One of the standards we have for online courses is the practice of communicating the value of each lesson or module to your enrolled students. While this often goes unnoticed, it holds immense potential to enhance the learning experience. You might wonder why you need to market your course to someone who’s already in your course.
Let’s talk about the different reasons why communicating the value of each lesson can be a game-changer for your online courses.
Igniting Interest and Setting Expectations
Imagine walking into a room full of people with no idea of what to expect. You’d feel disoriented and uncertain, right? Why are you here? The same concept applies to learning. When you communicate the value of a lesson, you provide the information they need so they know what to expect.
By providing a preview of what’s to come, you give them a roadmap, and this clarity can be incredibly helpful. Clients will know what they’ll gain from investing their time and effort–making them more committed to the learning journey.
Priming for Learning
Think of your brain as a vast library with countless shelves. Each lesson is like a new book you’re about to place on one of those shelves. Now, imagine trying to organize these books without labels or context. You might have a hard time retrieving the right book.
When you communicate the value of a lesson, you provide necessary context. This context helps your clients’ brains place that new bit of information onto the proper shelf. It’s going to be easier to retrieve the right book when you want it.
Connecting the Dots
Here’s where it gets interesting. Our brains are fantastic at making connections. They love to link new information to what we already know. When you communicate what’s in a lesson, you’re essentially creating an association between the old information and the new.
This association links the upcoming lesson to your clients’ existing knowledge or schema.
It’s like recognizing Jo’s face when you see her at her workplace – you know her in that context. But when you encounter her elsewhere, like at a school event, you recognize her face but can’t quite place where you know her from. This happens because the context is missing. When you remember the context, the rest of the information is easily retrieved.
In learning, context “tags” new information, like adding labels to files in your mental file cabinet. This makes it easier to retrieve and apply that knowledge later because they have a clear reference point – the context you provided in your course description.
Beyond Marketing: Creating Effective Courses
So, it’s not just about marketing your lessons to students who’ve already purchased your course. While that’s a great method for motivating your client to continue to the next lesson, it has an even more important purpose.
By igniting interest, setting expectations, priming for learning, and connecting the dots, you’re not only marketing – you’re enhancing their learning. You’re ensuring they’re more likely to recall and use what they learned.
In the end, it’s not just about selling a course; it’s about delivering true value and helping your clients achieve their goals. So, don’t underestimate the importance of those lesson descriptions. Use them to unlock the hidden potential of your online courses and watch your students thrive in their educational journey.
