My online course creation journey Part 3: 7 Things I'd like to see Created in a Different Style
Like any other project you make, the creation of an online course is a love-based act. As this was my first online course I'd ever created, I jumped head-first into the task determined to master how to navigate the process of creating online courses. In addition, as I felt that I was so committed to showing others how write can be an artistic and therapeutic instrument, I was determined to utilize each tool to the fullest possible extent.
As my program has ended (it was held from July 6, to) I've begun to contemplate what I'd change about the next time I launch.
It turns out that this phase of reflection has proven to be essential. As I surpassed my goal of enrollment If I could have the choice of going back in time prior to my journey, I could have made a number of decisions that were different. Now, I'm confident that I'll be able to change some of the things I'm planning to change as I prepare for the next edition of Your Inner Writer this fall.
My hope is to help you gain knowledge from my mistakes so that your process for developing, marketing, and teaching your first online class will be as simple (and profitable!) as possible.
That's what I'd prefer to alter about how I conduct myself:
1. I'd love to upgrade to Basic Plans -- Sooner
As I decided the course's curriculum, I began to create the content. But, I did not make any plans regarding how I was going about presenting the material for my students.
I first started with the free planthinking I would release all my lessons at once before letting students work through the material in accordance with their individual timetables. Then, I realized that I should incorporate the Drip Schedule feature so that I could distribute every week's lessons in drips. I realized that publishing lessons in drips could help increase the anticipation of lessons as also daily writing exercises that helped students to keep my students in the right direction as well as reduce the need students to skip their next class. The students also had to finish each lesson prior to moving into the next.
Furthermore, having the content released week-to-week rather than all at once can assist me in keeping my students from getting overwhelmed by the sheer amount of information available at any given time, particularly because every week they watched the equivalent of 45 minutes of video on Wednesdays.
It was just a matter of time before I realized that I needed to upgrade my plan to allow me to to utilize Drip Schedule. Drip Schedule option. The upgrade was not a major problem; all I needed was to gain access to the settings of my account through the dashboard, and then modify my plan.
If I had known prior to my choice that I'd publish content weekly, I could communicate this information to my students sooner in my marketing and sales materials. Furthermore, it will give me a better way to organize my creation process. Without Drip Schedule I'd have the task of creating my own course materials. With the Drip Schedule features allowed me to create almost all of the material online prior to the course officially began on July 6.
2. I Wish I'd Created an auto-generated Welcome Email
My first class was when my students signed up for my course I was so thrilled (and somewhat surprised since the first time I started my course thinking about the possibility of having an online class students actually wanted to purchase felt as if it was an unrealized dream) that I completely forgot about sending the students an acknowledgement email for their involvement in the course.
When my first student signed up for my course, I personally sent all of them an email manually via Gmail to greet them and give them details of the structure of my course as well as remind them of my upcoming starting date and inform that I would be expecting them. The next email I also provided all the students who had signed up with the same email. If I could have the chance to return , I'd set up an automatic email for welcome so that I don't have to worry with this extra process.
As a student I would have loved to receive an immediate email that could have guided me through what I can expect through Your Inner Writer, especially because I kept the website's landing page unclear because I had to promote my program before I had put it up on the pre-order feature.
Additionally, making the automated email for welcome is easy and straightforward. All you need to do is go to your dashboard, click Help Your Students, select Notifications. Be sure to select the Student Notifications tab Click Edit on the right of Welcome to the Site, edit the email as you wish before saving. This can facilitate efficient smooth and clear communications between the person in charge of making the email, and every student you've added to your list.
3. I wish I'd used an alternative email service
Along the same lines of emails, I also sent my 22 students each week an email once the lesson video and guide writing activities were posted on Wednesdays. I had the chance to reach out to my students and inform them what to anticipate in the weeks ahead, and provide them with an easy access to the registration page.
First time I tried this, I created an email using my MailChimp account. Once I'd created my test email, I discovered it was in the folder for promotions. I chose to, email my students through Gmail instead of Gmail since I didn't intend for them to risk having access to my email.
It definitely took up a amount of time. However, as it was my first experience taking an online course to complete, I was eager to become more proficient in communicating with the students. To ensure the next time, I'll be sure that I send all my students to cut down on time. Unlike auto-generated emails however, I wasn't aware of of the possibility until half way into my course.
In order to email students, I would have needed access my dashboard, then select the Help Your Students Select Users and scroll to the bottom of the page or use the search function to find the student. pick their email address and add the body and the subject of the email, and then press Send.
4. I'm wishing I'd known I'd make a mistake the initially. The First Time
When it came to creating content for my online course, I used the easy, free design tools on Canva to create an aesthetically-cohesive powerpoint presentation for each video lesson and guided writing practice. After that, I made use of the Loom video messaging tool to capture me speaking in the slideshow with powerpoint, giving it a more personal an authentic look.
As I spoke my lesson plans I'd have to frequently stop and go back to Canva to edit my text or insert additional slides to help make it flow more smoothly. The same thing happened for every lesson, as well as the guided writing exercises which I wrote down.
I tried to remember the phrase I'd been using from the beginning, and my lessons in my discussions with the highest-earning creators: Better done than perfect. When I was required to make some adjustments on my slides, before recording my video for another occasion, I was able to feel my frustration growing. When I make another training online, I'll be aware the reverse and hinging is an integral element of the content production process. It's not common to do it right in the first attempt.
I am always self-critical, I was able to finish my video to the point at which I felt it was "good enough" that I was in a position to stop making myself insane with editing. Instead, I went ahead and uploaded the videos to and attempted convincing myself the work was good enough. In addition, I attempted to keep in mind that this was my very first online class and also my minimal viable product (MVP). This was merely a test of my concepts. I've learned from fellow creators that you should release your MVP openly to the world and then make adjustments to the information at a later date.
5. I wish I'd only given the opportunity to hear feedback
When I started sharing information about my online class to my Instagram followers, as well as my email addresses I noticed the tiniest doubts creeping up in my brain. I thought about what I could be doing to provide enough worth? One of mycoping mechanisms is over-giving and over-deliver therefore I decided to provide another benefit to my classes by allowing students to send me emails about their writing assignments based on the writing exercises that I teach them each week . They also receive the feedback.
The course was clearly higher than I was supposed to in this $29.99 course. If I were able to go back to the course, I'd offer only an opportunity to receive comments on the students' works after the final writing exercise and was supervised. Though I was enthralled by seeing my students' writing each week, I found it difficult to remain current with feedback for my students of 22. Also, giving comments at the conclusion of the practice of guided writing could have been an excellent method to conclude my as and my students' lesson. The lesson learned!
6. I'm hoping I'd looked up the day of my course's end date.
The most serious mistake I made was not to modify the default settings on my website. Instead, I put in the date for the expiration of the program.
When I heard of two students not able to access the course, I started to analyze the situation and discovered that access to their courses was expired. Since I had given to all students throughout the year access to the course as well as the one I set, I ensured to update everyone's expiry date through my account. clicking"Support the Students" selecting the students, after that, selecting the names I have for my students. Then, I clicked to start my classes, choosing the option of creating an expiry date in the Expiry Date, then selecting the date from the calendar menu, and then choosing Update.
7. I'd like to have an individual Facebook Community
When I think back on it and reflect, I am happy that I constructed a place in which my students could communicate with one another. It was good that I was able to teach my classes online since it was launched during the middle of summer, and not many people have any sense of routine or organization throughout the brighter and summer seasons. When I go back to Your Inner Writer again, I'll make sure that I invite all my students into a secret Facebook group in order to provide them with an opportunity to get together with their classmates. In addition, this will give my students the chance for students to share their writing to one another instead of just relying on me as the only person to talk with.
The process of reviewing my work is essential to decide on what next steps to take. Because My Inside Writer has been my "MVP, there are four additional crucial things to do prior to reviving it in an annual workshop that's being offered on my site:
1. I'll Get Feedback
Before launching Your Inner Writer, I intend to send to my pupils a feedback form to pupils to fill in. They will be asked concerns such as:
- What was your favourite aspect during this class?
- What is it you weren't thrilled about in class?
- What do you wish had been different?
- What can you recall from this course?
- How did you feel concerning the manner in which data was shared?
- What would you like to change at some time in the near future?
This allows me to determine the changes that must be made in my next course. course.
2. I'll Get Testimonials
When I fill out the feedback forms I'll give my students, I'm planning to request that students submit a written review of their pleasant experience using Your Inner Writer. This will allow me to build the social proof that I'll have to put on my website's landing page and in social media when I launch my course in few months. It can give my students and me credibility.
3. I'll also record the Content.
Once I've collected information and determined what has to be changed in my class, I'm going reserve two days on my schedule for me to look over my entire course's material
(including videos and writing techniques so that you can be prepared for any changes that are requested.
4. I'm looking to increase the price
If it's time to launch Your Inner Writer I'll raise prices, but I'll make sure the course is accessible. I'm contemplating pricing my course at $49.99 Between $49.99 and $89.99 in accordance with the quantity of adjustments that must be made as well as the additional time that I'm willing to invest.
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