Sequencing Emails for Learning

After the initial introduction and onboarding emails, it’s time to dive into your course content emails. 

There are several approaches to email sequencing. Some are straightforward and based on when you schedule them to send, others are more robust and rely on action triggers. Here are some examples:

• Drip feed: Emails are automatically sent on a set schedule, regardless of student progress.
• Adaptive learning: Emails are sent based on student interactions, like quiz scores or completion of assignments.
• Milestone-based: Emails are triggered when a student reaches a certain milestone, such as completing a module.
• Hybrid: Combines elements of drip feed and adaptive learning, tailoring the pacing based on both a set schedule and student performance.
• Time-sensitive: Emails are sent to coincide with real-world events or deadlines, providing a sense of urgency.
• Content clustering: Groups lessons into themes and sends a cluster of emails covering a specific topic over a series of days.

Each approach has its pros and cons, so choosing the right one depends on your course objectives and your students’ needs. It will also depend on the capabilities of the tools you’re using. If you’re starting out simple without the ability to set up email-sending triggers, then focus on the drip feed option. More advanced delivery options and triggers are something you can add to later iterations of the course as you grow.

When it comes to structuring the content of your course within these emails, there are several approaches you could take. Let’s take a look at some of them below:

Progressive complexity:

• Start with foundational concepts and gradually build up to more complex topics. Each email should build upon the knowledge established in the previous ones. This approach ensures that students have a solid understanding before moving on to advanced topics.

Thematic sequencing:

• Organize emails around themes or modules. For instance, if your course is on digital marketing, you might have themes like SEO, PPC, Content Marketing, and so forth. Each theme can be explored over a set number of emails before moving to the next one.

Interleaved learning:

• Instead of blocking similar topics together, consider interleaving them. Research suggests that mixing different kinds of content can enhance learning. For example, if you’re teaching mathematics, instead of dedicating consecutive sessions to algebra followed by geometry, you might alternate between the two.

Case study integration:

• After a series of lessons on a particular topic, integrate a case study that brings together all the concepts covered. This offers practical application and reinforces learning.

Recap and reinforcement:

• Periodically, send recap emails that summarize the key points from the last few lessons. This not only reinforces learning but also provides a reference point for students to revisit. (These would be considered part of your onboarding series that you weave throughout the course.)

Application and practice:

• Sequence emails such that after every major concept introduced, the subsequent email focuses on practical application, exercises, or real-world scenarios where the knowledge can be applied.

Scaffolded learning:

• Present tasks in increasing levels of difficulty. Initially, provide students with a lot of guidance and structure. As they progress and become more competent, gradually reduce the support, encouraging them to apply their knowledge independently.

Incorporate breaks or ‘digestion days’:

• Intermittently schedule emails that don’t introduce new content but instead offer supplementary resources, quizzes, or reflection activities. This gives students a chance to digest and internalize the material they’ve learned.

Feedback integration:

• If your email course has interactive components where students can submit assignments or take quizzes, use the feedback from these activities to inform the sequence of upcoming emails. For example, if a majority of students struggled with a particular topic, the next email could offer additional resources or explanations on that subject. If your course emails are pre-set on a schedule, you could consider sending a bonus email before the next one is scheduled to send to help mitigate any troublespots that students are running into.

Culmination and advanced topics:

• As you approach the end of the course, introduce more advanced topics or concepts that bring together various elements of the course. This not only showcases the depth of the subject but also allows students to see the interconnectedness of what they’ve learned.

By focusing on these sequencing strategies, you can ensure that your email-delivered course content is structured in a way that facilitates comprehension, retention, and application.

To nail down optimal student engagement, think of email sequencing as the rhythm of your course. The pacing should keep students interested but not overwhelmed. 

Learning check-in

Why is proper email sequencing important for email-delivered courses?

Absolutely right! Proper sequencing aids in creating a structured, cohesive learning experience where one concept builds on another.

Not quite. Contemplate how sequencing can benefit the learner’s journey. Is it about controlling email details, or is it more about the flow of content and enhancing the learning experience? The answer might be more about structure than specifics. Feel free to review the lesson and try again.