In the ever-evolving world of online education, keeping your course content fresh and relevant is crucial.

It’s not just about staying current; it’s about creating an effective Learning experience that resonates with students and keeps them coming back for more.

Outdated courses are a turn-off for students.

Think about it: would you want to learn from a course that hasn’t been updated in years?

Probably not.

But how do you update your course effectively?

Dive into these tips and tricks to get started. You’ll be surprised at what a few tweaks can do.

Preparing for update

Initiating the update process for your online course demands a structured approach.

You need to set clear objectives and arm yourself with relevant data to ensure your content remains current and effective.

Step 1: Collect data

You need to deep dive into the analytics provided by platforms like Thinkific or Kajabi to examine student interaction patterns.

You have to pay close attention to video retention graphs, which reveal the tips (peaks in engagement) and values (drop-offs), as these areas indicate content that either resonates well or is missing the mark.

For example, if you notice a significant drop in engagement during a module that introduces SEO techniques, it might indicate that the keywords strategy explained is no longer relevant.

Additionally, on a macro level, consider running surveys to get direct feedback.

Questions such as, “What challenges did you face with the SEO module of the course?” can provide insight into necessary content changes—all while accumulating valuable testimonials.

You can use this feedback to target outdated information and plan your updates effectively, ensuring every modification is purpose-driven and informed by actual user experience.

Step 2: Set goals for updation

To enhance the value of your course, begin by defining what “success” looks like for your update.

What transformations do you want your students to experience post-update?

More importantly, identify the sections where learners seem to struggle the most and prioritize these for a refresh.

It helps to ask yourself: “Which updates will have the highest impact on student results?”.

Now, jot down your objectives in a mind map or list format for clear visualization.

Updating course content

Keeping your online course up-to-date is not only about maintaining relevance; it’s also about creating a framework that allows for easy content updates in the future. When you optimize and modernize your course materials, you make the learning experience more engaging for students.

Below, you’ll find specific tips and insights on how to refine your course content effectively:

Step #1: Optimize your course for easy updation

Before starting the actual upgrade process, it is important to invest some time in optimizing the structure of your existing course. This will provide you with more clarity on what and how to upgrade.

• Make the structure modular for clarity and scalability: You need to design your modules with scalability in mind using a modular approach. This allows for easy updates and tweaks without having to overhaul the entire course.
• Add broad and abstract module names: Use encompassing or abstract names for your modules that capture the overall content rather than specific details. This ensures that core concepts remain intact regardless of external changes. For instance, rather than naming a module “Facebook and Instagram Marketing,” which is specific to these two platforms, consider a name like “Social Media Marketing Strategies.” This broad title can encompass various platforms, including new ones that may emerge in the future.
• Distinguish core concepts from technical details: Separate the foundational ideas from the fleeting technical details. By doing so, you can ensure that the core learning objectives remain unaffected by external changes in the field.
• Utilize video transcripts for identifying outdated content: Script your videos or obtain transcripts to identify areas that may become outdated. This can be a helpful tool for reviewing and pinpointing content that requires updates. In the future, AI can assist in analyzing these transcripts, simplifying the process of keeping your materials current.

Transcripts are your life savers when identifying outdated content!

Here are some more tips on how effectively make use of transcripts for better course updation:

Use the ‘Find‘ feature (Ctrl+F or Command+F) to search for dates, years, or platforms that may have undergone changes since the video was created.

For example, if the video mentions “2021 Google Spam Update,” it might be outdated.

Check the information provided in the transcript against the most recent data or updates.

Some terms or concepts, tools, app recommendations may no longer be in use or may have evolved. If these appear in the transcript, it’s a sign the content might be outdated.

Step #2: Optimizing videos

Video is a powerful educational tool, but it needs to be concise and relevant. Remove any fluff that doesn’t serve the learning outcomes of your course.

Moreover, combining closely related topics into a single video can streamline the learning process.

However, do remember, while it’s important to note that consolidating multiple topics in one video, it goes against the goal of creating separate videos for each topic. As a result, it may become challenging to update the videos in the future.

If the videos are long, tools like Recut or Timebolt are effective for trimming silent pauses in your videos, making them more engaging.

The tidier the video, the better your students can focus on the content without distractions.

Step #3: Update written content

Your course’s written materials should always reflect the latest information presented in the video.

In this case, after updating the videos, it makes sense to transcribe them using tools like Happyscribe or any other transcription tools based on OpenAI’s Whisper.

Then, you can use ChatGPT to generate an up-to-date summary.

Step #4: Include interactive elements

You also can include interactive elements such as quizzes, assignments, and point systems, which can dramatically increase engagement.

This screenshot showcases a Udemy course that includes quizzes and practice assignments as part of its curriculum. The inclusion of such components demonstrates the course’s commitment to providing comprehensive and effective learning tools.

After all, you’re updating your course content for better retention and completion rates, right?

Students learn better when actively participating, and these elements can help maintain their attention. Customize your interactive content to reinforce the key concepts of each module, thereby enhancing the overall effectiveness of your course.

Initial feedback

Securing initial feedback is critical in evaluating the effectiveness of your updated online course content.

It’s a chance to understand how your changes resonate with learners and which areas might still need refinement.

Begin by identifying highly active learners in your LMS. These students are more likely to provide useful insights, given their consistent interaction with the course material. Their high engagement rates make their feedback invaluable.

By looking at the progress, questions asked and questions answered, you can identify which learners are most active and engaged in their course. You can even export the data to CSV.

Finally, reach out via email to request their thoughts on the recent updates.

Here are some tips for effective feedback collection:

• Personalize your email: Address your students by name to encourage a more personal and positive response.
• Be specific: Ask targeted questions about the updated sections to get detailed reviews.
• Offer incentives: Reward their effort with discounts on future courses or additional learning materials.

For example, here’s a sample email that includes all the three best practices:

Hello Alex,

We hope you’re enjoying the [course name]. As we continually strive to improve and update our courses, your feedback is incredibly valuable to us. We’d appreciate it if you could take a few minutes to share your thoughts on the recent updates.

We have recently updated the module on [specific topic]. Did you find the new content more engaging and informative than before? Were the additional resources helpful in understanding the topic better? Please provide as much detail as possible, your feedback will help us make further improvements.

Your time is precious, and we want to show our appreciation for your feedback. As a token of gratitude, we’re offering a 15% discount on your next course enrollment or some free additional learning materials. Once you complete the feedback form, we’ll send you the code/materials directly to your inbox.

Thank you for your time.

Akshay~

It’s an iterative game where you ask for feedback and use it to further instruct your updating process.

In conclusion, updating your online course is crucial for keeping your content relevant and engaging. By collecting data, setting clear goals, and optimizing your course materials, you can provide a valuable learning experience for your students. Remember to incorporate interactive elements and seek feedback from learners to refine and improve your course continuously. Stay committed to refining your e-learning game, and watch your students thrive and succeed in their educational journey.