Online courses have grown to be very popular these days and with the increase in demand, comes a considerably large amount of supply… which is a good thing for people who are looking to sign up for a course to complement their learning style and budget. Not all online courses are created equal, and people have become more meticulous when it comes to choosing which course would offer them the knowledge and skills they need.
If you are an industry expert who is planning to create a paid online course and share your knowledge and skills, here are a few things to avoid:
1. Very Long Videos
If you want to keep your learners engaged, keep your videos under 10 minutes. Time is a valuable factor for your learners, who are either very busy with work or responsibilities at home, so instead of preparing an hour-long video featuring an extensive discussion of a single topic, chop your lectures into short but information-packed chunks that will give them a thorough understanding of each lesson. Aside from saving them time, shorter videos also ensure that the ideas are well-understood and retained in their memory.
2. Focusing on Content Alone
While providing good content is important for an online course, it is not the only thing you need to offer on your course site. You want to offer not just good information, but good information that will keep your learners engaged and provide them a positive learning experience.
Aside from substantial content, you also need to think of different mediums to use, so your online students will be able to appreciate your content and actually absorb it. Different people have different ways of learning, so it is also important that your online course presents your materials in various ways, such as videos, audio, infographs, etc.
3. Forgetting About Responsive Design
We tend to forget that many people access online information not just on desktop computers and laptops but on their tablets and smartphones as well. In this day and age, more and more people are using mobile gadgets for a lot of their activities, not just for leisure but for business as well. So, when it comes to designing your online course, keep in mind that your course site might probably be accessed on a tablet or a smartphone. Instead of creating a design layout that only works on computers, make sure that your online course will have a responsive design that will allow your students to access all of the materials and perform online activities on their mobile gadgets as well.
With the smaller screens on smartphones and tablets, accessing your course site on its web version designed for computers will give your learners a difficult time. With a responsive design, they get to access your course and view the same materials, but in a better format that will give them convenient access to all functions of the course site.
By avoiding these three things as you design and create your online course, you are sure to be building a more effective tool in teaching and engaging all types of learners. This will make you stand out from the rest of the courses being offered online.
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Michelle Rubio has been writing for SMEs across the United States, Canada, Australia and the UK for the last five years. She is a highly-experienced blogger and SEO copywriter, writing business blogs for various industries such as marketing, law, health and wellness, beauty, and education, particularly on creating online courses such as those offered by CourseMinded.com.
