and Where To Find Them

In our ever-changing and innovative world, technology is rapidly advancing, and with that more people are becoming fluent with the language and foundation of what makes technology “tick”. Thus, more people are required for our vastly growing corporations that run on the basis of said technology, automating and providing functionality to keep the “engine running” so to speak.

People like you! It’s likely that you’re here because you too have a knack for technology and problem-solving, and it just might feed your soul to have a career that not only pays well but fulfills this passion for you. Perhaps, you’re here because you already have a career or knowledge in this field and are looking to branch out.

In either case, you’ve come to the right place. We will cover enough around this topic, so that you can feel confident going forward, knowing that you’re on the right path to a future in IT and what that entails.

What is IT?

IT stands for Information Technology — and is a fairly general term for all things involving processing and managing information, which is in a lot of cases belonging to a company or an organization.

When we talk about IT and its primary purpose, it’s not typically meant for home networking and computing, but rather large-scale operations. A misconception about IT is that it’s only about computers and systems. IT involves every layer of each and every system that creates the makeup of the organization.

Example:

Think of someone in IT as the brain, maintaining the functionality of the different systems and networks (the makeup of the way the organization communicates and manages information).

The systems as the automated portions of the body that keep productivity high and always functional. (Examples like the nervous system, circulatory system, immune system… etc).

Lastly, the computers themselves (also known as the body in this example). The physical and tangible portion that needs maintenance and up-to-date hardware for optimal functionality.

In other words…

The layers that we previously discussed, in line with the human anatomy — range from the physical hardware, which we called the body and organs, to software and operating systems.

The things running in the background keeping it completely functional. The person in IT is the brain behind it all, because without them — well, it’d be no more than a vegetable with no use.

Another thing that the IT personnel are to manage is the internet and business phones.

To explain things in slightly more detail, it’s important to understand that IT is a very broad occupation.

The summary:

IT means Information Technology.
IT covers everything involved with the management and processing of information.
IT is for businesses and organizations, typically on a larger scale.
IT covers all the layers of all systems within an organization.
IT covers Computers and systems, physical hardware, databases, storage, servers, internet, phones, etc.

Best websites offering online IT classes

So, you’re ultimately showing interest in getting an education online, that’s great! As you keep reading, you’ll discover all of the opportunities available for “getting your feet wet” in this new way of learning.

Below we’ll cover the top five recommended websites offering you an online education in the IT field — in no particular order.

Coursera

Coursera is one of the most widely known platforms of MOOCs (Massive Open Online Courses). It has formed a partnership with Universities and organizations worldwide, thus bringing you a vast collection of different courses/topics.

These topics may be searched amongst their database of in-depth courses. The reward you get for completing some of these courses is more than just the education itself, but a certificate of completion.

This can then be put on a resume to show future employers that you have passed the course and have a working knowledge of the subject. For homebodies, Coursera is an excellent place to start, as it provides you with all you need to do this at home.

Reviews

4/5 Stars – “I feel more than satisfied to know that I have the course I wanted to undertake offered to me through Coursera. In fact, the professor is renowned in this field and she teaches at the University near where I live. I appreciate the format and set up of the curriculum. The videos are very well done as well. A helpful aspect is that you can save notes, repeat parts of the vids, and you may follow the written text as the video plays.”

5/5 Stars – “I have nothing but positive things to say about my experience with Coursera. I enjoyed the learning opportunities they provided and I continue looking forward to learning more with them.”

1/5 Stars – “While the overall intent and content within videos are excellent, the main problem that I’ve had with Coursera is that they have very little feedback and are hard to reach (at all in limited experience) for any technical assistance. Don’t get me wrong, the course I took had a lot of good content, and the exercises were well constructed. However, life demands got in the way, to where I had to stop studying for a whole month. When I tried to resume — all of my work was reset. I could not get a single person to help me. With all due respect, I believe that there are better ways to learn.”

Some IT-related courses within Coursera include:

Google IT Support Professional Certificate

“Firstly, this course is 100% online, where you shall receive a sharable certificate upon completing the program. The course is beginner level. You’re capable of setting and maintain flexible deadlines, and it caters to those who speak English, Spanish, Portuguese, and Arabic.

Google has put together this program consisting of 5 courses. It sets you up for an entry-level career within the IT department, as a support role. This can get you a job in person at a small business or global company like Google, or at a remote desk. Upon completing the program, you can share information with top employers like Cognizant, GE Digital, Hulu, Infosys, Intel, KForce, Google… etc.”