Latest / Online Business Uncovered: Simple Strategies for Female Entrepreneurs / 18: How to decide what content to teach your students
Transcript
- 0:00SPEAKER_00: Hello and welcome to the Digit She Does It Show.
- 0:04SPEAKER_00: This is episode 18, and in today's episode, I'm going to be talking about how to decide on what content to teach your students.
- 0:14SPEAKER_00: So let's jump right in and get started.
- 0:24SPEAKER_00: Welcome to the Digitally She Does It Show.
- 0:27SPEAKER_00: I'm your host, Karen, and I'm here to lift the lid on what it actually takes to create a successful business.
- 0:34SPEAKER_00: If you are an ambitious creative ready to build a business on your own terms and without compromise, then this podcast is perfect for you.
- 0:42SPEAKER_00: With my award-winning approach to marketing and expert knowledge in creating online courses, this show will leave you feeling inspired, energized, and ready to bring those big dreams to life.
- 0:52SPEAKER_00: Join me each week for a dose of motivation and marketing know-how, along with actionable step-by-step strategies to help you accelerate your business's growth.
- 1:01SPEAKER_00: So let's dive in and don't forget to subscribe to all my upcoming episodes, which drop every Wednesday.
- 1:11SPEAKER_00: Hello and welcome to episode 18.
- 1:14SPEAKER_00: In this episode, I'm going to be talking about how to decide on what content to teach your students for your online course.
- 1:22SPEAKER_00: Because the truth is that it can be really tricky to nail down your content and also the amount of content that needs to go into your online course.
- 1:32SPEAKER_00: Now, in this episode, I've got three tips that I'm going to be sharing with you today so you can approach this in a more systemized way that's going to support your effort.
- 1:42SPEAKER_00: Now, when it comes to creating an online course, content is important.
- 1:48SPEAKER_00: It's the soul of the course because ultimately it's what's going to attract your students, and it's going to be what is going to convince them to purchase the course in the first place.
- 2:00SPEAKER_00: So this means that the content that you include in your course plays an important role.
- 2:06SPEAKER_00: And so it's really important that you get this right.
- 2:09SPEAKER_00: Now, firstly, it's important to create the content that engages your student.
- 2:15SPEAKER_00: You want them to be interested enough that they complete your course.
- 2:20SPEAKER_00: What you don't want is to have bored students that don't stick around to get to the end of the course and that they end up giving up halfway through.
- 2:30SPEAKER_00: And so you want to make sure that your content is interesting enough that it's exactly what they need to get to where they want to get to.
- 2:40SPEAKER_00: Secondly, the content you include in your course must be really useful and provide value.
- 2:48SPEAKER_00: Now, your students need to be able to take what you teach them and be able to use it in a way that benefits them, whether it's in their business or just in their life in general.
- 2:58SPEAKER_00: For example, if you're teaching your student a brand new skill, then really by the end of the course, you want them to be in a position where they understand the context surrounding that skill and they also know the easiest way in which to use it.
- 3:14SPEAKER_00: So your course content may be a very simple step-by-step system that helps them to learn that new skill.
- 3:24SPEAKER_00: Now, one of the easiest mistakes to make when creating content for your course is to try and throw everything and the kitchen sink to your course.
- 3:33SPEAKER_00: Thinking that the more you include, the more valuable it's going to be, and the more your students are going to learn.
- 3:40SPEAKER_00: Now, this often comes from that place of wanting to provide value and wanting to support your students.
- 3:47SPEAKER_00: So it comes from a really good place, but unfortunately, this can lead to overwhelm due to the extent of content that may be included.
- 3:56SPEAKER_00: So getting that balance right is really important.
- 4:00SPEAKER_00: Now you need to be able to step back and be objective about your content, which I know is really hard when you're creating something that you care about and this is something that is born out of an idea that you've had.
- 4:14SPEAKER_00: It's really difficult to maintain a level of objectivity.
- 4:19SPEAKER_00: However, you must know that your course is not about you, it's about your student.
- 4:24SPEAKER_00: And so making sure that balance is right is important.
- 4:28SPEAKER_00: So it's really understanding what your students are looking to learn and what you can teach them so that you understand that what you're putting into your course is going to get them where they need to be.
- 4:43SPEAKER_00: So this is really important that you have a perspective around this and that you do understand that this is about your student and what's going to help them.
- 4:54SPEAKER_00: And getting that balance right is going to be tricky because there's no hard and fast rules.
- 5:00SPEAKER_00: However, if you focus on the result that you're leading your students to, then it's going to help you.
- 5:07SPEAKER_00: And I'm going to provide three tips that's going to help you to create a compelling course that delivers effective results.
- 5:16SPEAKER_00: Now, what you must decide before you start even considering what content's going to go into your course is the topic of the course.
- 5:24SPEAKER_00: Now, if you haven't done this, then I encourage you to listen to episode 8, Deciding the Perfect Course Topic to Teach, because you can't determine the content if you have no idea what you're teaching.
- 5:37SPEAKER_00: Now, once you have your topic nailed, then you need to know exactly who you're going to be teaching, who is your ideal student, and who do you want to attract to your course.
- 5:48SPEAKER_00: Now, in order to define this person, you need to get laser clear on who they are.
- 5:53SPEAKER_00: And so if you haven't done so yet, then I encourage you to listen to episode 12, which is all about three easy ways to pinpoint your ideal student.
- 6:03SPEAKER_00: Because this episode will help you to get clear on who you are going to be attracting to your online course.
- 6:09SPEAKER_00: So if you haven't listened to those episodes already, then I do encourage you to do so.
- 6:15SPEAKER_00: Now, once you have chosen the course topic and you've defined your student, you then have to validate your course because you need to know that there's a demand for what you're going to be teaching.
- 6:25SPEAKER_00: And if you haven't listened to episode 10, then please go and do this because in that episode I talk about what you must do before creating your online course, which is all about the validation stage of creating your online course.
- 6:40SPEAKER_00: Now, these episodes have been designed specifically to help you in these areas, so do go and listen to the episodes.
- 6:49SPEAKER_00: So, as I mentioned, in today's episode, I'm going to be sharing three tips with you to help you get clear on how to approach your content so that you can create content that resonates with your students and leads them to where they need to be at the end of the course.
- 7:05SPEAKER_00: My first tip is about getting clear on your course goal.
- 7:10SPEAKER_00: So once you've nailed your course topic and you know what you're going to be teaching your students, then identify the goal of your course.
- 7:19SPEAKER_00: Now, what I mean by this is where do you want your students to be at the end of your course and what is it you're going to be teaching them?
- 7:27SPEAKER_00: And what is that outcome?
- 7:29SPEAKER_00: So get really clear on what that outcome is that your students are going to achieve at the end of it.
- 7:37SPEAKER_00: So before you dive into creating any content, then give this some thought because this is going to influence the content that's going to go into your course.
- 7:48SPEAKER_00: So before you get going, have a really clear idea on not only why you're creating this course, but also what you want your students to get out of it because they're the ones that are going to be handing over money to buy this course.
- 8:04SPEAKER_00: Why would they want to spend their precious money on this course?
- 8:08SPEAKER_00: And why would they want to spend their valuable time completing it?
- 8:12SPEAKER_00: So the two things that are valuable and often can lead to objections in a way of I don't have enough of is time and money.
- 8:24SPEAKER_00: So your job as the course creator is to kind of get really clear on overcoming these objections.
- 8:30SPEAKER_00: So why would they spend money and why would they spend their time?
- 8:33SPEAKER_00: And if you can get really clear on that why, then you can move on and start creating the content for your course.
- 8:42SPEAKER_00: Now, your students are going to be buying your course because they're looking for a result, and this result is going to be a solution to a problem that they're currently facing.
- 8:51SPEAKER_00: So, what is that problem and what is the solution that they are looking for?
- 8:56SPEAKER_00: Now get really clear on this because again, this is going to influence your content.
- 9:02SPEAKER_00: So, for example, say the topic of the course is about helping busy mums to lose weight.
- 9:09SPEAKER_00: Instantly, you know the problem that your ideal student is facing in the fact that they need to lose weight, but they're busy, so that's a problem.
- 9:17SPEAKER_00: So they're struggling to lose weight because they lead very busy lives and they're just not getting the results that they're currently wanting, probably because they haven't got the time or they haven't got the focus to spend on trying to lose weight.
- 9:33SPEAKER_00: So you've identified the problem.
- 9:35SPEAKER_00: The next is about the solution and identifying what that looks like.
- 9:40SPEAKER_00: So now you've got clarity around the problem.
- 9:43SPEAKER_00: It's about thinking about that solution and how your course is going to deliver that.
- 9:49SPEAKER_00: So the content that you're going to then be including in your course is going to help them move towards the result that they are looking for in the most easiest and quickest way possible.
- 10:00SPEAKER_00: So once you've defined exactly what that problem looks like, you want to really define that solution and then create a step-by-step approach to help your students get there.
- 10:12SPEAKER_00: Now, by getting really clear on your course goal, you can then determine the students' learning outcomes.
- 10:20SPEAKER_00: So what this means is that you will know by the end of this course they're going to be in a certain place, having learned a certain thing.
- 10:28SPEAKER_00: Now, this is going to help you lead them in a straight line as opposed to around the houses, which is what you don't want to do.
- 10:36SPEAKER_00: As I mentioned, you want to get them to the goal in the easiest and quickest way possible.
- 10:41SPEAKER_00: So the goal of your course is to get them the result that they are looking for in the most efficient way.
- 10:48SPEAKER_00: Now, something to be aware of is that your online course is not the solution.
- 10:54SPEAKER_00: Your online course is simply the mechanism that your teaching is delivered by.
- 11:00SPEAKER_00: So it's not the thing that's going to give them the result.
- 11:04SPEAKER_00: And I think this is a really important thing to understand because so many people get caught up in the fact of by my course, my course is going to give you what you need, but actually, it's the teaching that gives you what you need, it's the teaching that delivers the solution.
- 11:21SPEAKER_00: And there's a real difference there because what you're going to be teaching your students is the way forward.
- 11:27SPEAKER_00: Your students are buying into you, not your course.
- 11:30SPEAKER_00: Your course is just the vehicle.
- 11:34SPEAKER_00: So when you're creating your course, be really mindful of that because people don't care that you're creating an online course.
- 11:41SPEAKER_00: That's not what they're looking for.
- 11:42SPEAKER_00: You're not necessarily going to get people jumping onto Google and typing in online course four.
- 11:49SPEAKER_00: They may not come to you in that way.
- 11:52SPEAKER_00: However, what they will be looking for is how to lose weight quickly.
- 11:57SPEAKER_00: So that's the solution that they're looking for.
- 11:59SPEAKER_00: So I think it's really important to be really clear on that.
- 12:03SPEAKER_00: Your students are going to come to you for the solution and the result, not the problem.
- 12:09SPEAKER_00: So always lead with the result, not the vehicle that gets them there.
- 12:15SPEAKER_00: Okay, so my second tip is to develop a step-by-step system.
- 12:20SPEAKER_00: So now you've identified the problem that your student is currently facing and the solution that your course is going to be providing.
- 12:27SPEAKER_00: So you've got clear on what those two things look like.
- 12:30SPEAKER_00: Then the next step is to develop a system that's easy to follow.
- 12:35SPEAKER_00: So this is about breaking down what you're teaching into a system so that it's a step-by-step approach.
- 12:45SPEAKER_00: Consider what topics that your students are going to need to learn about so that they can build up their knowledge bank about what you're teaching them.
- 12:54SPEAKER_00: And also identify any supporting material that's going to help enhance your teaching.
- 13:00SPEAKER_00: So I think this is the fun part because this is where you get to spend time brainstorming ideas and mapping out the content that you're going to include in your course.
- 13:10SPEAKER_00: And by doing this, it's going to help you stay focused so that you can keep your mind on what that final outcome looks like.
- 13:19SPEAKER_00: Now, once you know what content you're going to include in your course and you know the order in which it's going to go in, you can then start to develop your system.
- 13:28SPEAKER_00: And all your system is going to be is the way forward.
- 13:31SPEAKER_00: As I mentioned earlier, it's a step-by-step approach, it's a process, a process that your students are going to follow that's going to ultimately get them to the finish line.
- 13:41SPEAKER_00: Now, by breaking down your content into topics and subtopics, it will help you to sort of get really clear on what that pathway looks like.
- 13:50SPEAKER_00: So I'm going to share with you a bonus tip because I use a tool called Trello, and I have to say, this is absolutely brilliant.
- 13:59SPEAKER_00: And what I do with all my digital products actually is I always start out in Trello.
- 14:05SPEAKER_00: Trello, if you're not currently using Trello, it's a productivity tool and it's designed in Kanban style, which means it has boards and it has lists.
- 14:15SPEAKER_00: And what you're able to do in Trello is map out what that pathway looks like.
- 14:21SPEAKER_00: So you can create lists that represent each of your steps.
- 14:26SPEAKER_00: Now, what I love about Trello is that you can make this part of the process really visual and engaging, and also the app version is absolutely brilliant as well.
- 14:38SPEAKER_00: So if you have ideas on the go, you can simply add it to the app version of Trello and you can keep all your ideas in one place.
- 14:47SPEAKER_00: And best of all, this tool is free.
- 14:50SPEAKER_00: So if you are looking for a great tool to use to help you with this stage of your course, then I highly recommend Trello because it's one of the easiest tools that I've come across.
- 15:03SPEAKER_00: Now, when I created my Crafting Your Brand course, I used Trello to plan out the entire course.
- 15:10SPEAKER_00: It was absolutely brilliant.
- 15:12SPEAKER_00: I absolutely loved it.
- 15:13SPEAKER_00: It helped me to get really clear on my content pillars and the topics that I wanted to include.
- 15:19SPEAKER_00: And I was also able to save the content that I was creating and uploaded to Trello so that I was keeping everything together.
- 15:28SPEAKER_00: So if I had created a visual, I could drag and drop it into Trello, and then that visual would sit at the top of a card so that I could see it.
- 15:38SPEAKER_00: And what's great about it, and the thing that I love about it is that I get to see a bird's eye view of what my course looks like.
- 15:45SPEAKER_00: So I can see all my modules, I can see all my lessons, my learning outcomes, and any resources that I include at a view.
- 15:53SPEAKER_00: So it makes life so much easier because I can see how my course is planned out, and I can also see if my course is flowing, if the steps that I've included make sense, and whether it's going to work for my students.
- 16:08SPEAKER_00: And you can put as much detail or as little detail in there as what you want.
- 16:14SPEAKER_00: So, as I said, Trello has made my life so much easier.
- 16:18SPEAKER_00: It's really helped me to perfect my system around creating digital products and online courses.
- 16:25SPEAKER_00: So I do highly recommend that if you are looking for a tool to use, then absolutely check out Trello because I think you'll love it as much as I do.
- 16:36SPEAKER_00: The great thing about Trello is like I say, it helps you to really think about the step-by-step approach that you're included in your course.
- 16:45SPEAKER_00: Now, if you're creating an online course that has five modules, you can map out those five modules so that you can see what each step looks like.
- 16:55SPEAKER_00: Now, what I would say to you is that when you're mapping out the modules that you're going to include in your course, think of your modules as stepping stones.
- 17:05SPEAKER_00: Each step will be designed to move your student nearer to the goal.
- 17:11SPEAKER_00: So if you have five modules, then each of those modules needs to take that student step by step towards that goal.
- 17:20SPEAKER_00: If you include any lessons in your course as well, then those lessons are micro steps.
- 17:28SPEAKER_00: And each of those lessons needs to take your student on a journey so that they can get to the end and be ready to take the next module.
- 17:37SPEAKER_00: So I think it's really important to think about the structure of your course and to see how it flows and to develop that system that you're taking your students on.
- 17:49SPEAKER_00: And like I mentioned earlier, Trello is a great tool for this.
- 17:53SPEAKER_00: Now try and be objective about what you're creating and also ask yourself if the steps that you've included in your course are needed.
- 18:05SPEAKER_00: Because this goes back to what I was saying earlier about the temptation of throwing everything and the kitchen sink at your course.
- 18:13SPEAKER_00: If you are in any doubt as to whether something is needed or not, then I would probably most likely take it out because you only want to create content and include content that's going to add to your students' learning.
- 18:27SPEAKER_00: What you don't want to include is content that is taking them around the houses and teaching them stuff that they don't need to know at that point of the course.
- 18:37SPEAKER_00: So if you can try and be objective because that's going to help you determine what content to keep in your course.
- 18:46SPEAKER_00: Now, don't be afraid to use your gut here.
- 18:48SPEAKER_00: Go with your intuition because that's what's going to give you the help you need to answer those questions and you need to be able to listen to it.
- 18:58SPEAKER_00: Now, once you've created a plan for your course content, make sure you keep it as organized as possible.
- 19:04SPEAKER_00: As you deliver your content to your students, you're going to want to break it up into manageable sections so that your students can digest what they're listening to so they can take it on board and they can remember it.
- 19:17SPEAKER_00: Creating a clear structure for your course will underpin the overall success of your course.
- 19:24SPEAKER_00: So that structure has such an importance and it's so easy to overlook it and to just create modules and lessons thinking that's what you would like in the course.
- 19:37SPEAKER_00: But actually, what you need to be doing before you create that content is really mapping out that structure because it's going to be the student journey that's going to lead your student to success.
- 19:49SPEAKER_00: So don't overlook this step.
- 19:52SPEAKER_00: It will also make it easier for your students to work through your course and, of course, retain the information that you're going to be teaching them.
- 20:02SPEAKER_00: Okay, so tip number three: deciding on the content types.
- 20:08SPEAKER_00: So before I dive into this, let me just ask you: take a moment and just think, how do you like to learn?
- 20:15SPEAKER_00: Now, the reason for this question is because everybody learns differently.
- 20:19SPEAKER_00: Some people love to read and they enjoy looking through books, others like listening to audios and podcasts, and others, like me, enjoy learning through visual aids.
- 20:29SPEAKER_00: So we're all very different, and how we take on information is very different as well.
- 20:36SPEAKER_00: There are so many ways now to deliver your course content.
- 20:40SPEAKER_00: We have an abundance of options available to us, which means that we can deliver our courses in a creative way that really does engage our students.
- 20:51SPEAKER_00: I think knowing what your audience likes will put you in a really good stead to make smart decisions for your course.
- 20:57SPEAKER_00: So, for example, if you're delivering your course, will you be delivering it via video where you're on screen, or will you be delivering it via audio?
- 21:07SPEAKER_00: Will you be including visual aids?
- 21:09SPEAKER_00: Will you be including slides, graphics, and will your course have downloadable resources?
- 21:15SPEAKER_00: Now it's important to get a balance right between the theory aspect and the practical aspect of your course as well.
- 21:23SPEAKER_00: So if you can provide things that elevate your students' experience of learning, it will really help them taking what you have to say on board.
- 21:34SPEAKER_00: So your students' learning experience is so important.
- 21:39SPEAKER_00: If you can deliver your teaching in a way that is creative and fun and compelling, you're going to have an engaged student.
- 21:50SPEAKER_00: So consider delivering your content in a mixed way so that you can cater to the different needs of your students.
- 21:58SPEAKER_00: Now there Are no right and wrong ways here to deliver your content, but if you're unsure on what way is the best way, then just ask them.
- 22:07SPEAKER_00: If you can reach out to your idle students, if you've identified who they are and you've gone through that process of defining them, and so you know where they hang out, then go and ask them, go and ask how they like to learn, and then get that insight, and then use that for creating your course content.
- 22:27SPEAKER_00: Now, the most important thing to remember is that you need to keep your content engaging.
- 22:33SPEAKER_00: Consider using storytelling because it works really well, and people always remember a really good story.
- 22:41SPEAKER_00: If you can intertwine this into your teaching, it will make your content so much more memorable.
- 22:48SPEAKER_00: So, for example, if you are delivering your course and your course has been born out of your own personal experience, so for example, you have been that person that has struggled to lose weight, and you have come across a simple to easy to follow, simple step-by-step system that has helped you lose weight, then incorporate that story into your teaching because it will not only inspire your students, but it also gives your teaching credibility.
- 23:22SPEAKER_00: Make sure that you're keeping your content as simple and straightforward as possible.
- 23:26SPEAKER_00: You need your students to understand exactly what you're teaching them.
- 23:30SPEAKER_00: So try and make it interactive.
- 23:33SPEAKER_00: Now, when you're looking at delivering your content, you may be looking to deliver it on a course platform.
- 23:41SPEAKER_00: Many of the course platforms now have interactive elements that you can bring into your content.
- 23:47SPEAKER_00: So interactive elements like quizzes and tests and forums and audios and things like that, you can use these elements to really enhance your students' learning experience.
- 24:03SPEAKER_00: So really do consider the way you teach your students as well as the content that you're going to be delivering to them.
- 24:12SPEAKER_00: Because the most successful courses are the ones that do use interactive elements, and you can include things like polls and quizzes, which are a great way to just engage your student and get them connecting with your course material on a deeper level.
- 24:29SPEAKER_00: So some of the ways you can deliver your content could be through video, it can be through tests, as I said, it could be through polls, quizzes, you can deliver audios, you can create downloadable PDFs, you can create assignments.
- 24:45SPEAKER_00: I recently did a course, it was to use a social media platform actually, and part of the onboarding was that I had to take a test, but it was a very entertaining test where I had to listen to a video and then I was given multiple choice on the answers, and I think the idea behind it was just to keep me engaged and to develop my understanding about the platform.
- 25:15SPEAKER_00: So, what that meant was that when I watched the videos, I was taken on board the content so much more because I knew that I was going to be tested on it.
- 25:24SPEAKER_00: So don't be afraid to do things like that because it really does engage the student.
- 25:31SPEAKER_00: The more engaging you can make your course, the better your students will enjoy learning from you, but the most likelihood is that they're going to complete your course.
- 25:40SPEAKER_00: So consider your own learning experiences and ask yourself what has worked for you?
- 25:46SPEAKER_00: What help you to retain content?
- 25:49SPEAKER_00: Because I think understanding our own personal learning experiences and the way we like to learn will help us to enrich our students' experience of learning.
- 26:01SPEAKER_00: So don't be afraid to play around with course material and using interactive elements, just have fun with it and definitely check out Trello because it will help you to get really clear on your course content and the structure that, as I mentioned, is going to ultimately underpin your course.
- 26:23SPEAKER_00: Most of all, don't be afraid to have fun with creating your course.
- 26:29SPEAKER_00: There is no point creating a course if you find it boring.
- 26:33SPEAKER_00: The more engaged you are with your course, the likelihood is your students are going to be engaged as well.
- 26:41SPEAKER_00: And there are so many things now to help us with delivering our content to our students.
- 26:47SPEAKER_00: So have fun with it.
- 26:49SPEAKER_00: Enjoy it.
- 26:49SPEAKER_00: It's all part of this course journey.
- 26:52SPEAKER_00: If you are thinking about creating an online course, but maybe you just need a little help to get started, then come along to my workshop that I am running on the 13th of October at 11am UK time.
- 27:06SPEAKER_00: This is an interactive workshop where I will help you to start planning your online course because sometimes we just need a little help to get started.
- 27:16SPEAKER_00: By the end of the workshop, you will have nailed your course topic and eliminated any fears around what tech to use.
- 27:24SPEAKER_00: And I will also show you a really quick and easy way to create your content structure without using any tech whatsoever.
- 27:33SPEAKER_00: So if you are interested, then go and book your ticket at www.carinhyphendavies.com forward slash planning your course.
- 27:43SPEAKER_00: Hurry because I am limiting spaces because it is an interactive workshop.
- 27:49SPEAKER_00: Thank you so much for taking the time to listen to today's episode.
- 27:53SPEAKER_00: I hope you found this episode of value and of course please feel free to share it with others who you may think will also benefit from listening to today's episode.
- 28:03SPEAKER_00: If you are feeling inspired and would like to know more about getting started with creating an online digital course, then why not download my free ebook, 10 Steps of Digital Course Success, by visiting my website www.carinhyphendavies.com.
- 28:18SPEAKER_00: I will be back next week with another episode, but until then, have a great week.
- 28:27SPEAKER_00: I hope you enjoyed this episode of the Digitally She Does It Show.
- 28:30SPEAKER_00: Don't forget to check out the show notes for all the links and resources mentioned in today's episode.
- 28:36SPEAKER_00: New episodes drop every week on a Wednesday, so why not rate and subscribe so you never miss an episode?
- 28:42SPEAKER_00: Thank you for tuning in today, and I will see you next time.