Happy Monday to you & welcome to a new week of possibilities!
As we embrace the start of another week, remember any time life’s challenges attempt to damper your spirits - you are an Everyday Knowledge Warrior, ready to conquer the week - and digital defeat! - with strategy, determination, and a systematic approach.
Unpacking the Impact: Did Your Last Online Course Deliver Real Learning?
Recently, I chatted with several talented creators, many of whom have online courses as part of their product offerings. I learned something surprising to me in our conversation. Despite the abundance of expertise in the group, many were not familiar with instructional design, specifically what it is and why it matters.
As someone with over 20 years of experience teaching and designing courses and a PhD in Instructional Design, this gap struck me profoundly. Without a foundation in instructional design, it's no wonder that the majority of creator-designed courses I've completed (and I've completed a lot!) have lacked clear learning objectives and left me frequently wondering: Did I actually learn anything in this course?
Online courses without effective instructional design minimally engage students, which leads to questionable measurable student "transformations", which results in few compelling testimonials to use to promote the course in the future.
Are you starting to see how this is a problem?
Since that conversation, I've been pondering this issue, specifically wondering:
How can talented creators, with online courses or those considering online courses, quickly bridge this knowledge gap? How can they enhance their courses to ensure they lead to genuine student transformations and robust testimonials?
That's why I've decided to launch "Transform Your Online Course in 30 Days with Essential Instructional Design Principles." Starting June 1st, I will share daily insights on Twitter and LinkedIn rooted in my over two decades of personal experiences teaching students and teaching teachers how to design effective courses. These posts will be packed with actionable tips and proven strategies to enhance your teaching and course outcomes.
Here’s a sneak peek at what each week will cover:
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Days 1-5: Foundations of Instructional Design
- Day 1: Understanding What Instructional Design Really Means
- Days 2-5: Exploring Key Theories of Learning and Instruction
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Days 6-10: Core Principles Every Course Designer Should Know
- Deep dive into alignment, assessment strategies, and engaging content frameworks that can make or break the student learning experience.
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Days 11-15: Designing Your Course from Scratch
- Step-by-step guidance on creating a course outline, setting measurable objectives, and designing learning materials that resonate.
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Days 16-20: Tools of the Trade
- Introduction to the must-have tools for course creation, from LMS platforms to engagement tools that will enhance your course delivery.
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Days 21-25: Mastering Feedback and Iterative Design
- This segment covers everything from gathering and analyzing feedback to implementing changes that significantly enhance course effectiveness. Discover tools and strategies that make this process seamless and impactful.
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Days 26-30: Myth-busting in Instructional Design
- Debunking common myths and misconceptions about instructional design to clear your path for innovation and creativity in teaching.
Interested in Elevating Your Course Design?
If you're curious about how instructional design can transform your online courses (or that course you've been thinking about designing) and want to delve deeper into these principles, please follow along with me on Twitter and/or LinkedIn.
Want these messages sent directly to you?
I often forget to go check someone's daily posts online (who has time for that?), so I wanted to make it easy for you to follow along if you'd like me to send this content directly to you.
- Looking for Daily emails? Click here to sign up for daily emails, from June 1-30, 2024.
- Prefer a Weekly Recap Digest? Click here to sign up for a weekly summary of all the content I share each week. I'll send the weekly digest each Sunday during the month of June 2024.
Join me this June for 'Transform Your Online Course in 30 Days with Essential Instructional Design Principles' and embark on a journey to master essential instructional design principles. Whether you're planning to create courses, enhance your teaching strategies, or simply want to understand the best practices in effective learning, this series is for you!
Systematic Minds Want to Know
Reflecting on the last online course you took, do you feel it truly enhanced your understanding or skills in a meaningful way? What was one element of the course that significantly contributed to or hindered your learning experience?
Reply to this email and let me know! I'd love to hear about your experiences.
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Continue Your Systematic Journey
Before you go...consider these curated opportunities to enrich your systematic journey. Each resource offers a unique blend of structure and flexibility, designed to empower you as you build, grow, and teach. Choose the one that aligns with your goals, and let's continue to transform our potential into progress.
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System Basics: Tana
Embark on a self-guided journey of discovery with “System Basics: Tana,” a meticulously structured, community-backed online course. This comprehensive program consists of five engaging modules, each tailored to unravel the intricacies of Tana and transform your digital productivity landscape. Focused on practical application and systematic mastery, you’ll emerge with a robust, personalized Tana setup that streamlines your workflow and amplifies your organizational efficiency. By the end of this course, you'll not only navigate Tana with confidence but also reshape the way you manage information, projects, and daily tasks.
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Healthier Me Tracker Tana Template
Dive into the realm of proactive health management with the “Healthier Me Tracker Tana Template,” a thoughtfully crafted tool that redefines your approach to wellness. This template is more than just a tracking aid; it’s a comprehensive system designed to meticulously log and interpret your health metrics. With features like the intuitive Healthier Me Hub and the customizable Supertag Template, managing your wellness becomes an enlightening and streamlined experience. Accompanied by an exclusive training video, this template simplifies your health tracking process, ensuring you stay focused and committed to your health goals. Embrace this template as your everyday health companion, and watch as it transforms your journey towards a healthier, more balanced lifestyle.
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Master Classroom: Reflection & Roadmap 2023
Dive into my self-paced, community-supported online course, “Master Classroom: Reflection & Roadmap 2023”. This transformative experience comprises five dynamic modules, each designed to spark significant personal and professional development. With a focus on translating insights into action, you’ll craft a clear, actionable plan for the year ahead.
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Research & Notes Dashboard
Research and Notes Dashboard Upgrade your academic pursuits with the “Notion for Academics: Research & Notes Dashboard”. Tailored for the discerning scholar, student, or lifelong learner, this dashboard stands as your command center for intellectual exploration. It’s more than an organizational tool—it’s a companion in your journey to forge connections and unlock insights.
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Teacher Lesson Planner
Introducing the “Teacher Lesson Planner” — my bespoke Notion template created for the innovative educator. This planner goes beyond mere scheduling, offering an integrated system to refine and revolutionize your teaching approach. From planning your curriculum to enriching your instructional delivery, it’s your partner in pedagogical excellence.
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