Beyond video – here are 8 content types you should consider adding to your course.
I think it’s safe to say that most courses have video/audio and usually some downloadable or fillable documents. And maybe a private community for you to ask questions in. Which is great.
But have you considered other types of content you can add to your course to make it more engaging?
Here are 8 content types you should consider:
On-Screen Text
With online courses, on-screen text is a given – but on-screen text can be used for way more than just a transcript of your video.
You can also make this, usually MEH space, way more interesting by adding supporting images or fun gifs, you can embed videos and include links to extra resources. It’s there, so why not make it interesting?
And some course hosting platforms (like LearnWorlds) even allow people to add notes and highlights to on-screen text, which is fantastic.
Assignments or action steps
I find that course assignments are a very neglected type of content and they’re really powerful. They’re great for accountability and ensuring people are ‘getting’ the content.
You could get people to do individual assignments with things like writing in their journal or in a group by sharing something in a group discussion. Super powerful!
Infographics
I’m sure you’ve seen infographics before – but probably not in a course. And that’s crazy because Infographics allow you to show dry facts and figures, or complex information in an interesting and visually appealing way.
People definitely prefer an infographic to having to read through loads of text.
Animated GIFs
Memes and GIFs are extremely popular, and you can use them to illustrate a point and even add some humour to your course.
You can even create your own GIFs by recording yourself, a process or product features and then use a tool like Giphy to create a video loop.
Motion Graphics Animations
Motion graphics animations are usually short, animated clips that can be used to explain something visually – think animated infographics.
Here’s an example explaining different types of procrastinators (I’m a cleaner 😊). Now, isn’t that a lot more engaging than watching someone talk about the different types of procrastinators?
Discussion Lessons
To be able to share your own opinion on something in a discussion, you need to be able to think about it and form your own understanding – before coming up with your own opinions or ideas about the topic. And then hearing other people’s opinions or ideas, either reinforces or challenges your understanding, leading to a much more engaged learning experience.
Email/SMS/Messaging App
The beauty of email/SMS and messenger messages (WhatsApp/FaceBook/Slack/Voxer etc.) is that they can be highly personal and instant. You can use them to send lesson links, give people time to reflect on an upcoming topic or even add new course content in real time. They’re also helpful for reminders about assignment due dates, sharing last-minute changes and feedback.
Important: Some people may find SMS and Messenger messages intrusive, so make sure that your audience is comfortable with these before you start using them.
Case Studies
Real-world examples are extremely helpful in courses and what better way to include them in your course than through case studies? They help give meaning to abstract concepts by sharing them in real-life applications.
So, there are lots of different options available for course content and mixing it up a bit and using a variety of different types will make for a much more engaging course.
Have any of these inspired you in some way? I’d love to hear about it.