The Rise of Cohort-Based Courses: Transforming Online Education

The Rise of Cohort-Based Courses: Transforming Online Education

Introduction:

In the rapidly evolving world of online education, the traditional notion of content as king is being challenged. With an abundance of educational content available on various platforms, simply offering information is no longer enough to captivate learners. As YouTube, newsletters, blogs, and social media flood the digital landscape with free educational content, content creators find themselves in a losing battle. Monetization activities are often siloed from community building, leading to a disconnect between expertise sharing and capitalizing on it. This article explores the emergence of cohort-based courses (CBCs) as a transformative approach to online education, where community and hands-on learning take center stage.

The Problem of Completion Rates:

Massively open online courses (MOOCs) gained popularity in the 2010s, promising evergreen, on-demand recorded videos with a defined syllabus. However, the completion rates of MOOCs have been dismally low, ranging from 3 to 6 percent. This gap between the promise of online education and its actual results has highlighted the need for a new approach. One major factor contributing to this gap is the lack of community engagement and accountability in MOOCs. Students often feel disconnected and lack the motivation to complete the courses.

The Scarcity of Community:

In today's content-rich world, what is scarce in online learning is community. While anyone can access educational content, the sense of belonging and support that comes with a community is often missing. Cohort-based courses address this scarcity by providing interactive online courses where a group of students progresses through the material together, forming cohorts. This cohort-based learning model fosters hands-on, feedback-based learning, enhancing engagement and retention rates.

Active and Hands-On Learning:

Cohort-based courses offer students the opportunity to actively participate in their learning journey. Unlike pre-recorded MOOCs, cohort-based courses incorporate various modalities such as breakouts, role-playing, discussions, and debates. Research has shown that active learning sessions lead to higher test scores and better comprehension. By requiring students to put in more effort and engage with the material, cohort-based courses promote deeper learning experiences.

The Power of Community:

Building a strong community within educational environments has proven to enhance learning outcomes. Studies have shown that students who collaborated with their peers scored higher on course material compared to those working solo. The presence of others in a learning environment liberates latent energy, motivating individuals to perform better. Cohort-based courses leverage the power of community, creating a supportive network that enhances learning outcomes and fosters collaboration.

Monetizing Expertise Through Cohort-Based Courses:

For content creators, monetizing their expertise has always been a challenge. Traditional social platforms often create a divide between monetization activities and community building. Creators struggle to generate significant income solely through advertising on platforms like YouTube. Cohort-based courses offer creators a productized offering that combines content delivery with community building. By packaging their expertise into a cohort-based course, creators can leverage their time and effort, resulting in higher financial returns.

Actionable Advice:

• 1. Emphasize community-building: When designing an online educational course, prioritize the creation of a strong and supportive community. Incorporate interactive elements that encourage collaboration and engagement.

• 2. Foster active learning: Move away from one-directional content delivery and embrace active learning strategies. Incorporate hands-on activities, discussions, and role-playing to promote deeper understanding and retention.

• 3. Productize your expertise: Consider developing a cohort-based course as a means of monetizing your expertise. By creating a productized offering, you can leverage your time and effort, resulting in higher financial returns.

Conclusion:

As the landscape of online education continues to evolve, cohort-based courses have emerged as a transformative approach. By prioritizing community-building, active learning, and monetization through productized offerings, cohort-based courses address the limitations of traditional online education. The integration of live instruction, peer cohorts, community, accountability, and hands-on learning creates new opportunities for both learners and creators, redefining success in the realm of online education.