Qld State Library has large collection of free online courses

Whether you’re looking for a new job, or trying to pass the time in isolation, this Queensland resource offers a huge number of courses you can try to upgrade your skills. And they’re free.

WITH Australia’s unemployment rate set to double to 10 per cent and Queensland students struggling to complete school work on overpressured online platforms, many are scrambling to find online alternatives to learn new skills or just pass the time in isolation.

Including digital subjects that you can study at home, The State Library of Queensland currently has access to more than 1000 courses Queenslanders can access for free.

Supplied by online educational website Lynda.com, the normally paywalled library of courses covers topics ranging from Video Production to Business Management.

The site even has tutorials for recent “work at home” programs like Zoom Conferencing and Microsoft Teams.

These courses come on top of the State Library’s already impressive digital collection of e-books, historical databases and knowledgeable librarians who are still working hard to maintain the digital knowledgebase.

Talking to The Courier-Mail, state librarian and CEO Vicki McDonald revealed just how popular the online resources have been.

“SLQ has a wealth of inspiring, informative and entertaining online content and resources for all Queenslanders. Our digital newspapers, Lynda.com courses and National Geographic Virtual Library have had sizeable spikes in usage,” she said

“Digital newspapers have gone up by 90 per cent, Lynda Courses have gone up by 22 per cent, while our video streaming platform Kanopy has gone up 118% over the past year”

The Courier-Mail has highlighted some of the best free online courses below, all can be accessed by signing up on The State Library’s website: www.slq.qld.gov.au/

• Work from Home Courses

In the past month businesses across the state have transitioned to “work from home” environments, which has seen the rise of collaborative programs such as Zoom Video Conferencing and Microsoft Teams. However, just because they’re the most used doesn’t mean they’re easy to use, which is why “Microsoft Teams Essential Training” and “Learning Zoom” have been two of the most popular courses accessed on the website.

Along with these two courses you can also access “Remote Work Foundations” and “Microsoft Office Essentials” for those who aren’t as tech savvy in the home workplace.

• Computer Languages

While confined to technology, why not try and find ways to be more productive with it? You can learn to build your own website with “HTML Essential Training” and “CSS Essential Training”, these will teach you the basics of how to set up and code your own website, how to change colours, insert text and images onto web pages and make it look presentable to wow your digital peers.

Or instead you can learn to create your own computer program or mobile application with “Learning Python” or “C++ Essential Training”. These will give you introductory lessons on two of the most used programming codes used by modern digital developers.

• Video Production

With most people carrying around smartphones today, they have access to a video camera and basic editing tools. You could spend the weekend making a movie with your family after watching “Creating Online Video with the iPhone”, which teaches you how to properly composition a shot, think about your lighting and camera position all while getting the best audio.

Then splice your homemade masterpiece together with various editing software’s and learn the basics with the aptly named “Premiere Pro CC 2019 Essentials Training: The Basics”. Upload the creation to YouTube or Facebook and you could be the next online isolation sensation!

• Photography

In addition to being a video camera, smart phones also are excellent still cameras on their own. Instead of using it for selfies, turn the lens around and watch “Introduction to Photography” where you will learn the basics of a camera, how terms like ISO, F-Stop and focus help compose a completely different picture. Take a trip into your backyard to make the most of the greenery and do some nature photography.

After snapping your new masterpieces, make them look even better after learning photo editing software with “GIMP Training Essentials” or “Photoshop 2020 Essentials Training: The Basics” to give the world a small glimpse into your self-isolation world.

• Graphic Design

Along with learning Photoshop, you can also flex your artistic muscle by creating digital artwork and drawings. Using courses like “Illustrator 2020 Essential Training”, “Drawing Vector Graphics” and “Drawing and Painting in Photoshop” you’ll soon be able to discover if you’ll be able to open your own virtual art gallery.