You can, and many people do. But that stream of “I’m the expert, here’s everything I know” content is information, only a part of learning. In a stream of information, no matter how compelling or how beautifully delivered, it is still just information: facts, data, opinions. It might call for a change in beliefs or attitudes, but it does not support an actual change in behavior. That comes with the structured experiences and activities in a course designed for Adult Learners.

As adult learners, we learn best by doing, getting our hands on something and figuring out how it can work for us. Think of a time when you read or heard something that struck a chord in you. You wanted to learn more. You joined a group, went to classes, got online, embarked on a learning adventure. Your true learning really set in once you opened your mouth to participate, asked questions, witnessed other’s experiences, tried something new, experimented and made some mistakes. True learning requires a change in behavior, which is a risky act. It is a risk that the learner takes with us, so we owe them the structured safety of a course where they are treasured as vulnerable and serious learners. 

So glad you asked! Adult Learning is the opposite of “talking at” people in a stream of content. Adult Learning is an actual professional field with a strong history of interesting research into how we adults learn, remember, and use what we’ve learned. Principles (why something works) and practices (how it works) stemming from this research have proven to be effective for engaging learners just like you and me in content that is relevant to our real lives, memorable so it is woven into the context of our lives, practical so we can really use it, and and replicable so we can adapt it to our needs. It is experiential, active, and learner-centered, meaning that as students we get our hands dirty. We are involved in making sense of and deriving purpose from our own learning. 

Digital Course How-To takes you right where you are. DCHT is a structured program built around the metaphor of baking a cherry pie. We start by honoring the people you serve (perhaps nameless at this point). We call on your passion for teaching and learning. We identify the topics that emerge from your passion. From those very narrowed-down topics we write specific learning objectives that guide your decisions throughout the design process. We follow a “recipe” or a roadmap that gives you a template to design and build each module. With my help, you select every word, image, tool, and activity for your audience. 

It is, so we break everything down into very small steps. You are guided and supported every minute. Once you have designed your first module or session, the rest of your modules fall into place. Each one is built faster than the last one. By the time your  roadmap and slide deck are completed, you will know how to design a module and a program on your own.

Just like learning anything else, “Easy as pie” comes to you as you use the principles (why something works) and the practices (applying what works) to build your own digital course. You learn exactly the same way you will teach your own students. We make sure you will succeed at every small step. You are never thrown in the water to see if you will sink or swim! You are held closely by me in 1:1 coaching or in a small group of peers who learn from and support each other with my coaching.

A Digital Course How-To Audit can usually be completed within a 2 week timeframe. We create an agreement on your goals, project scope, and delivery that works for both of us. 

One:one coaching is based on your goals, preferences and schedule, so we contract for a completed project and agree on a timeline. 

The Digital Course How-To course is 3 months long, delivered in 4 weekly class sessions that include breakout group co-working sessions. Each session is designed to bring you along with great success. You have homework to do throughout. At first the pace is deliberate and deep. Progress speeds up as you gain confidence and competence in weaving your design together.