What is Conceptualization in Online Course Creation?

The term, conceptualization in online course creation simply describes idea generation, one of the key factors in the first stage of problem solving.

You are creating an online course to proffer specific solutions to specific needs of a given demography.

So, two things are covered here:

1.    Problem identification (in other words called problem definition).

In your search, what problems/challenges have you discovered to be common with that demography?

2.    Solution guide

The question here is: do you have a solution to proffer?

Let’s look at each of them after the other.

Problem Identification

Creating an online course is just like starting a startup. You must first find the right idea. But in order to do that you must first define the problem.

If there is no problem whatsoever, nobody would be interested in learning new things, talk more of paying for it. What this invariably means, is that the knowledge you are planning to share would be meaningless at best, if it is not meant to solve any problem.

So, to begin your online course, you have to find out the problems your target audience are likely having- to which they are desperately in need of solution.

Identify the transformation

What you have to remember is that knowledge is power. People want to use that power to transform themselves by learning something new. The goal of your online course is to help guide them through that transformation process.

The key to creating a successful online course is identifying exactly what outcome your audience is looking for.

Do they want to create their own app? Do they want to do magic tricks? Maybe they want to learn more about Java?

It could be about parents worried about their kids. Someone out there needs to understand the best way to prepare a particular dish.

Did you hear school owners complaining of financial struggle? Teachers seeking for ways to scale up their income?

Just try to find out what the people needs.

As long as you can identify the transformation your potential students want to go through, you can practically create a course on anything.

But the question has always been: How do I know what the people need?

Let me help you out with the following guides:

1.    Create a super easy poll, using a tool like Google forms or any other related tool, to find out from a particular demography, what new knowledge they would like to acquire FREE in order to solve a particular pressing need.

2.    You can also use your email list or social media page/group (if you have a loyal following) to find out from your fans.

3.    Use search platforms like Google, Youtube, Quora, Buzzsumo etc to find out the most performing keyword search and topic interest, the people in your demographic circle are often searching for.

4.    Visit popular blogs and Social media groups in your area of interest to see how engaging as well as the kind of questions people are asking in terms of seeking solution to a pressing need.

5.    Observation and experience can as well help you find out what people are desperately searching answers for.

Recently, I just found out, from some major School Owners group I belong to, on Facebook, that one major and most recurring challenge majority, if not all of the school owners are having, is all about increasing their business income base, in order to meet up with both recurring and capital expenditures.

While many of them keep harping on school fees and how to get it from ‘stingy’ parents, I have discovered what the real problem is, and as a Financial and Management Accounting expert, I am already preparing a course on this.

I also discovered that teachers today are struggling to meet up with financial obligations, hence I have set up the Financial Literacy Club for teachers.

NEXT…

Solution Guide

Having identified the problem of the people, for which they desperately seek for transformation, do you have what it takes to proffer workable solutions?

The first thing to consider here is Your Ability/Capability.

   A lot of newly married don’t know how to prepare that Yoruba soup for their Yoruba husband, do I know how to do it?

   Many teachers are struggling financially, do I have a workable solution to help them scale up their income?

   A lot of 21^st century teachers are still struggling to meet of with the demand of 21^st century education paradigm, do I have what it takes to guide them?

   Do I have what it takes to help young mothers handle their teens the right way?

   Can I proffer workable solutions for students struggling with Math?

   Just think and think and think…

The next thing is about Your Convincing Power

v How do you convince them that it would work?

If you can’t convince them well enough, you’ve got no solution. The conviction here is not about the result you have recorded in time past, but about your ability to outline, whether in written or oral format, the necessary interrelated steps that shows how your proffered solution should work.

By the time you crossed these hurdles, you’re ready to prepare your first online course.

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