The Future of Learning

Have you also noticed a shift in how online learning has changed in the last few years?

I remember vividly how a few years ago everyone was talking about creating self-guided courses where you do “the work” once and then your students sign up on their own time and then consume the content — on their own time…

Let me ask you this:

When was the last time you enrolled in an online course like that and then the login information was just sitting in an email in your inbox?

I have a whole folder of courses that I had the best intentions to watch and complete and some of them I even started watching a lesson here and there, but most of them are just collecting dust.

If this is you, then I am pretty sure you also have a bookshelf somewhere with all the books that you are “reading next”…

I hope that’s not just me… Right?

I love learning, but when it comes to making time for it in my schedule with work, friends, family and other obligations I am often too optimistic when I purchase something.

Turns out this has been a huge problem with self-guided courses:

1. A 2018 Columbia University’s Teachers College study on edX and Coursera courses shows that online certificate programs have a completion rate of 15% or less.
2. These rates can approach 40%, according to this data from 2015, but they remain largely at 15% on average.
3. The situation has remained largely static. A recent 2019 study by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology revealed that over the past five years, online courses recorded an astronomical average dropout rate of about 96%. This high dropout rate has not improved in over six years

This means that while people do excitedly sign up for online courses they remain largely incomplete.

So, what is a better way to help adults learn things online?

During the last year, I have worked with the live learning platform Disco.co which is a rapidly growing platform to build online learning communities.

We believe that the FUTURE OF LEARNING is online, live and together.

1. The Future is Online

• No travel costs
• No cost for conference rooms
• More accessible to global audiences

2. The Future is Live

• The problem with self-guided courses: Everyone signs up with the intention to watch the videos, but nobody actually learns anything if they don’t watch it
• If participants make time to show up live they will do it

3. Future is Together

• We learn better in a community when we feel that we’re on a shared journey with others
• There is more accountability — to show up and complete assignments
• Additional benefits of social learning by observing others, interaction and collaboration during the learning process.

I truly believe that these “cohort-based courses” are the future, but they come with a few huge challenges, too.

A lot of people still design a live cohort the same way as a self-guided course: Lots of PowerPoint slides, lots of lecturing, and very little interaction.

If you don’t know how to design an EXPERIENCE that invites participants to engage from the moment they log in, you’ll risk participants tuning out and multitasking.

And if you don’t design moments of connection before, in between and after the content you’re missing out on what makes cohorts so effective.

So, if you want to be a part of the FUTURE OF LEARNING, it’s time to invest in your virtual facilitation skills.

And hey, what a coincidence…

Look, I have another cohort of my training starting in a few weeks…

What perfect timing… 🤣

Here is what a recent VFT Graduate shared with a friend about taking training:

“I personally took this training and it was amazing!!!!!!!

It is all about making deep, meaningful, impactful connections through intentional engagement activities, ALL while using Zoom! I loved it!

You don’t just sit back and watch someone else, you learn and practice with a small group of other facilitators from around THE WORLD.

This class changed my life, it exposed me to using online platforms in meaningful ways I’ve never imagined before.

And the facilitator, Jan Keck, is THE BEST!I’m serious, he’s so fun, relatable, flexible, genuine, transparent, open-minded, and just an awesome human beingThis would be my #1 recommendation but his next cohort starts soon, so you need to sign-up soon because his courses fill up quickly and he is intentional about keeping the classes small. Look at the link immediately for details, dates, and pricing.” ~ Pamela C. King, M.Ed.

When you’re ready to show up with the confidence to run Breakout Rooms, facilitate deep connections and run highly engaging activities without worrying if it will work, then enroll in the next Virtual Facilitator Training here.

I can’t wait to see you in my next cohort,

Jan 😊

PS: Here is another book-lover meme that resonated with me: