Online course offerings can vary significantly in terms of quality. Remember that your course is a reflection of your brand, business, and expertise so you want to make sure it's properly representing you.
Transformational online courses/programs provide a combination of the following:
Quality Content
A course must deliver on its promises and have high-quality content. Without it, you risk finishing an online course without feeling like you learned the information and acquired the skills you needed. Or it can simply come off as bland without genuine insights, perspectives, or real-life experiences.
Use Of Multimedia
We are not limited to just textbooks and chalkboards anymore. There are so many fantastic and engaging methods to provide knowledge to students now that technology exists. An online educator can use tools like videos, podcasts, interactive websites, and even mobile apps to engage students fully. Learning becomes a lot more enjoyable as a result than just reading a lengthy document.
Correct Pacing
An online course must be carefully designed to ensure students are not intimidated or bored. Information should be divided into manageable lesson sizes. If the course includes any tasks, enough time must be allocated to finish them to prevent students from feeling apprehensive or stressed. Smaller assignments should have a purpose and not just be given to your learners to keep them occupied.
Community
There is a lot of interaction in a classroom setting between students, their teacher, and their peers. If it's not adequately planned for, this is one element of an online course that might be missing.
If not done correctly, online courses can make students feel alone. It can be as straightforward as a discussion board with space for off-topic chatter for learners. Additionally, there should be a method for students to seek advice in case they have any questions or run into problems.
Intuitive Navigation
Even the best path is useless if it is challenging to follow. Students should be able to access any material they've paid for without contacting tech assistance. This onboarding process should be automated and simple to follow.
There should be no question about the next steps a student must take, and all necessary tools and information should be readily available.
Sometimes, students may be required to sign up for external services, download other resources, etc., which is fine, but clearly communicate to your students, so they are informed about every step of their learning experience.
Self Directed
The most effective online courses allow students to have some degree of autonomy over their learning and decision-making.
While you should offer your students flexibility and avoid micromanaging them excessively, it is also a good idea to have follow-up email sequences in addition to the primary course material. This is to address roadblocks and gather feedback on how students are progressing.
Above all, an online course must be interesting for the learner to enjoy the program, remember the material, and implement it in their own lives.
Pro-Tip: Be sure to price your course according to the value of including these elements within your program!
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