LINKEDIN LEARNING Review 2023: Is LinkedIn Learning Worth it?

Summary

In this review, the author initially skeptical about LinkedIn Learning, explores its offerings and finds it surprisingly valuable. The platform, which includes Lynda.com's extensive course catalog, focuses on business and professional development with high-quality, video-based courses. While some courses lack hands-on projects, the platform excels in production values and offers a variety of topics. The reviewer notes the cons, such as the absence of a la carte course purchases and the presence of outdated material, but ultimately gives LinkedIn Learning a B-minus, recognizing its above-average performance and potential value for those seeking to learn new concepts or enhance their professional skills.

Takeaways

• 😀 LinkedIn Learning offers a wide range of courses, including the entire catalog from Lynda.com, covering various topics from business to software development.
• 😮 The platform provides a selection of courses that are more business-oriented and professional compared to other platforms like Udemy.
• 📚 Courses on LinkedIn Learning are typically short, ranging from one to three hours, with most lectures being just a few minutes long, making them manageable for busy learners.
• 👩‍🏫 The focus of the courses is more on introducing concepts rather than in-depth projects, which can be beneficial for those looking to explore new topics quickly.
• 🎥 The production quality of the courses is consistently good, with clear recordings and professional presentation, reflecting LinkedIn's standards.
• 📅 LinkedIn Learning displays the publication date of courses, which is important for subjects like web development where content can become outdated quickly.
• 💰 The platform offers two membership options: monthly at $29.99 or yearly for just under $240, which includes additional LinkedIn Premium benefits.
• 🚫 One of the main drawbacks is that LinkedIn Learning is entirely video-based, which may not suit everyone's learning style and could lead to passive learning.
• 🔍 There are outdated courses mixed in with the fresh material, so learners need to be vigilant and check the publication dates to ensure they are getting up-to-date information.
• 🛒 Unlike some platforms, LinkedIn Learning does not offer the option to purchase courses individually, which could be a con for those only interested in a single course.
• 🏆 The reviewer gives LinkedIn Learning a final grade of B-, indicating that it is above average but still lacks some important features compared to competitors like Codecademy Pro.

Q & A

What was the initial expectation of the speaker about LinkedIn Learning?

The speaker initially expected LinkedIn Learning to be of poor quality, describing it as a 'steaming pile of dog'.

What is LinkedIn Learning and how does it relate to Lynda.com?

LinkedIn Learning is a platform that includes the entire catalog of Lynda.com courses, along with other courses produced by non-Lynda members. Lynda.com members can import their data into LinkedIn Learning.

How does the speaker describe the selection of courses on LinkedIn Learning?

The speaker describes the selection of courses as a 'civilized version of Udemy,' focusing on serious topics geared towards business-minded people, with a professional and consistent production value.

What is the difference between LinkedIn Learning and Udemy in terms of course content?

LinkedIn Learning focuses on more serious and business-oriented topics, such as crisis management and software development, whereas Udemy offers a wider variety of courses, including more unconventional topics.

What is the typical length of courses on LinkedIn Learning?

Most courses on LinkedIn Learning are between one and three hours, with lectures often being just a few minutes long, making them manageable for learners.

How does the speaker describe the focus of software courses on LinkedIn Learning?

The speaker notes that the software courses on LinkedIn Learning tend to focus more on showing the technology rather than building projects for a portfolio.

What does the speaker appreciate about the production quality of LinkedIn Learning courses?

The speaker appreciates the consistent good recording quality and the effort put into the courses, noting that LinkedIn Learning has a minimum acceptable standard for its courses.

Why does the speaker mention that the publication date of courses is important?

The publication date is important because it indicates how up-to-date the course content is, which is critical for fields like web development where technology changes rapidly.

What are the membership options for LinkedIn Learning and their respective costs?

There are two membership options for LinkedIn Learning: a monthly membership at $29.99 per month, and a yearly membership at just under $240.

What are some of the pros and cons the speaker identifies with LinkedIn Learning?

Pros include a wide course selection and good production values. Cons include the platform being entirely video-based, which may not suit all learning styles, the presence of outdated courses, and the lack of an option to buy courses individually, requiring a membership instead.

What is the speaker's final assessment of LinkedIn Learning and what grade did they give it?

The speaker gives LinkedIn Learning a final letter grade of B-minus, indicating that while the platform is above average, it is still missing some important features.