About Getsmarter
GetSmarter is an education technology company that partners with universities to offer online short courses. The company was founded in 2008 and is based in Cape Town, South Africa. GetSmarter offers a wide range of online short courses in fields such as business, technology, design, and personal development. The courses are designed to be flexible and self-paced, and they are taught by experts from top universities around the world. GetSmarter’s online platform allows students to interact with their classmates and instructors, and to receive support and feedback throughout the course. The company’s mission is to provide access to quality education for students around the world, regardless of their location or background.
GetSmarter is an education technology company that specializes in offering online short courses. It was founded in 2008 and is based in Cape Town, South Africa. The company partners with universities to provide a wide range of online courses in fields such as business, technology, design, and personal development. The courses are self-paced and flexible, taught by experts and the online platform provides the interaction with classmates, instructors and support throughout the course. The main goal of the company is to make education accessible for anyone, anywhere and at any time. It targets professionals, students, and lifelong learners who want to advance their skills and knowledge through short and focused courses.
Overview
GetSmarter is an education technology company that specializes in offering online short courses. It was founded in 2008 and is based in Cape Town, South Africa. The company partners with universities to provide a wide range of online courses in fields such as business, technology, design, and personal development. The courses are self-paced and flexible, taught by experts and the online platform provides the interaction with classmates, instructors and support throughout the course. The main goal of the company is to make education accessible for anyone, anywhere and at any time. It targets professionals, students, and lifelong learners who want to advance their skills and knowledge through short and focused courses.
Pros
Flexibility: The courses are self-paced and flexible, which allows students to learn on their own schedule and balance their studies with other commitments.
Quality education: GetSmarter partners with top universities around the world to provide high-quality education and expert instruction.
Convenience: Online short courses through GetSmarter can be accessed from anywhere, at any time, making it easy for students to learn from the comfort of their own home or office.
Interaction: The online platform allows students to interact with their classmates and instructors, providing a sense of community and support throughout the course.
Relevant content: The courses are designed to be relevant to current industry trends and provide practical skills that are in demand in the job market.
Accessible: The company’s mission is to provide access to quality education for students around the world, regardless of their location or background.
Cost-effective: Online short courses can be cost-effective compared to traditional on-campus classes.
Career Advancement: The short courses are designed to help professionals to advance their skills and knowledge which in turn could help them in career advancement.
Cons
Lack of structure: The self-paced and flexible nature of the courses may not be suitable for all students, as it requires a high degree of self-motivation and discipline to stay on track.
Limited interaction: While the online platform allows for interaction with classmates and instructors, it may not provide the same level of interaction and engagement as a traditional on-campus class.
Limited access to resources: Online courses may have limited access to resources such as library and laboratory facilities compared to traditional on-campus classes.
Technical issues: Online courses may be prone to technical issues such as internet connectivity problems or software glitches which can disrupt the learning experience.
Lack of face-to-face interaction: Online short courses do not provide the same level of face-to-face interaction as a traditional on-campus class, which may be less effective for some learners.
Limited credit transfer: Some online short courses may not be eligible for credit transfer to degree programs, which limits the ability to use the course towards a higher degree.
Cost: While online short courses may be cost-effective compared to traditional on-campus classes, they still may be costly for some students.
What subjects can you learn at GetSmarter?
GetSmarter offers courses on a wide range of subjects. The list of subjects on the website includes all kinds of things from business, finance, and marketing, all the way to data science & analysis, design, health, HR, and cybersecurity. As of the writing of this review of GetSmarter, there’s a total of 288 online short courses available, and you’ll find the full list of courses on the GetSmarter website.
While this number of courses is not the biggest on the market, it’s worth stating that GetSmarter typically only offers courses that take at least 6 weeks to complete. They don’t offer any micro-courses in the style of Udem y that can be finished in a matter of hours, and as all the courses on GetSmarter are university-led, come with dedicated support, and the course development process is much different from the rapid-fire content delivery of a typical course provider.
Selection of universities at GetSmarter
As mentioned above, one of the biggest selling points of GetSmarter is that its list of partnered educational institutions. As of the writing of this review, these include:
How much does GetSmarter cost?
The prices of online courses on GetSmarter depend on the specific course and university you choose. MIT’s “Digital Business Strategy: Harnessing Our Digital Future“, for example, is a 6-week online course that costs $2800. Another example would be Oxford’s “Executive Leadership Programme“, which costs around $2711. The price can differ quite a bit depending on the course, but you can always check the price of a given course by visiting its page on GetSmarter’s website.
There are also a few different payment options available depending on the duration of the course:
Single payment. With this payment plan, the full amount is paid before the start of the course. You don’t get any extra charges and you pay exactly the amount that is written on the course page. This plan is available for all courses on GetSmarter.
Split payment. With this part-payment plan, you pay for the course in two installments over the duration of the course. If you use this payment option, you’ll be paying the full course price plus 3% in fees. This plan is available for all courses on GetSmarter.
Payment in three installments. This is essentially the same as the split payment plan, except that you make three payments instead of two, and it’s only available for courses that take 10 weeks or longer to finish.
Conclusion
In conclusion, yes – GetSmarter is a legit online learning platform that’s worth spending your time and money on. While no platform is flawless, the unparalleled lineup of universities, as well as its high course completion rates and competitive Ivy League education prices make this online learning platform a great all-around choice.
If you are looking for an easy way to take courses from prestigious universities or need to supplement your credentials, GetSmarter, along with a select few alternatives such as edX, offers some of the most cost-effective online learning solutions out there.
All in all, my review of the GetSmarter platform showed that it was deserving of a recommendation despite the at-times mixed reviews found online. Many of its strengths have been underreported by others, including the access to 2U’s Career Engagement Network, and it’s certainly a platform worth trying out.
How to get this course
Visit the GetSmarter website: Go to the GetSmarter website (www.getsmarter.com) and browse the list of available courses.
Choose a course: Select the course that you are interested in and read the course details, including the course overview, syllabus, and prerequisites.
Create an account: To register for a course, you will need to create an account by providing your personal information and a valid email address.
Provide payment information: Once you have created an account, you will need to provide your payment information to complete the registration process.
Start the course: After you have completed the registration process, you can start the course and begin learning.
Engage in the course: GetSmarter’s online platform allows students to interact with their classmates and instructors, providing a sense of community and support throughout the course.
How to buy course
Visit the GetSmarter website: Go to the GetSmarter website (www.getsmarter.com) and browse the list of available courses.
Choose a course: Select the course that you are interested in and read the course details, including the course overview, syllabus, and prerequisites.
Create an account: To register for a course, you will need to create an account by providing your personal information and a valid email address.
Provide payment information: Once you have created an account, you will need to provide your payment information to complete the registration process. This can be done by entering your credit card details or through a PayPal account.
Complete the payment: Once your payment information is processed and accepted, you will be able to complete the purchase of the course.
Start the course: After you have completed the purchase, you can start the course and begin learning.
FAQ
What types of courses does GetSmarter offer?
GetSmarter offers a wide range of online short courses in fields such as business, technology, design, and personal development.
How long do the courses take to complete?
The duration of the courses varies, but most of them take between 4-8 weeks to complete.
Are the courses self-paced?
Yes, the courses are self-paced, which allows students to learn on their own schedule and balance their studies with other commitments.
Who teaches the courses?
The courses are taught by experts from top universities around the world.
Is there any interaction with classmates and instructors?
Yes, the online platform allows students to interact with their classmates and instructors, providing a sense of community and support throughout the course.
Are the courses eligible for credit transfer?
It depends on the course and the university that is offering it. Some courses may be eligible for credit transfer to degree programs, while others may not.
How much do the courses cost?
The cost of the courses varies depending on the course and the university that is offering it.
How can I register for a course?
You can register for a course by visiting the GetSmarter website and selecting the course you are interested in. You will need to create an account and provide your personal and payment information to complete the registration process.
Are there any prerequisites for the courses?
It depends on the course you are interested in. Some courses may have prerequisites, while others may not. The prerequisite information will be provided on the course page.
Are there any technical requirements to take an online short course?
Yes, there are technical requirements to take an online short course. You will need a reliable internet connection and a computer or mobile device that meets the minimum system requirements for the cours