If you’re looking into organizing an online course, there are a lot of things you need to figure out. No longer is it okay just to know about the topic you’re teaching about; you also need to have a grasp on how to get the information to the students who want it. The following will explore some of the things you need to keep in mind if you want to select the right online course platform for your online course.
Why Does It Matter Which Platform I Use?
The platform you choose to host your online course makes a major difference in how people find your course and whether or not they’re drawn to take it. Some platforms focus on specific topics like art and design, or coding, or overcoming mental health challenges. This means that not all locations will be ideal for your niche. If you are teaching a course on close reading historical texts, you might not get a fair amount of students if your course is hosted on a platform that focuses on stem courses.
Moreover, different platforms have different capabilities. Some are primed for video lectures; some have forums set up so students can work together on projects or post their questions for you to answer. Depending on the structure of your content, you might want to lean towards a platform that supports the formats you’re interested in. This could include video, audio, written essays, forums, downloadable worksheets, or a combination of them.
It is also worth noting that different platforms have different standards for ease of use. Some require more coding/website development/graphic design skills, whereas others have been created to suit experts in one field who aren’t super tech-savvy.
In addition, you might want something that allows for a little more flexibility in the look and feel. Some platforms keep their brand front and center in the courses they host, whereas others are happy to allow you to completely customize your page even to the point of it not looking like it belongs to a hosting platform.
Finally, different platforms have cultivated different cultures. Students’ expectations will vary depending on which platform you’ve chosen for your course. If you check out https://www.ftknowledge.com you will see that it contains a list of some of the most common platforms and what they’re known for. If students’ expectations are not met, you’re running the risk of having several negative reviews and unhappy customers who are not interested in taking any of your more advanced courses.
Decide What Materials You Want To Include
First and foremost, you want to look at which materials you want to use and eliminate any online course platforms that don’t support those features. People are taking your course to learn something of value so be sure that they can do that.
Decide Whether You Want To Be Part Of A Collective Or More Individual
There is no wrong answer here. Do you want your course to be a standalone thing that’s unique and doesn’t fit into any specific category with other internet courses? If so, you might want to lean towards a more customizable hosting platform.
In contrast, some teachers prefer to stand on the foundation of a well-respected course hosting platform. If you go this route, you can reach out to existing members of the platform to kick-start your marketing. Many course platforms are designed to encourage students to take other courses once they’ve completed one. This means that if there are any sister topics or crossover topics, your lectures might be recommended for a student to take next.
Decide If You Want Everything Released All At Once Or Not
Some teachers prefer to drop the entire course in a single click and allow students to learn at their own pace. Some teachers prefer to spread out lessons and lectures to help students work through concepts in a particular order. Some platforms don’t offer both options.
Membership Fee
Most course hosting platforms charge you something to host your course. It can be an easy one-time payment for unlimited courses or a payment per course. It can be a monthly or yearly payment for any range of courses. If you’re planning on producing intermediate and advanced courses in the future, you might want to look for a platform this choice would suit.
Collecting Payments
While most platforms accept a wide range of currencies and payment styles (Paypal, credit card, debit card, cryptocurrency), not all platforms facilitate all types of payment; make sure that whichever options are remaining all accept payment from as many of the countries where your language is spoken as possible. If you’re translating the course or have subtitles, be sure it accepts payment from those countries where the second language is spoken as well. Moreover, make sure you understand how you get paid and that you have access to the right type of account for collecting payment (you’ll also want to look into the tax implications for this kind of money in your country).
Thinking about the above things when choosing where to release your online course can make a big difference in the success of your course. It can indicate whether or not you can reach your audience, provide all the necessary materials, and accept payment.
