E-Learning is one of the fastest ways to acquire skills in any field. From big names like Coursera and Udemy to little-known brands scattered around the internet, e-learning platforms come in different forms.
Some of them offer quality, well-structured courses delivered by good instructors. But how about MasterClass, the e-learning platform that has been filling our screens with sleek ads? Where does it belong in the quality spectrum?
What Is MasterClass?
If you've used an e-learning platform like edX and Coursera, then you probably have an idea of what MasterClass looks like. However, MasterClass takes a less conventional approach to teaching. You don't get traditional academia or classroom-style lessons.
Instead, you get masterclasses—complex topics broken down by subject area experts with enormous real-world experience in their field. Unlike most e-learning brands, MasterClass places an emphasis on the quality of courses and the instructors that deliver them.
With instructors like Samuel L. Jackson teaching acting, Serena Williams teaching tennis, and John Legend giving songwriting tutorials, MasterClass has huge prestige. MasterClass is largely accessible only to industry experts and people with a proven track record of success in their fields.
But apart from the allure of celebrities and big names, what's the MasterClass platform like? Do the offered courses live up to the hype? And perhaps more importantly, is it worth your time and money?
The Quality of MasterClass Instructors and Courses
Once you get a MasterClass subscription, the first positive thing you'll notice is the production quality of the lesson videos. Watch it on a smartphone, PC, or TV, and you'll still get crisp, clear pictures. The videos are typically well-lit, high-definition videos shot by filmmaking experts who know how to handle lighting and sets.
However, if you're paying for MasterClass classes, you'll want more than just good video quality. You'll need high-value content as well. Does MasterClass live up to the hype on this metric?
The Quality of MasterClass Instructors
We sampled three MasterClass classes: Margaret Atwood's masterclass on creative writing, Chris Hadfield's masterclass on space exploration, and Chris Voss's masterclass on the art of negotiation.
In terms of the quality of instructors, it couldn't get any better than that. For context, Margaret Atwood is a renowned writer and author of the popular dystopian novel, The Handmaid's Tale. Chris Hadfield is a former commander of the International Space Station, while Chris Voss is a highly successful former FBI hostage negotiator.
While not all the so-called big names are particularly great instructors, they find creative ways to impact as much knowledge as possible. MasterClass has a production team that works with every instructor, so they're able to catch any letdowns in each MasterClass video and fix them before it is published.
The instructors deliver lessons in an immersive way that makes you feel as if they are having a one-on-one session with you.
The Quality of MasterClass Courses
MasterClass courses are typically short, with a lot of them less than five hours. It took about two days to complete the three courses we sampled. All three courses had around 15 hours of videos in total.
MasterClass classes typically give an overview of topics with some in-depth explanation. For instance, Hadfield's space exploration class we sampled gives you a run-down of what space exploration looks like from an insider's perspective.
It provides enough to help you grow your knowledge of the field, but perhaps not enough details to make a career decision. But to be fair, space exploration is a bit of rocket science—so it wouldn't exactly be easy to break it down in the seven hours running time of the video.
Similarly, Chris Voss's masterclass on the art of negotiation provided valuable and potentially game-changing ideas on negotiation. For a rookie trying to succeed in negotiation-style conversations, it could be very useful. However, there's little in terms of actual implementation details—so you might have to seek more in-depth knowledge of the shared ideas or put them into action in real-life. The class was worth every second of its running time, nonetheless.
MasterClass courses tend to come packed with an air of inspiration. Once you're done with a class, you'll want to take action.
Apart from lesson videos, each MasterClass comes with a uniquely crafted workbook to help you during and after the classes. The workbook is designed to fit the topic of the masterclass involved. Although MasterClass classes are pre-recorded, from time to time, instructors host live video sessions. This session offers a rare chance to interact with industry experts who also double as instructors on the platform.
Are MasterClass Courses Right for You?
MasterClass is open to everyone, but the classes are better suited to curious minds who want to learn more on a wide range of topics.
To make the most of MasterClass courses, you should have some level of proficiency in the subject area. Most MasterClass instructors assume that their audience is at least moderately knowledgeable in their fields. As a result, the lessons are delivered with some level of abstraction.
If you want to go into photography, for instance, you're better off starting with some Udemy courses or YouTube videos. As you progress, MasterClass could then be the perfect place to polish your skills.
MasterClass is also a good place to learn ready-to-deploy skills from people who have applied those skills successfully in their respective fields. Need a class on handling the pressures of leadership? What better way to learn than from Bill and Hilary Clinton's MasterClass lessons? Need to improve your gymnastics skills? How about learning from the phenomenal Simone Biles?
MasterClass Pricing Options
MasterClass offers a $180 yearly subscription with an optional $15 monthly plan. Several times a year, a MasterClass subscription comes with an option to include another non-paying MasterClass user.
There are no free trials available, so you'll have to pay to try out MasterClass. However, there's a 30-day money-back window you can use to get refunds if MasterClass doesn't meet your requirements.
Is MasterClass Worth the Hype?
MasterClass gives you access to courses by some of the world's biggest names. The program focuses on high-pedigree topics and skills, such as leadership and negotiating.
If you need to acquire knowledge in a largely "informative" manner that you can then apply in your way, then only a few platforms can level up to MasterClass. If this case, MasterClass is worth every dollar. However, if you want to acquire skills in a more practical and hands-on manner, then you should probably not pay for MasterClass.