online learning Archives

Building an Effective Online Program Marketing Budget for Higher Education

rbaltrip-admin2024-03-29T13:40:49+00:00Digital Learning, Education, Marketing|

In today's competitive online learning landscape, a strategic marketing budget is essential for attracting qualified students to your institution's programs. But where do you begin? This blog post explores the key elements to consider when crafting an online program marketing budget for higher education, drawing on insights from a sample budget. 1. Identifying Your Target Audience Program Specific: Tailor your marketing strategy to the unique needs and interests of prospective students for each program. Consider Demographics: Age, location, professional background, and interests will all influence how you reach potential students. 2. Marketing Channels Organic Search Engine Optimization (SEO): Optimize your program's webpages to rank higher in search results for relevant keywords. This is an ongoing, cost-effective strategy. Paid Search Engine Marketing (SEM): Consider targeted pay-per-click (PPC) ads to drive qualified traffic to your program's landing page. Social Media Marketing: Utilize targeted social media campaigns to connect with prospective students on the platforms they frequent most. Content Marketing: Create high-quality content (blog posts, articles, infographics, videos) that addresses your target audience's pain points and interests. Email Marketing: Targeted email campaigns nurture leads and keep your program top-of-mind for potential students. 3. Budget Allocation Considerations The sample budget shows a significant allocation towards Program Bundle 1 marketing compared to Program Bundle 2. This might reflect factors like the enrollment goals, target audience size, or competitive landscape for each program. Balance Long-Term vs. Short-Term Strategies: Invest in some ongoing SEO and content creation for long-term organic traffic, while also budgeting for immediate impact through targeted ads or social media campaigns. 4. Track and Analyze Monitor the performance of your marketing efforts across different channels. Use website analytics tools to see which channels deliver the most qualified leads and conversions. Be prepared to adjust your budget allocation based on data insights to optimize your return on investment (ROI). A Sample Budget Breakdown The [...]

Flipped Community: Decentralizing Online Learning

rbaltrip-admin2024-03-29T13:32:35+00:00Digital Learning, Education, Learning Innovation|

Several years ago, I was working on a draft paper that discusses decentralizing online learning by flipping our concept of a learning community. The notes below summarize the draft paper, which, at the moment, remains still incomplete and unfinished. The concept of "flipping" is popular in education. It implies a change for the better, whether in course design ("flipped classroom") or, as proposed in this article, the underlying concept of "learning community." Flipping Community: A New Approach The authors argue that the traditional notion of "learning community" in higher education is problematic for several reasons: Lack of Theoretical Grounding: They critique the field for its fragmented approach and lack of a unifying theory of learning community and social presence in courses. Static View: Traditional communities can be seen as static, failing to recognize the shifting, multi-faceted identities of students. Isolation: These communities can promote an insular view, cut off from the wider world and students' other communities. Singularity: There's a risk of promoting a dominant, potentially superior view that suppresses diverse perspectives. Mono-Cultural: Even when trying to be inclusive, a learning community can inadvertently perpetuate a mono-cultural perspective. The 'Flipped Community' Model The authors propose a solution: the "flipped community" theory. Key characteristics include: Shifting, not Static: Embracing the transient, diverse nature of student identities. Metropolitan, not Isolated: Acknowledging students' existence within many communities, and valuing learning from those external contexts. Multiple, not Singular: Allowing for a range of viewpoints without pressure to conform to a single perspective. Multi-Cultural, not Mono-Cultural: Actively promoting diverse viewpoints and preventing consensus-driven monoculture. Big Picture Considerations The article then contrasts traditional and 'flipped' communities on aspects like: Focus: Inward vs. Outward/External Goals: Centralized around the instructor vs. Decentralized Student Connections: Primarily within the course vs. also including engagement with wider society Duration: Illusion of permanence vs. Acceptance of transience Instructor's Shifting Role Traditional View: Instructor as the central authority, [...]

Steps to Improving Online Learning Video Production

rbaltrip-admin2024-03-29T13:39:50+00:00Digital Learning, Education, Learning Innovation, Management|

High-quality video is an essential component of engaging online courses. In 2017, while at William & Mary, I teamed up with Instructional Design Specialist Josh Chung to present at the Online Learning Consortium (OLC). Our presentation, "Steps to Improving Online Learning Video Production", offered practical strategies and insights for educational institutions seeking to enhance the quality and impact of their online learning videos. Presentation Summary: A Roadmap to Better Online Videos The Challenge Online learning videos can range from basic and uninspiring to highly polished and effective. Understanding models and processes for continuous improvement is essential. Profiles: Basic, Better, Best We outlined three broad categories of video quality (Basic, Better, and Best). Each level reflects increasing commitment to production elements and creativity. We stressed that the goal should be consistent improvement across these levels. The Production Process The presentation highlighted three key phases of video production: Pre-Production: The essential planning stage involving vision, administrative support, and resource allocation. Production: The active filming process, emphasizing attention to detail, technical quality, and faculty guidance. Post-Production: Editing, polishing, and finalizing videos, with an eye toward clarity and engagement. Six Production Models We presented six common models for online video creation, ranging from simple to complex: Screen Capture, PowerPoint, Live Class Capture, Whiteboard/Lightboard, and Studio/Location shoots. Investing for Improvement Across all models, moving from "Basic" to "Better" levels requires investment in time, expertise, technical resources, and administrative support. Reaching the "Best" level often involves significant commitment to high-quality production. Key Takeaways The presentation emphasized these core ideas for improving online learning video quality: Creativity is Key: Regardless of your budget, creativity and thoughtful execution can elevate video quality significantly. Process Matters: A clear framework for pre-production, production, and post-production ensures smoother processes and better results. Invest Wisely: Understand the resource demands of each production model to choose the most sustainable approach [...]

How to Make Your Online Teaching More Human: 5 Ideas

rbaltrip-admin2024-03-29T13:37:25+00:00Digital Learning, Education|

Online learning can be impersonal, uninteresting, inhuman, and dreadfully boring. I came up with this years ago and have been saying this as an online teacher or leader in one form or another for years. Why? Because it's true! Online learning can be every bit of that - impersonal, uninteresting, inhuman, and dreadfully boring. One of my favorite presentations that I have given is this one - How to Make Your Online Teaching More Human: 5 Ideas. For much of my career as an online leader and educator, I have been dealing with this aspect of online learning. Distance education from the beginning until today suffers from transactional distance. That's just the way it is, by definition. However, as an online teacher, there are things that you can do to make your course more human and to help minimize the psychological and communication gap that transactional distance creates. So, please feel free to explore the slide deck for this presentation to discover 5 ways to make your online teaching more human.