Start with Esri Academy to explore courses and learning paths, Learn ArcGIS to practise a specific task, or an Esri MOOC to study a topic within a scheduled course. They are complementary resources: MOOCs are part of Esri's training offering, rather than a competing learning platform. The right starting point depends on what you need to produce, your existing skills, and the time and software access you have.
For a learner in Jordan or elsewhere in the region, a useful first question is: “Do I need help choosing what to learn, completing one practical task, or maintaining a study routine?” Use the comparison below to make that decision.
What does each resource offer?
Esri Academy is the broad training destination. It brings together instructor-led courses, on-demand resources and learning plans. Start here when you want to explore a subject or identify a sequence of learning activities. Check the individual resource for its format, prerequisites and access conditions.
Learn ArcGIS is a useful starting point for practical tutorials and projects. Choose an exercise that produces something you need to understand: a map, an analysis result or an application. Read its requirements before committing to it, and use the exercise as a starting point for independent practice.
Esri MOOCs are free massive open online courses. They are self-paced within a scheduled course period, typically four to six weeks. Look at the current listing and course details for enrollment status and requirements. “Self-paced” does not mean you can necessarily start or finish whenever you want.
Which learning format fits your situation?
This table gives our suggested starting points. It is a decision aid, not a ranking of the resources.
| Your immediate need | Suggested starting point | What to check |
|---|---|---|
| Understand a subject and plan your next skills | Esri Academy | The sequence, assumed knowledge and format of each resource |
| Practise one clearly defined task | Learn ArcGIS | The exercise outcome, software, account and data requirements |
| Explore a topic with a course timetable | An Esri MOOC | Whether registration is open and the course period fits your schedule |
| Get feedback on difficulties in your own workflow | Explore instructor-led training | Whether the proposed course covers your task and provides the support you need |
If you are still choosing a product, read ArcGIS Pro or ArcGIS Online: which should you learn first?. Choosing a learning format and choosing a product are separate decisions.
What is free, and what access should you confirm?
Separate the cost of the learning resource from access to the software used in an exercise. Do not assume that finding a free tutorial means your account can run every tool it describes.
Esri's training options and formats page explains its learning formats and e-Learning access arrangements, including access associated with current software maintenance subscriptions. If you belong to an organization, ask its administrator what access is enabled for you before buying or registering for something else.
For each resource, check:
- Enrollment: Can you start now, or must you wait for a course window?
- Account: Which account type and permissions are required?
- Software: Do you need an installation, a particular license or an extension?
- Practice: Are datasets supplied, and are credits needed for the chosen operations?
- Access duration: Does any course-provided access end on a specified date?
- Support and language: What help is available, and can you work comfortably with the material?
Do not assume that every resource offers personal feedback. Check the actual format and support arrangements, especially if you need someone to review your own data or explain why an analysis failed.
Three ways to choose a starting point
The following scenarios are illustrative, not accounts of customer outcomes.
A student wants a first portfolio project
Start with a manageable tutorial and define what you will submit before opening the software. For example: a map, a short explanation of its data, and two limitations. Our first ArcGIS Pro mapping project offers a small facility-mapping exercise to consider.
After following a guided exercise, change one meaningful part of the question or use a different permitted practice dataset. Explain what changed and why. A portfolio becomes more informative when it shows your decisions rather than only the final image.
An analyst needs to complete a task at work
Write the task as an output: “I need a web map that project coordinators can open,” rather than “I need to learn everything about ArcGIS.” Look for a matching tutorial, then identify the parts you do not understand.
If those gaps concern basic data concepts or a wider workflow, explore Academy resources to build the missing foundation. Record where you get stuck so that a later training enquiry can be specific.
A team lead wants a shared learning plan
Begin with the team's roles. Someone preparing datasets and someone presenting results may need different exercises. Assign an output to each role and agree how it will be reviewed.
A MOOC may provide a useful shared study period if its topic and dates fit. An Academy learning path may help organize prerequisite work. Where the team needs guided practice, compare instructor-led options against the actual work to be done.
How can you combine these resources?
Use a simple learning cycle: choose a task, study the relevant concepts, complete a guided exercise, then attempt a small variation independently. Keep a short record:
| Record | Example of what to write |
|---|---|
| Goal | The output and who will use it |
| Resource | The course or tutorial link and date used |
| Access | The account and software needed |
| Evidence | What you produced and how you checked it |
| Next gap | What you still cannot explain or repeat |
This record helps you choose the next resource based on evidence of your progress. Completing more lessons is useful only if you can apply what you learned.
When should you consider training with an instructor?
Consider supported training when you repeatedly get stuck, need feedback, or must apply a workflow consistently across a team. Bring your learning record and a clear target task to the discussion.
InfoGraph offers training at its centre in Jordan and online for learners across the region. Read how to choose a GIS training course in Jordan, or our regional online training guide, then explore the training catalogue. Confirm the course scope, delivery format, language and software arrangements for your needs.
Ask InfoGraph about a suitable GIS learning path. Tell us your current level, the task you want to complete and the resources you have already tried.
