aaamusic | On 26, Apr 2020

Numbers for both the popularity and quality of online education continue to grow and it appears that there is no slowing down in sight. As it stands student satisfaction is at an all-time high nearly 99% of students would recommend it to others.

It is estimated that as of 2019, 1.6 million college students were using online education, which leads to the continued demand for new classes. 65% of school administrators consider new online programs their top priority.

So how does one develop a class to stand among the most popular online courses? What qualities does one need that others do not have? With the demand as high as it is one can’t afford to have a lackluster offering, read on for success.

Understanding The Most Popular Online Courses

Before starting any sort of recording and content set up, planning is important and will allow for an effective and efficient workflow. Part of that planning is understanding what the competition consists of.

Understanding what courses exist will, at the same time, help you pull in your concept and focus your efforts. You will begin to offer something the field has not already offered its students

According to Business Insider, these are the top online courses with both enrollment and completion as of February 2020;

• Machine Learning
• Learning How to Learn
• Programming for Everybody: Getting Started with Python
• Successful Negotiation: Essential Strategies and Skills
• Neural Networks and Deep Learning
• Standford Introduction to Food and Health
• Marketing in a Digital World
• Financial Markets
• Introduction to Marketing
• Tech Support Fundamentals
• What is Data Science
• Initiating and Planning Projects
• Psychological First Aid

The trend as we see is a practical application of specialized skills and training. The value of understanding of how the mind works and how we figure things out, predictive logic. The ideas in this world more important that wrote facts.

Setting Up A Top Quality Course

There is a collection of details that need to come together to be the best. You cannot have one thing and lose focus on another and vice versa. Content is king but the manner you present is just as important. It is a team effort.

Top Quality Microphone

There is no getting around this requirement, it is essential and the starting point for creating an engaging and proper online course. If the video quality is slightly off it can be overlooked but audio can, by no means, ever.

Elearning voice overs are key to the understanding of the content being delivered. If a student can not understand what is being told to them then what is the point of the lecture? Just the same as in the classroom.

Screen Capture Utilities

Crystal clear audio is the starting point but the students still need to see what is being taught. With screen capture software you can guide students by showing them exactly what you are doing.

This is especially helpful in a classroom setting dealing with sciences or programming when having to show how particular equations or code is being worked out. It is an aid when unable to work with students in person.

Headphones

This is on the back end of the process, it allows for the proper editing of the material that is being worked with but is just as important as any other element. Having a quality pair of headphones will help in the editing process.

Headphones also aid in the recording process itself, hearing yourself as you speak during recording and silencing any outside noise will narrow in and focus the chatter and keep the lecture tight.

A good pair of headphones can make each of the little details pop.

USB Webcam

Most computers at this point come with a built-in webcam, that quality is lacking. In order to present the needed quality for a lecture that students would be expecting an external camera would be a proper investment.

At one time there was little quality difference between the built-in and the external but that has changed drastically and the investment in an external is huge with a relatively small investment

Content is King

As the phrase says, content is king. It is essential that the content is curated properly. While the technical side is very important it is obviously just as important that the information being presented is fresh and something new.

Students are buying into what you are offering because you have something that others do not if you are just another number then why do they pick you? It is important that you not only offer quality but offer something special.

You need to curate information that is accurate but present it in a manner that differentiates yourself from the crowd in your field.

Social Media and Internet Presence

In this day and age this is a very important aspect, being accessible can boost the strength of a course and of its teacher. This shouldn’t be confused with friending a teacher on Facebook.

It is important to be accessible and generate interest on social media platforms. Be able to market and show why people should be interested in taking these classes.

Get Online and Teach

There is no doubt concerning the power and popularity of online education. It has been growing and will continue to grow. Anyone looking to teach should embrace the platform.

With an understanding of the most popular online courses and what technology and skills are needed to match them, there is no doubt that you can match the best in the field. All you need to do now is get out there and teach.

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