Skillshare: 11 Answers You Need To Know (Quick Facts) -

Skillshare is one of the most popular online learning platforms today.

It can help you gain skills in various fields, and it allows you to have control regarding your learning. You decide when you want to learn and how fast you want to finish a course.

In this article, we will look at some of the more unique questions people have about Skillshare.

Let’s get started!

Table of Contents

Does Skillshare Have a Student Discount?

Skillshare offers a scholarship feature. Occasionally they offer scholarships in partnership with other companies like MailChimp and VSCO. Other than that, there are two forms of scholarships you can find on the website:

Skillshare student scholarships: This scholarship is essentially a 50% premium membership student discount. However, you need to provide a valid .edu address from an accredited school. The student scholarship is available for those above 16, and only first-time members can access it.

Skillshare premium scholarship: Every month, Skillshare offers a free one-year premium membership. It is for those who have the potential but don’t have the finances for Skillshare. They award ten recipients each month, and all you have to do is tell them why you’re applying.

You can apply for a scholarship here and find more information around scholarship programs: https://www.skillshare.com/scholarships

Does Skillshare Have an App?

Yes, Skillshare has an app, making it user-friendly and easier to navigate on mobile phones.

The app is available on both the Google Play Store and the Apple Store. Skillshare has invested in ensuring a good app experience, and it shows.

Recommended Reading: Is being self-taught a good thing?

Is Skillshare Interactive?

Interactivity depends on the instructor and the course you are taking.

Some teachers do a great job of creating a community around their course.

These communities can be very active and engaging. Making it easy to find like-minded people to support you on your journey to complete the course and grow your skills.

In my experience, some instructors are easily accessible. They reply to comments and messages. For others, you’d have to reach them through their social media profiles, which they’ll link in the course.

Some courses and instructors are less interactive and helpful. It’s easy to identify these, however, as students can leave reviews. They are usually helpful at pointing out if a course lacks something, and you won’t have to waste your time.

Is Skillshare Just Videos?

Most of the content you’ll find on Skillshare are video lessons. As it is one of the most effective ways to teach and learn, it’s understandable.

The most common thing I hear from people who haven’t tried Skillshare is: “I’ll use YouTube instead.”

While you can find and learn about many topics on YouTube, it doesn’t quite compare to the complete package you will have access to on Skillshare.

On YouTube, you’ll usually get shorter individual videos with mostly basic content that may not have a connection. I also probably don’t have to tell you how easy it is to get distracted and procrastinate on YouTube.

Skillshare’s lessons have every topic covered related to the main course.

It’s great during self-learning to get started with Youtube and get a taste for the topic. Then when you have a basic understanding and are interested in diving deeper into the topic, you can invest in getting started with Skillshare.

There is also a sense of exclusivity you can get by using the platform.

Since Skillshare is a paid platform, teachers are more likely to give complete information and insider tips. Most YouTubers hesitate to provide the same and will link you to a paid platform instead. Why have only access to one teacher when you can get a variety of courses on Skillshare?

Can I Download Skillshare Videos?

Yes, you can download Skillshare videos through the app.

First, you have to go to a class while you’re online and toggle the Download Class button. Then, the app will notify you once the download is complete.

Then you will be able to watch videos offline, making it convenient if you’re on to go. I like watching Skillshare videos when I’m commuting or stuck in a line. However, you can only watch the videos using the app.

There is a risk of piracy and other illegal activities if the videos were available beyond the app, so Skillshare applies a restriction. With that said, as long as you have an app and a membership, you can always have access to the classes offline.

Where is Skillshare Located?

Skillshare headquarters is in New York City.

It started in 2010 and has grown since, employing over 500 members of the staff. The company has grown significantly in the last few years and experienced a boom in membership during the pandemic.

Is Skillshare a MOOC?

Yes, Skillshare is a Massive Open Online Course. It means that you can access any course, any time, on your schedule. Once you sign up for a premium membership, you’ll gain access to a library of over 22,000 classes. Each class has around 20 to 60 minutes worth of content on average.

Does Skillshare Offer Certificates?

Skillshare does not offer any certificates from its courses. While it can be good to have one on your resume, they are only usually recognized if they’re from an accredited institution.

Other MOOCs offer them, but they don’t necessarily carry a lot of weight behind them.

The real value you can take out of Skillshare courses is the knowledge and skills you can learn!

That said, you still need to practice the information you acquire and “walk the walk.”

Does Skillshare Offer Free Classes?

Skillshare does offer some free classes!

They also have free previews and overviews of what is covered within a course. Many even have some free lessons, but not everything is accessible unless you are paying.

It is possible, however, to access practically every course for free! If you are interested in a specific course, you can access it through a 7-day free premium trial.

The 7-day trial period is typically always available for new users. Still, sometimes they offer longer deals of up to 1 to 3 months of free premium membership. That’s a crazy good deal!

It’s a great way to see if Skillshare is the right platform for you to grow your skills.

How Do Skillshare Teachers Get Paid?

How much teachers get paid on Skillshare depends on how many students are viewing their classes. Skillshare works on a revenue-sharing model and pays its instructors royalties.

Each month, 30% of the membership revenue goes into a pool shared among teachers. Your share depends on how many minutes students viewed your content.

For example, if you got 5% of all the minutes during that month, you get 5% of the revenue. The system rewards teachers who provide the most value with their content and have many students interested in their lessons.

On average, a Skillshare teacher earns around $200 a month, while the highest earners average $3000.

To get paid for the month, you’ll need at least 30 minutes watched in total from your classes to receive payment. The minutes are also only counted if they’re from paying subscribers.

Is Skillshare Worth It?

While Skillshare is a newcomer compared to many other online learning platforms, it has risen to become one of the most recognizable. App accessibility and varied courses are a big plus for those wanting to expand their skills.

In most classes, video and audio quality is clean, and the app is easy to use.

However, not every teacher provides the same quality you’d expect out of the website. Since anyone can make videos on it and post courses, you’re bound to find some low-quality ones. Despite that, my experience with the site was great, as long as you have a membership.

If you’re not paying, the limited access and ads are annoying, and it can demotivate you from continuing to learn.

All in all, it is an excellent place to self-learn about a variety of topics. With a membership, you are not limited to just one course as many new ones pop up all the time.

Those interested in improving especially in creative skills and fields will definitely find some great resources. The self-help space is also covered quite well on Skillshare.

Making an investment in your learning is a motivator by itself.

YouTube can be a great place to learn basics, still, the platform is designed to keep you watching a variety of videos, so it can end up being more distracting after you learn the basics.

Actually making a small payment ends up forcing you to dive deeper into a course because, well, you paid for it!

Skillshare offers organized resources that can get you from basic knowledge to more advanced. There are plenty of professionals who share all of their expertise on Skillshare.

Now it’s just about you taking from it all that you can and putting it into practice!