When you think of online courses, structured learning experiences delivered over the internet, often with videos, assignments, and feedback. Also known as eLearning, they’re no longer just for tech bootcamps or corporate training—they’re a real part of how artists, writers, and designers build skills outside traditional grad programs. Whether you’re balancing a job, raising a family, or just can’t afford to move for a campus-based MFA, online courses give you control over when and how you learn.
These courses aren’t just videos you watch and forget. The best ones tie into course credentials, verifiable proof of learning, like digital badges or certificates that employers and peers can check, and use tools like course platforms, systems like Teachable, Thinkific, or Kajabi that handle payments, delivery, and compliance to make sure everything runs smoothly. That’s why you’ll find posts here about EU VAT rules, GDPR compliance, and how to market your course certificates—because if you’re serious about learning, you need to know the system behind it.
And it’s not just about selling courses. Many MFA students use online learning to fill gaps—learning Canva to build better portfolios, understanding SEO to promote their work, or studying active learning strategies to teach better when they graduate. These aren’t side gigs. They’re essential tools. You don’t need a degree to start building skills that make your art more visible, your voice more credible, and your career more sustainable.
Some people still think online courses are for beginners or hobbyists. That’s outdated. The most successful artists today mix formal education with targeted online learning. They take a course on green hosting because they care about their carbon footprint. They study data privacy laws because they collect student emails. They learn how to turn a certificate into a career asset—not just because it looks good on LinkedIn, but because it opens doors.
Below, you’ll find real guides from creators who’ve walked this path. No fluff. No hype. Just straight talk on how to build ethical courses, rank them on Google, handle taxes, design without coding, and make sure your learning actually matters in the real world. Whether you’re taking courses to prepare for an MFA or using them to survive after one, this collection gives you the practical side no brochure ever will.
Peer learning and co-teaching transform online courses from solitary lectures into collaborative experiences. Learn how to design these models to boost engagement, retention, and student outcomes.