LinkedIn Learning is an online learning platform owned by LinkedIn that offers video courses taught by industry experts on a wide range of professional topics. It aims to help professionals develop skills needed to advance their careers. Some key things to know about LinkedIn Learning:
Overview
LinkedIn Learning provides access to over 16,000 video courses covering business, technology, and creative skills. Course topics include leadership, software development, marketing, design, productivity tools, and more. Courses are taught by recognized industry experts and can be accessed anytime, on any device.
It uses a subscription model – users pay a monthly or annual fee to get unlimited access to the full course library. Access is personalized, with recommendations based on the user’s goals, interests, and experience level. Users can build custom learning plans and earn certificates to highlight new skills.
Benefits
Here are some of the main benefits of using LinkedIn Learning:
- Learn in-demand skills – Courses teach skills needed to stay relevant in today’s job market across a wide range of fields.
- Get industry insights – Instructors are active professionals working in their field, providing real-world expertise.
- Learn anytime, anywhere – Courses are self-paced and can be accessed on mobile, tablet, or desktop.
- Stay up-to-date – New courses are added regularly to keep pace with latest trends and techniques.
- Advance your career – Learn new skills to take on more responsibility or pursue new opportunities.
- Get certified – Earn certificates to validate your knowledge and highlight skills on your resume.
- Integrates with LinkedIn – Users can add courses to their LinkedIn profile and network with instructors.
Course Content
LinkedIn Learning offers courses focused on the most in-demand hard and soft skills today. Here is an overview of some of the top course categories:
| Category | Sample Courses |
|---|---|
| Business | Leadership, Project Management, Business Strategy, Entrepreneurship, Communications |
| Technology | Programming Languages, Web Development, Data Science, IT Certification Prep |
| Creative | Graphic Design, Photography, Video Production, Web Design, 3D & Animation |
| Software | Microsoft Office, QuickBooks, Tableau, Salesforce, Adobe Creative Cloud |
Courses use a combination of video lectures, demonstrations, hands-on exercises, and quizzes to engage learners. Course lengths vary from 1-6 hours on average. Some courses provide certificates of completion.
Instructors
Instructors on LinkedIn Learning are vetted industry practitioners with proven teaching ability. They include:
- Industry thought leaders and authors sharing deep knowledge
- Recognized experts from global companies like Google, Amazon, and IBM
- Award-winning designers, photographers, and creative professionals
- Experienced corporate trainers in leadership, business strategy, and professional skills
Instructors must meet LinkedIn Learning’s standards for experience, teaching excellence, and ability to explain complex topics simply. LinkedIn works closely with them to refine courses and keep content up-to-date.
Personalized Learning
LinkedIn Learning offers features to provide a personalized learning experience:
- Recommended courses – Suggests courses based on the user’s goals, interests, experience level, and more.
- Learning paths – Bundles related courses together around a topic or skillset.
- Skill assessments – Assess proficiency in topics like Management or JavaScript to suggest gaps to fill.
- Course notes and bookmarks – Users can take notes and save bookmarks within courses.
- Exercise files – Downloadable course exercise files to follow along with instructors.
- Certificates – Certificates earned for completing courses can be showcased.
These features help tailor the experience to each learner’s needs and support their ongoing learning journey.
Accessibility
LinkedIn Learning aims to make learning accessible through:
- Mobile apps – For learning on the go from any iOS or Android device.
- Transcripts – Video courses include text transcripts for written reference.
- Downloadable courses – Ability to download courses to watch offline.
- Closed captioning – Many courses include captions for hearing-impaired learners.
These features let users take courses even without consistent internet access. The platform meets Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) for accessibility.
Integration with LinkedIn
As a LinkedIn-owned platform, LinkedIn Learning integrates tightly with LinkedIn in several ways:
- Added to profile – Courses and certificates can be added to a user’s LinkedIn profile.
- Content recommendations – Course suggestions are based on interests and experience listed on a user’s profile.
- Instructor profiles – Instructors can be followed and connected with on LinkedIn.
- Shareable certificates – Certificates can be shared directly on LinkedIn to highlight new skills.
- Group discussions – Users can participate in course discussion groups on LinkedIn.
This integration helps learners showcase completed coursework and connect with instructors and peers right from LinkedIn.
Company and University Plans
In addition to individual subscriptions, LinkedIn Learning offers company and university licensing options:
- Enterprise plan – For companies to upskill their employees. Comes with admin dashboard and tracking.
- University plan – For colleges to integrate LinkedIn Learning into their courses. Includes single sign-on.
- Nonprofit pricing – Discounted plans for nonprofit organizations and libraries.
These plans give organizations access to LinkedIn Learning for their teams or students. Admin features help track learning progress and usage across the organization.
Pricing
LinkedIn Learning offers individual and enterprise subscriptions. Pricing as of 2023:
- Individual: $19.99/month or $199.99/year
- Teams (5+ people): $249.99/year per person
- Enterprise: Custom quote based on company size
Free one-month trials are available for individual plans. Volume discounts are available for enterprise plans. LinkedIn Learning pricing includes unlimited access to all 16,000+ courses for each user.
Conclusion
LinkedIn Learning is an e-learning platform owned by LinkedIn that offers video courses for professionals. Key takeaways include:
- Covers in-demand business, tech, and creative skills with industry expert instructors
- Provides flexible, self-paced online learning with mobile access
- Personalized recommendations and learning paths tailor experience to each user
- Integrates tightly with LinkedIn for social learning features
- Reasonably priced subscription plans for individuals or companies
With its robust course library and career-focused approach, LinkedIn Learning is a leading platform for professionals looking to develop the skills needed to excel in today’s job landscape.