Best Online Courses for Teens

2023 Best Online Courses for Teens

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As a teenager, venturing into the world of online courses can be thrilling, but with so many options to choose from, it can get overwhelming. That’s why we’ve put together a list of the best online courses for teens that will undoubtedly make you stand out from the crowd. 

Due to the tech boom that we are witnessing on the global scape, teenagers are being encouraged to take initiative and upskill themselves beyond the education they receive in traditional schools. From academic subjects such as math and science to artistic pursuits like creative writing and graphic design, tech, finance, and business strategies, there’s a course for every teen’s interest.

In this article, we’ll dive deep into our top picks and explore what makes each of them stand out. Whether you’re looking to bolster your college application or simply looking to learn new skills, one of these online courses is sure to be perfect for you.

Benefits of Enrolling in Online Courses

Enrolling in online courses can provide a wealth of benefits for teens. Here are just a few of the many advantages of taking online courses:

  1. Flexibility: Online courses allow students to learn at their own pace and according to their own schedule, making them an ideal choice for those who have other commitments such as work, family, or extracurricular activities.
  2. Accessibility: Online courses are accessible from virtually anywhere in the world, which means that students can access high-quality educational resources even if they live in remote areas without access to traditional classroom settings.
  3. Variety: Online courses are available on a wide range of topics, making it easy for students to find courses that match their interests and passions.
  4. Affordability: Online courses are often less expensive than traditional classroom courses, making them a cost-effective way for students to access high-quality education.
  5. Personalization: Online courses can be tailored to meet the individual needs of each student, allowing for a more personalized learning experience.
  6. Improved Technical Skills: Enrolling in online courses will help students to improve their technical skills, such as navigating various software and online platforms, which will be valuable in today’s digital world.

Recently, modern technology has been facing the “tech boom” of Artificial Intelligence; a lot of people consider it wise for young people to begin to equip themselves with futuristic skills that will help secure their future.

If you’re currently surfing the internet in search of the best online courses for teens, or you are looking for career areas to get started with, continue reading to uncover the goldmine we’ve hidden in this article for you.

List of the Best Online Courses for Teens by Category

As technology continues to advance and play an increasingly important role in our daily lives, online learning has become an essential tool for young people to develop their skills and knowledge.

According to trends, teenagers are now more than interested in learning new skills online, offering their services, and making some money for themselves. They’re all over social media now shamelessly talking about what they do; you can find them on Twitter, LinkedIn, and YouTube, particularly.

From our research, the following skill areas are where teen interests now lie; we’ll talk a bit about these general skills and the platforms with the best online courses for teens interested in these skills.

  • Writing
  • Teen MBA
  • 3D Animation and VFX
  • Personal Finance
  • Digital Marketing
  • Coding and Web Development
  • Language Classes
  • Communication
  • Personal Development
  • Bonus: Online Schools

1. Writing

Writing is a skill that is essential for effective communication, self-expression, and success in academic and professional pursuits. To help teenagers improve their writing abilities, there are a plethora of online courses available that cater to different levels and interests.

But first, let us analyze the various aspects of writing that teens can choose to focus on:

  • Creative Writing

Creative writing courses for teens provide an avenue for young people to explore their imagination, develop their writing style, and express their creativity in various forms of fiction, poetry, and non-fiction writing. With the help of online courses, teenagers can hone their skills, receive feedback on their work, and learn from established writers from around the world.

  • Technical and Blockchain Writing

Technical and blockchain writing courses for teens are designed to help young people develop the skills needed to create clear, concise, and accurate technical documents.

These courses teach teens how to write technical reports, maintenance manuals, and user guides, as well as blockchain-related content such as whitepapers and technical proposals. By taking these courses online, teens can learn from industry experts, acquire valuable writing skills, and gain a competitive edge in a rapidly growing field.

  • Content Writing (Scriptwriting, Ghostwriting, and Article Writing)

Content writing courses for teens cover a range of writing genres, including scriptwriting, ghostwriting, and article writing. These courses teach teenagers how to develop compelling and engaging content for different platforms, such as blogs, websites, social media, and video platforms.

Through these courses, teens can learn how to structure their writing, use proper grammar and syntax, and develop their unique writing style. By honing these skills, they can pursue opportunities in the growing field of content creation and become successful writers in their own right.

Best Courses on Writing

Best Courses on Technical Writing 

2. Teen MBA

Teen MBA is a program designed to teach high school students the fundamentals of business and entrepreneurship. It covers topics such as marketing, finance, leadership, and innovation, among others. The program aims to help students develop their critical thinking, problem-solving, and communication skills and prepare them for future careers in business.

Best Courses on Teen MBA

3. 3D Animation and VFX

3D animation and VFX (visual effects) are industries that involve the use of computer-generated images to create lifelike animations, special effects, and digital environments for use in film, video games, television, and other forms of media.

3D animation involves creating digital models of characters, objects, and environments that can be animated and manipulated in lifelike ways. This involves using specialized software to create and manipulate virtual models, textures, lighting, and camera angles to create realistic, visually stunning animations.

VFX, on the other hand, involves the use of special effects to enhance or create entirely new visual elements in film or video. This might include adding explosions, creating realistic fire and smoke effects, or even creating entire digital environments that look completely convincing on screen.

Both 3D animation and VFX are highly specialized fields that require a strong understanding of computer graphics, animation, and software development. Careers in these fields might include working as a 3D artist or animator, a VFX artist or compositor, or a software developer specializing in computer graphics or animation.

Best 3D Animation and VFX Courses

4. Personal Finance

Personal finance is the management of money and financial decisions that individuals and families make to achieve financial goals. It involves budgeting, saving, investing, and creating a financial plan to achieve short-term and long-term financial objectives such as buying a home, financing education, retirement planning, or starting a business.

As teenagers, it is important to build good money habits and culture; these courses will help you.

Best Courses on Personal Finance

5. Digital Marketing

Digital Marketing is a broad skill that has seen a meteoric rise in popularity due to the emergence of technology and high social media and internet use, and businesses identifying the internet as a key means to do business and position themselves as the best in what they do.

Digital Marketing covers a broad range of topics that includes:

  • Content Marketing
  • PPC
  • SEO/SEM
  • Social Media Marketing
  • Product Marketing
  • Media Buying
  • E-commerce
  • Media Advertising
  • Copywriting, etc

These days, there are tons of online courses for teens that can get you started on a digital marketing career path, even for free. The most notable of them is Google’s Digital Marketing and E-commerce Course; it teaches you what the digital marketing ecosystem is all about, and provides you with insights and tools to help you narrow down your desired niche.

Best Digital Marketing Courses

6. Coding and Web Development

As technology is rapidly advancing, we are constantly being reminded of staying relevant in the era of future jobs. And one of these areas where this message is heavily hammered on is in tech skills, e.g., coding.

Coding involves the range of skills that allows programmers to use computer programming languages to solve problems; like building apps, studying numbers, and analyzing big data.

Coding is one of the highly-rated skills for teens; parents even enroll their kids in physical coding training, and pay for them to join hackathons and developer communities. If you are keen on learning to code, or ensuring your kid learns to code, the following platforms are best for beginners.

Best Online Coding Platforms 

  • FreeCodeCamp.Org (Recommended for career pathway training)
  • DataCamp (Most Affordable)
  • Udemy
  • Coursera (Best for MOOC platform for Computer Science courses)
  • Kaggle (Best for Machine Learning and Data Science)
  • Codeacademy (Best for hands-on learning, but not free)
  • Udacity (Most expensive; for employed coders who can afford it)
  • YouTube (Free platform with unlimited learning resources. Search for the best coding tutors and find your child a mentor).

Furthermore, it is worth of note that there are many roles in coding. And the term is just an umbrella name housing a vast array of technical skills. If you’re a teenager who’s coding (learning programming languages like JavaScript or CSS) for fun, it will eventually become important that you learn how to employ your knowledge and skills to solve real problems. Some careers in coding include:

  • Data Science
  • Machine Learning and AI
  • Web Development
  • Software Engineering
  • Data Analytics
  • Mobile Development with Kotlin
  • Android/iOS App Development
  • Game Development with Unity
  • Virtual/Augmented Reality
  • DevOps Engineering
  • Cloud Security Engineering

7. Language Classes

Learning to speak a language besides your native tongue or lingua franca is one of the proudest things you can do for yourself as a teenager. Polygots who speak many languages have grown up to become sought-after international speakers and diplomats. If you plan to work in this area in your career, then learning a language is highly recommended. Another reason why learning a new language might be important comes when you are planning to study abroad; true, while courses in your dream school abroad may be offered in English, there’s still the chance that you’ll struggle to navigate the city better of you don’t know how to speak their language — especially if it’s a non-English speaking country.

If you’re keen on learning a new language today, the best platform for you is Duolingo. They offer classes in multiple languages and teach from scratch and in a gamified pattern that’s not boring at all. In addition, reviews from native language speakers highly rate Duolingo for its accuracy. So, you can start learning that Spanish today. And for free.

8. Communication 

Communication is the exchange of information, ideas, thoughts or feelings between individuals or groups through verbal or nonverbal means. It is a skill that plays a crucial role in maintaining relationships, managing conflicts, and achieving goals in personal and professional lives.

Effective communication involves not only conveying a message but also actively listening, understanding, and responding appropriately to the message conveyed by others. The communication process can occur through various mediums, including written, spoken, visual, and technological means. Good communication skills are essential in building trust, improving teamwork, reducing misunderstandings, and enhancing personal and organizational success.

Albeit, when you intentionally start to build this skill from a very young age, you stand a good chance of mastering the art of communication and public speaking when you get older.

The following are top-notch courses for communication.

Best Communication Courses

Top Public Speaking and Communication Coaches to Follow

As you may know, learning never stops. While these courses may provide good knowledge of communicating with people around you, it is quite important that you continue to follow coaches who teach you updated bits of communication etiquette as the modern business world is changing. Here are our top picks:

  • Vinh Giang — Communication Skills Coach & Close-up Magician
  • Temi Badru — Top-billed Event Compere & Lawyer
  • Omar Sharif — Communication Coach
  • Jo Eyre — Entrepreneur & Communication Coach

9. Personal Development 

Personal development is the process of improving oneself and one’s skills through various methods. It includes self-awareness, setting goals, and taking action to achieve those goals. Personal development can involve activities such as reading, attending seminars and workshops, hiring a coach or mentor, practicing self-reflection, and seeking feedback from others.

There are several benefits to personal development, including increased self-awareness, improved confidence and self-esteem, and greater personal fulfillment. Other benefits include enhanced communication skills, improved relationships, and greater career success.

Personal development is a lifelong process that requires ongoing effort and commitment. It can be challenging at times, but with perseverance and dedication, the rewards can be significant. By investing in personal development, individuals can achieve their full potential and create more fulfilling and meaningful lives.

Best Personal Development Programs

10. Bonus: Online Schools

Finally, even though we encourage teens to pick up an interest in tech and online skills, it is also important that they continue to do well in their traditional schools. Digital e-learning doesn’t stop at tech skills, fortunately. You can also learn traditional courses like math, science, chemistry, physics, and a whole bunch of stuff on open-learning platforms. 

This is helpful to kids who struggle to catch up with anything that is going on in school. Platforms like Khan Academy, Oxford Scholastica Academy, MIT OCW, and many more are highly-recommended MOOCs that focus on teaching kids and teens science subjects and simplifying them so that the concepts of these things are easy to follow by anyone.

FAQs About Online Courses for Teens

What kind of online courses will be available for teenagers in 2023?

In 2023, there’s literally nothing you cannot learn on the internet, whether free or paid (well, except professional courses like medicine, engineering, or performing surgical operations. Please, go to a school.) However, the problem now becomes the relevance of the study. Many teens, as we found, do not struggle with finding courses to study to give their careers a boost. Contrary, they find it hard to spot courses that provide them relevance or a pathway to advance in their chosen careers. In this article, we put that into consideration when we recommended the best online courses for teens reading this.

Will online courses be more popular than traditional classroom learning for teenagers in 2023?

I think this is hard to predict. Online courses, while a welcome advancement, still fails to connect teachers with students beyond the confines of a mobile screen. So, in cases where mentorship is crucial to learning, teenagers may struggle with this. Albeit, I think they can co-exist for a long time.

How much do online courses for teenagers cost?

This widely varies depending on the course you’re looking for or paying for. Some online courses are free, while others are paid for. So, you’ll have to check with your tutor or navigate the course properly to find out.

Are online courses for teenagers considered as valid as traditional high school classes?

Yes, online courses offer certificates that are globally recognized. Companies are quickly accepting certificates offered by top online course providers as a measure of competence and skill level. So, this isn’t a problem.

Wrapping It Up

In conclusion, online courses for teens have become an increasingly popular option for learning, and this trend is likely to continue in 2023 and beyond. The benefits of online learning, such as flexibility, accessibility, and personalized instruction, make it an ideal solution for students with different learning styles and needs.

However, it is essential to do thorough research and choose reputable course providers to ensure that your teenager gets the best education possible. As technology continues to advance, online courses will become more sophisticated, immersive, and engaging, offering students exciting opportunities for growth and development.