Welcome to your go-to resource for transforming your WordPress.com website into an educational powerhouse! This course is designed to help you grasp the growing importance of online courses and guide you through the steps of setting one up on your existing WordPress.com site. From the nuts and bolts of WordPress.com to picking the ideal course delivery method, we’ve got you covered.
Don’t have a WordPress.com site yet? Get started↗︎ with one now and use our Quick Start Guide to get the foundation in place.
And be sure to check out the additional tabs above to set yourself up for optimium success!
How to do this course
As you can see from the overview of the modules and lessons, this course does dive into a number of different aspects of building online courses, and they might not all be applicable to achieve your specific end goals.
The first module is more about planning, which is applicable no matter what tools you choose to use. But, for example, if you know that you want to use an LMS to build out your content, then modules 2 and 3 won’t be as relevant. That said, there are a ton of tips and tricks throughout all of the lessons. Because of this, our recommendation is to start the course by doing a read through first, even if you’re just scanning the materials, to get a stronger sense of which areas resonate with you the most. Then go back and actively do the lessons that meet your needs. Doing an initial review of the materials can also help you to decide which approach you want to take, if you haven’t already decided.
While we’ve ordered the lessons in a specific and progressive order, remember that you certainly don’t have to do them in that order. Feel free to jump around between the lessons if that’s your preference.
The tools you’ll need
For maximum success with this course, you’ll need:
- A computer with internet access
- A commitment to completing the assignments, all at your own pace
- A basic understanding of the WordPress software, dashboard and features (or a willing, learn as you go, mindset)
- A WordPress.com site (if you haven’t created one yet, we recommend starting with Getting Started: Quick Start Guide)
A common question creators ask is: how much does it cost to create an online course? The answer is that it varies depending on the tools you choose to use. Since we know that everyone has different budgets and are at different starting points in their journey of creating online courses, we’ve kept that in mind.
Our course covers three popular approaches to building online courses, using WordPress.com, with tools that have a free starting point, allowing you to create an online course for free if that’s what you want. Yes, there are upgrade opportunities, and for specific and more advanced features there will be a cost. But the costs you incur are a choice that you get to make, based on your needs.
For others, it’s less about being able to start for free and more about knowing that the platform they choose to create an online course will meet their needs. So we don’t just focus on the free options that may not quite meet your specific needs for the type of online course you want to create. Instead, we provide you with the options, details, and resources to make informed decisions.
Transform Your Passion into Impact
Are you passionate about sharing knowledge but unsure how to navigate the vast digital education landscape? Maybe you’ve been wondering: What is the best software to create online courses? Look no further. Our course, “Building Online Courses,” is not just a guide, but a transformative experience, designed to channel your passion into global impact.
Unlock the potential of online education, breaking geographical limits, offering unparalleled flexibility, and generating new income avenues, all while forging a community of eager learners.
Our course goes beyond the basics, diving into the why, not just the how, of course creation. Whether you lean towards using WordPress.com’s built-in tools or yearn for the structure and comprehensive approach of a Learning Management System (LMS) such as Sensei, we cater to all, ensuring your course resonates with your unique vision. From crafting a captivating sales page to ensuring seamless content delivery, every module propels you towards becoming an online education pioneer. As we demystify technical intricacies and emphasize impactful content creation, you’re free to focus on what truly matters: transforming lives through knowledge.
Are you ready to reshape the future of education and turn your expertise into a global phenomenon? Join us and let’s revolutionize learning, together. Dive in and let’s turn your passion into a legacy.
Don’t just teach; inspire.
This course doesn’t just provide tools; it’s a journey of empowerment. Beginning with the very foundations, we help you identify your course niche, unravel the intricacies of WordPress structures, and sculpt your digital classroom.
Module 1: Foundations
Delve into why online education is reshaping the future. Design your course’s blueprint, ensuring each module, topic, and lesson aligns with your vision. And let’s not forget the art of selling: craft a sales page that resonates, addresses pain points, and showcases the transformation you promise.
Lesson summaries
- Introduction to Online Courses
- Discover the transformative world of online courses. Uncover why WordPress.com stands out as a top choice for hosting online courses. Review a snapshot of the setup options we’ll be diving into, from built-in tools and email-based courses to specialized systems like Sensei Pro.
- Choosing Your Course Topic
- Harness both passion and expertise to pinpoint your course topic. Deep authority isn’t required; just genuine enthusiasm and knowledge. From diverse potential topics to self-reflective questions, you’ll unearth your unique course niche.
- Your Blueprint
- Learn and implement the art of course planning. Understand the impact of a well-sequenced course on retention and motivation. Find out how course duration and frequency shape student engagement. Blueprinting creates a coherent journey, turning informative content into student transformations.
- Crafting an Effective Sales Page
- Create a sales page that captivates potential students. Align promotional efforts with course content and address audience needs. Dive into crafting clear headings, subheadings, and course descriptions, and see how testimonials can boost credibility. Wrap it up using WordPress.com tools for a sleek finish.
Module 2: Pages, Posts, and More!
Navigate the architectural wonders of WordPress.com. Learn when, why, and how to utilize posts, pages, categories, and tags, ensuring an intuitive learning experience for your students.
Lesson summaries
- Overview
- Unlock the power of WordPress.com’s built-in tools to structure your online course. Delve into the distinctions between pages, posts, categories, and tags. Learn the strategic application of each for a cohesive course layout, tailoring your approach based on course objectives. Embrace flexibility and customization without needing extra plugins.
- Open-Access Course
- Explore using WordPress.com’s page features to design open-access courses. Dive into ‘Page Attributes’ for content hierarchy, create effective landing and lesson pages, and navigate dynamic blocks and custom templates. This lesson provides foundational tools and strategies, ensuring an intuitive course structure for your students.
- Drip Course
- Discover how to release scheduled lessons using posts on WordPress.com, leveraging email notifications to engage students. Dive into the nuances of structuring modules and lessons with categories, tags, and dynamic blocks. Navigate the differences between posts and pages, ensuring a well-organized, intuitive course presentation that’s dynamic and interactive.
Module 3: Email-Delivered Courses
Capitalize on the immediacy and personal touch of email courses. Discover the potency of email-based learning, from kickstarting introductions to strategic content sequencing.
Lesson summaries
- Overview
- Uncover the advantages of email-delivered courses: widespread accessibility, personalized learning experiences, and seamless automation. Learn about our recommended tools for delivering email courses, and how to delve deeper into setting them up.
- Introduction and Onboarding
- Learn the art of impactful introduction emails, harnessing immediacy to capture and retain student enthusiasm. Delve into the nuances of onboarding emails, your students’ step-by-step compass, and uncover their crucial role in the learning adventure. Explore enhancements like FAQs, community interactions, and feedback loops to further enrich the student experience.
- Sequencing Emails for Learning
- Discover effective email sequencing strategies for course content. Explore methods like drip feed, adaptive learning, thematic sequences, and interleaved learning. Delve into how to structure course content within these emails to facilitate comprehension, retention, and application.
- Summary
- After a quick recap, dig into a hands on activity of: Designing your email course blueprint to really bring what you’ve learned to life.
Module 4: Learning Management Systems (LMS)
Meet Sensei LMS, your new digital sidekick. Design, customize, and manage courses with ease. Learn how to harness strategic enrollment, employ progress analytics, enhance student interactions, and ensure course accessibility.
Lesson summaries
- Introduction to Sensei LMS
- Dive into Sensei LMS, a comprehensive Learning Management System by Automattic for WordPress. Discover its key benefits, from compatibility with WooCommerce to engaging features and easy scalability. Navigate installation, activation, and basic configuration with a hands-on guide, equipping you to craft and manage online courses seamlessly, right from your WordPress dashboard.
- Designing a Course with Sensei
- Unpack the process of crafting courses with Sensei LMS. From kickstarting with a demo course to mapping out lessons and quizzes, gain insights into effective lesson design. Learn about Sensei’s unique blocks, delve into multimedia integration, and personalize your content with custom layouts.
- Managing Students and Progress
- Learn how to strategically manage students using Sensei LMS. Uncover the nuances of enrollment methods, the power of progress analytics, and how to amplify student interactions through targeted communication. Foster community engagement, ensure course accessibility for all, and integrate external tools for a richer course experience. Plus, navigate potential challenges with effective support strategies.
As we reach our conclusion, we champion the freedom of choice in course creation, urging you to continuously broaden your horizons. With recommended add-ons and further learning avenues, we ensure your journey doesn’t end here.
So, why this course? Because in the expanding universe of online education, we offer you the compass, map, and the ship. Set sail with us towards unparalleled e-learning success. Your classroom of the future awaits!
Before diving into our courses be sure to review the information covered within our Resources Hub to set yourself up for the most success with achieving your goals! The Resources Hub includes the pages listed below, plus a glossary, frequently asked questions (FAQs), and more!
Important:
- Most links will open in the same tab you’re on, unless they are for something external (such as YouTube or Zoom). You can choose to open any link in a new tab by right clicking on it, or press “command+click” on Mac and “control+click” on Windows.
- Images are not clickable. To open a larger version of an image, right click and open it in a new tab.
On this page you’ll find guidance on tips on using the site, obtaining help, setting up a new account or site, and establishing realistic expectations.
Three primary branches define WordPress: WordPress VIP↗︎, the official managed host tailored for enterprise businesses; WordPress.org↗︎, the resource center for open-source software used for self-hosted sites (though it offers the software for free, it doesn’t provide hosting); and WordPress.com, the official managed host for WordPress sites.
WordPress is a dynamic, open source software that loves to keep us all on our toes with updates. These updates can bring changes to how things look and work, and from time to time there might be some differences you come across in our lessons. But fear not! We’re fully committed to keeping you updated.
In the page linked below we include information of anything you might encounter in our courses that differs from what you’ll see in your current site. Once we have updated the course materials, the information will be removed.
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