how to figure out the potential for my subject for developing an online course

by Halle Becker 6 min read

The main criteria in evaluating your online course’s topic are whether it appeals to both you and your audience: Choose something you want to teach: The topic for your online course should be either a subject that you’re already knowledgeable about or are willing to invest in learning thoroughly.

Full Answer

Should I create an online course on a subject I know?

Jul 24, 2021 · Then consider the right place for you to be in the market. Figure out how broad or narrow you will go with your online course idea. Format of Course. The next step is to figure out the format of your online course. If you spent the time researching your competition, then this will be easier to do. There are three ways to go about this.

How to develop an online course?

Jun 23, 2021 · Test it out by sharing polls or online forms for your audience to fill out. You can make a short tutorial first, and monitor its performance. Then, follow up on the tutorial on social media or via email marketing campaigns, asking your audience if this type of material is something they’re interested in seeing more of.

How to evaluate your online course’s topic?

May 14, 2021 · Identifying that the target audience is “anyone interested in my course subject” is too general and non-actionable. Instead, try to identify the following key demographics of your target audience: Age. The average age of online students is 34. Depending on your course topic, this number could be different.

How to market an online course?

Step 3: Select the “Import Content into this Course” option from the right-side menu. Step 4: From the Content Type menu select “Canvas Course Export Package”. Step 5: Choose a file and locate the template export package. Note: The file extension will end with .imscc. Step 6: Choose the “Select specific content” radial option.

How do I choose a topic for an online course?

How do you choose the best online course topic?
  1. Ask Your Audience. If you already have a following, then you have a group from which you can gain insight. ...
  2. Estimate Demand through an Online Search. ...
  3. Reference YouTube. ...
  4. Search Online Course Marketplaces.
Aug 2, 2021

How do I find my audience for an online course?

Guest post on other sites and blogs, directing readers back to your website or sales page.
  1. Make your course available to influencers and experts in your niche, and ask them to mention it to their audience in exchange for free access. ...
  2. Talk about your work (and your course) as a guest on webinars and podcasts.

How do you develop content for a course?

Four Steps to Create Course Content that Flows
  1. Consider your goals in teaching this course. Decide what you would like your students to accomplish from taking this course. ...
  2. Develop topics and subtopics, then narrow down further. ...
  3. Structure the course with what you have finalized. ...
  4. Plan your content types.
Jul 5, 2019

What are some important factors when planning for online classes?

Five Factors for Successful Online Learning
  • Use a systems approach to course design. ...
  • Provide professional development. ...
  • Set student expectations. ...
  • Create community. ...
  • Take advantage of the online environment.
Mar 29, 2018

Who are the target audience of Coursera?

Three users that pretty much cover Coursera's rather eclectic target user audience: ages 18–55, with various levels of industry experience and interest in course completion or online degrees. Personally, I usually look for a specific lecture or learn the basics without getting too involved.

What is the main purpose of online course?

The Major Goals Of eLearning

Enhance the quality of learning and teaching. Meet the learning style or needs of students. Improve the efficiency and effectiveness. Improve user-accessibility and time flexibility to engage learners in the learning process.
Sep 28, 2018

How do you structure an online course?

In many ways, the structure of online courses closely resembles the structure of in-person courses. Each week, students generally must complete a set of required readings, watch one or more lectures, participate in a discussion with their classmates, and finish an assignment.Jul 27, 2021

Is selling online courses profitable?

Are Online Courses Profitable? Yes, they are. Online courses offer one of the best business models to digital entrepreneurs. The demand is rising and people are more than willing to pay for them, and they are one of the top ways to make money online.Oct 11, 2021

How long does it take to create an online course?

It can take anywhere between 3 days to 2 months to create an online course, assuming that you are working on it full time. A mini-course covering a very narrow topic can be produced in only 3 days or less, while a complete in-depth 20h masterclass covering all levels can take several months to produce.Feb 18, 2022

What are the 3 most important factors in successful implementation of distance learning?

Well-designed and appropriate learning materials. Student orientation and training. Student access to learning resources and instructors.

What are the key success factors for online learning?

This paper identifies three critical success factors in online delivery: technology (ease of access and navigation, interface design and level of interaction); the instructor (attitudes towards students, instructor technical competence and classroom interaction); and the previous use of the technology from a student's ...

What are the key factors for making online education more effective?

All in all, there seem to be five key success factors with regard to online studying. There are the cognitive and social factors, the role of the instructor, self-regulated learning skills, and the platform's ease of use.

What is online course?

Online courses fit under the category of info products (or at least that's what we used to call them before watching videos online was even possible). Back then, you could choose from ebooks, big-box items, or live seminars.

Why do you base your script on the rough draft?

You base it on the rough draft because including visuals can easily change a script.

What should the topic of an online course be?

The topic for your online course should be either a subject that you’re already knowledgeable about or are willing to invest in learning thoroughly. Either way, you need to be passionate about the subject.

How to develop a curriculum for online classes?

Now is the time to develop the curriculum for your online course. On a piece of paper, write down a list of the different lessons you plan on teaching online. Within each lesson, break it down to the main topics you want to cover. Go in a logical order and try to make your ideas evolve naturally from one to the other , to ensure a smooth and frictionless learning process.

What does competition mean in online courses?

Having competition means that people find the topic relevant and helpful for them. It’s also a good idea to create content that can comfortably fit into an existing, tried-and-tested space.

What to do if you already have professional experience with your course topic?

If you already have professional experience with your course topic, it’s likely that you’ve put together content about it in the past. Have you ever written a blog post or created a webinar about the subject? Maybe you host a podcast or run a YouTube channel for your business in which you’ve discussed similar themes? If so, go back to these materials. Repurposing existing content into your online course will help get you started and save a lot of valuable time.

How to get your audience to work on a topic?

Ask a group of friends, as well as your existing audience, what they think of the subject you had in mind. Test it out by sharing polls or online forms for your audience to fill out. You can make a short tutorial first, and monitor its performance. Then, follow up on the tutorial on social media or via email marketing campaigns, asking your audience if this type of material is something they’re interested in seeing more of.

How to test your idea?

In order to test your idea, use a landing page builder to create a page for your upcoming online course. Although you haven’t created the course just yet, you already know what it’s going to be about. Include a concise description of the course explaining what people can expect to learn and add eye-catching imagery to further reflect the concept. Check out these fully customizable landing page templates to use as a starting point.

How to determine competitor price?

Competitor prices: Start by doing a quick audit to determine the average course price on your topic. While the prices can fluctuate depending on how much of an expert the course instructor is, try to get a sense of what the going market rate is for reference.

How to make an online course more engaging?

An easy way to make online courses more engaging is to stimulate the student visually. This means pictures and videos. The simplest method of using picture and videos in an online course would be constructing your online class more like a PowerPoint presentation:

What is the most important part of creating an online course?

One of the most important components of creating an online course is setting a learning goal for the course . However, there’s more to it. Every online course consists of various sections, and each individual section also needs to have a clear learning goal.

What does it mean to get started teaching?

Which means you need to get your knowledge together.

Why should you check with others?

When you’re dealing in a field where you’re an expert, it can be hard to recall the times when you were still new to the subject. What’s obvious and easy to an expert might not be the same to a new learner. This is why you should check with others. Ideally, you’d want two different people to look at it: First, a fellow subject matter expert, who can examine your material and comment on your approach; check if you’re missing anything, if you’ve accidentally provided incorrect information, that sort of thing.

How to keep students engaged in a course?

One way to keep your students engaged is to provide an early return on their investment. If a student feels they’ve learned something just from the first module alone, they’re a lot more likely to stick around. Nothing gets someone down faster than them feeling stupid or unproductive, which is very easy to do in a learning environment. Give them feedback, and an ongoing sense of accomplishment, and they’ll stick around.

What is the target audience of an online course?

The target audience is the group of people to whom you are writing your course.

Why is it important to break down your body of knowledge into individual pieces?

Remember our point about structuring knowledge? This is why. Breaking down your body of knowledge into individual, learnable pieces means that students can look back and see actual progress. It’s also the reason quizzes and tests are a useful tool: they help to measure learning and improvement.

How many students have taken online courses?

According to a 10 year study conducted by the Online Learning Consortium, 6.7 million students have taken at least one online course and roughly thirty-two percent of all higher-education students now take at least one online course during their educational career. And these numbers continue to rise.

How to make a course interactive?

Plan for interaction! Make sure your course is rich in opportunities for students to engage with the content, with you and with each other. This means creating diverse activities like discussions, group work, case studies and collaborative problem-solving. Also, be sure to select resources that are relevant and present a variety of viewpoints and meet different learning styles. Consider multimedia, periodicals, web resources, etc.

How to align a course?

Using the learning objectives you can become more selective in what you include in your course. This selection process is known as alignment. Alignment occurs when the course component (activity, assignment, material, technology and/or assessment) will help the student meet the learning objectives. To get started, build a Conceptual Framework for each module. In this framework outline the learning by identifying the course competencies and learning objectives for the module. Then review the course components (each piece of your module that you identified in the module map process) and see if they fit (align), i.e. contribute to the student achieving the stated learning objective. If a component does not align you need to either change the objective, change the course component or if it is essential to keep this non-aligned component, make sure that it is clearly identified as supplemental.

What are course competencies in Maricopa?

In Maricopa there are “course level” competencies that are designed and written by faculty at the district level through the Instructional Council for each discipline . Course competencies are what is required to be covered and taught in every course. For course design and mapping, especially online, a faculty member designs activities, assessments, lectures, etc. to teach those competencies….along the way students will learn incrementally – those are unit or module level learning objectives. These help students understand what they will be learning, how all the activities and assignments help them learn, and then in the end see where they have been.

How to organize a project?

Organization is key to any project. Gather all the resources from previous courses you have taught, content and instructional materials you have researched or picked-up from colleagues, etc.. Put them in a format/file and store in a way you can easily access (computer, online or USB Drive). This includes your syllabi, notes, textbook, lectures, hand-outs, quizzes, exams, assignments/papers/projects, online resources, journal articles, and any other pertinent resources. Ask your department or colleagues for resources specific to your subject area. Sample syllabi, lessons and even course templates may be available to get you started. Taking the time to organize up front will save you lots of time later, so don’t skip this critical part of the process.

Do we love our course content?

We all love our course content! As a result, it is tempting to throw everything into your course in an effort to spark that same love in the heart of your students. But how do students know what is important and essential to their learning? How do we help them focus?

Is online learning an alternative to traditional learning?

Online education is not an “alternative” to traditional classroom learning.

What to consider before developing an online course?

7 Things to Consider Before Developing an Online Course is a Magna Online Seminar that gives you strategies to maximize your planning and design timeframe—all leading to a more efficient course (i.e. less stress for you when you’re teaching) and a better experience for your students. Led by Brian Udermann, PhD, you’ll learn how to allow for adequate time to develop a course, explore avenues to find course content, prioritize the content students need to learn, create an instructor participation plan, determine what course assessments will be used, estimate the overall workload associated with developing and teaching an online course, and use existing faculty support services available to help with course design and planning.

What is magna seminar?

This Magna Online Seminar gives you strategies to maximize your planning and design timeframe—all leading to a more efficient course (i.e. less stress for you when you’re teaching) and a better experience for your students.

Who teaches entrepreneurs how to build profitable courses?

Joseph Michael teaches entrepreneurs how to build profitable courses.

What does Michael say about getting started?

Crazy enough, Michael thinks you can do the same. All you need to get started, he says, is the right attitude and tools.

Why did Abagnale say he read a chapter ahead?

Abagnale said he simply “read a chapter ahead” so he could teach the lesson, which is rather amazing.

Do people have the intelligence to build a business?

Many times, people already possess the intelligence and knowledge they need to build an amazing business. My goal has always been showing them the steps to take to get there.

Is entrepreneurship worth it?

There are financial benefits to entrepreneurship, but even more valuable is the freedom to live the life I want. We can (and often do) take a week off for a trip with the kids. I love being able to get up and eat breakfast with my family instead of having to rush out the door. Just being able to take the day off to go to the Zoo has been amazing. Our kids are only young once, right? I relish in the fact I can finally enjoy it.

Why do you create an online course?

Creating an online course is a great way to connect with your customers, increase your authority within your niche, and build another stream of passive income. They tend to go deeper than your blog posts but are just as fun to create.

How much will the eLearning market be in 2025?

The global eLearning market is predicted to nearly triple from $107 billion in 2015 to $325 billion in 2025. Not only that, but TechJury gathered the following statistics that show how helpful eLearning can be for both companies and individuals: IBM saved roughly $200 million after switching to eLearning.

How long is a webinar?

Because a webinar is usually 45–60 minutes with a structured formula, you just need to nail your webinar script once. Then you can fine-tune it over time and even release pre-recorded webinar sessions throughout the week (assuming you have the right webinar software ).

How to promote your class?

Try reaching out to your professional network to help you figure out how to promote your class. Other professionals in your industry can become customers to give you more valuable feedback, testimonials, or even a nice shout-out on their social platforms.

Why is it important to see money coming in at the beginning of a course?

Seeing money coming in at the early stages of your course launch is helpful in paying for your tools and your advertising costs (if you’re running paid ads).

Why do people have podcasts?

Everyone and their mother has a podcast right now. And for good reason. Podcasts are an excellent way to show your knowledge about a particular topic.

Is an online course a product?

Though your online course is a little different from other digital products, it’s still a product. It’s something you build, promote, and sell, right?

What is online course development?

Online course development is a complex process, and the price of course creation can vary depending on learning platform, course content, eLearning industry, and other factors. If you want to get a detailed cost analysis research for your eLearning project, pleasefeel free to schedule a demo. Tweet#N# .

How much will 1 hour of learning cost in 2021?

In 2021, 1 hour of learning content can cost about $8,542 - $36,320 ($22,431 on average).

How long has Sergiy been in eLearning?

Sergiy has 18 years of experience in eLearning and management. Creating educational programs, career paths, online and offline courses he is making the educational world better as a co-founder of RG.

What is ll subsequent information?

A ll subsequent information was collected from open sources and is also the result of a compilation of our experience in tailoring custom online learning solutions.

Is eLearning still relevant?

The eLearning market changes, new eLearning trends, and technologies rise and the course should remain relevant. As we all know, even the most popular distance learning courses might need to be adjusted over time, if new breakthroughs occur in the subject matter, new data should be added or some statistics should be updated.

Is online course development complex?

Note: Online course development is a multi-stage and complex process, and it is impossible to know the price in advance thoroughly. There are too many variables in the final price tag equation that affect pricing. To get a complete and accurate estimate, you should contact the experts in online course creation and book a demo to tell all the details about your upcoming project.

Is all training material ready for LMS?

So, all the training material is ready, and now is the time to add it to your chosen LMS. However, this is not just a process of "pouring" content into the system. It is necessary to fully transform it into a ready-made course using the LMS tools. In addition, it is vital to ensure the maximum quality of the finished course, so proofreading and error checking is critical.

image

Target Audience

The Course Objectives

  • Before you can create the course content, you must establish the learning objectives: the skills and knowledge that each learner will obtain in the course. The objectives you set must be specific and measurable to be effective. You want your audience to see the value of course at first look. If the objectives aren’t compelling enough, it could infl...
See more on blog.indielms.com

Course Content

  • Here’s where the real work begins. There’s a lot to think about when compiling information for your course. Does the content fill the gaps of your competitors? What information will be of most value to your learners? How will this course content stand out from other courses? Many course creators make the mistake of “information overload” — they provide course participants with mo…
See more on blog.indielms.com

Course Timeline and Duration of Each Module

  • When compiling the course content, you must also consider the course timeline. This will help you figure out what (and how much) information to include in each module. You will need to ensure that the course follows a logical order that is easy to follow. Remember, everyone learns at a different pace, so it’s wise to keep the timeline flexible. The duration of the course could influenc…
See more on blog.indielms.com

The Learning Experience

  • The success of an online course isn’t just determined by how good the content is. It’s also about the learning experience. The best online courses are interactive. They engage readers with games, exercises and assignments to improve the user experience. An online course containing no interactive elements will likely be dull, no matter how interesting the topic is. The key is to combi…
See more on blog.indielms.com

Usability and Design

  • Usability is absolutely crucial to the learning experience. This relates to factors such as screen design, error frequency and ease of use. If your course design is overly complicated, you could lose potential students. The design should be both appealing and user friendly.
See more on blog.indielms.com

Pricing

  • The pricing for your course will depend on the course content and duration. The best way to determine a reasonable price is to look at your competitors. This will give you an idea of what people typically pay for similar courses. From here, you can decide on a price that will make you stand out from potential customers.
See more on blog.indielms.com

Marketing Strategy

  • Having an effective marketing strategy is a crucial component of any business venture. It doesn’t matter how great your business idea is. Without smart marketing, you won’t reach the customers you need to sustain success. Since your course will be based online, your marketing strategy should be also be digital. Google ads, blogging and social media are excellent ways to reach pot…
See more on blog.indielms.com

Conclusion

  • If you want your online course to be successful, these 8 steps are important stepping stones. When you have a genuine passion and are willing to commit to the hours of hard work, there’s no reason why you shouldn’t go for it. Good luck! INDIE Guide: Creating beautiful online courses using INDIE
See more on blog.indielms.com