In this article, I have shared “Online Learning Is Evolving to Finally Put Community First”. The industry experienced explosive growth between 2019 and 2021, growing from $200 billion to over $315 billion in value.
Furthermore, even while it’s simple to attribute public health regulations for bringing online courses into the mainstream, this doesn’t mean the trend will start to slow down as Covid (ideally) moves to the side.
With the sector expected to be worth $1 trillion by 2028, the appeal of inexpensive, adaptable, and accessible knowledge on everything from bread-baking to resume-writing is here to stay. However, online education won’t appear as it did in the days of social seclusion and isolation in the future.
The idea that online learning is a static, isolated experience characterized by thick courseware that can be frightening for both learners and creators persists despite the increased interest from investors and students.
The truth is that community—an element that many people overlook in the experience—is at the core of how online learning is developing into a lot more diversified and fluid manner of sharing knowledge.
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Serving Knowledge Through Connection
I initially thought of my first online course as something I released into the universe for people to access at their own convenience and with minimal engagement from or connection to me.
That was a fantastic beginning point, and it inspired me to establish a business that is founded on the notion that anyone can start a business and make money by offering the knowledge they already possess.
Even though creating traditional courses still has a good chance of being successful, it’s not the only or even the best option for both learners and creators.
Humans have always had a strong need for connection, and the pandemic has just made that need more urgent. Online communities created around specialized hobbies and shared passions have been extremely popular over the past two years and have gained new significance in our lives.
According to a recent study, 77% of those polled claimed that the most significant group they belonged to in life was online.
Communities that grow out of Facebook groups, online forums, or even among the followers of particular social media influencers are ideal spaces for unstructured knowledge sharing, enabling peers to impart knowledge on everything from how to raise backyard chickens to how to learn difficult programming languages.
More formal learning pathways, including coaching sessions, in-person seminars, and yes, online courses, can also arise from these communities’ designers, moderators, and owners as a result of the trust and bonds that develop inside them.
The main distinction is that these learning paths emerge from the community rather than the other way around, which represents a complete 180 from how learning and community previously operated.
We’ve all heard that enrolling in classes is a terrific way to meet people, especially as adults, but the sweet spot of online learning seems to be turning that notion on its head: creating a community around a common interest and then providing educational programs that may improve the experience.
The Power of Putting Community First
You must first comprehend what community isn’t in order to fully appreciate its power. We’re not referring to online debates where anyone can voice their opinion. Community isn’t found in the YouTube comments or among the 1 million+ Instagram followers of an influencer.
Real communities are curated, with engaged creators screening applicants or extending invitations based on shared interests and enforcing a set of rules including polite dialogue, privacy, and discretion.
Members, on the other hand, are committed to active discussion and the exchange of information and ideas; there is no ego-driven bravado or challenge. These are essential elements in establishing the prerequisites for information to flow: You require a secure environment where everyone is committed.
Online communities have historically begun in Facebook groups, message boards, or other public forums, but there is currently a quick move to private communities housed under the community leader’s name.
This makes it possible for a more carefully managed experience that is significantly more beneficial to members and may present the owner with a more lucrative possibility.
This may seem like a high standard for creators, but in many respects, launching a community is simpler than developing and publicizing a comprehensive online course.
Additionally, because of the feedback loop that is already there, artists can reach out to their audiences to determine whether there is interest before spending money on more formal educational items that are both profitable and useful.
Participants have a better learning experience when they do it with others. According to studies, learning in a group has a good effect on everything from information retention to course completion rates.
But even in the absence of a clear teacher-student relationship, learning and sharing can still benefit from being a part of a community of dedicated, like-minded individuals.
I participate in a few groups that promote leadership and entrepreneurship. Although these organizations do provide formal seminars and courses, one of the things I appreciate most about them is that they also provide additional opportunities to increase one’s knowledge and understanding.
Simply by participating in the community, I have access to fresh ideas and viewpoints when others respond to questions or offer lessons learned from their own experiences with trial and error.
Everyone is an expert at something, so the notion that I will learn something new just by taking part is what motivates me to participate and keeps me coming back.
The drawback of online learning has always been the perception that it lacks one of the best features of taking a course in person: interacting with other students. This is true despite its convenience and flexibility.
By expanding to combine offline and online activities and giving community interaction, in whatever shape it takes, priority, we are finally witnessing the business mature and find its feet.
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