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How To's
3 Ways to Use Your Recorded Classes to Increase Enrollment
If your program has been holding classes online, chances are that you’ve recorded at least some of your class content. Most likely, you’ve provided it to students who missed a class or created the recorded sessions so some students can learn asynchronously.
But did you know that your class videos may be able to do even more for you, providing you with content that you can use to increase engagement with your program and boost enrollments?
We’ll cover three things that you can do to make the most of your recorded classes, including create an eLearning video course, edit into microlearning modules, and improve your program’s marketing.
Create and Release a Video Course
It’s common to release recorded content to the students participating in a class, so they can rewatch it or review using the recorded content. (For example, we send a link to an edited recording to anyone who registers for one of our CourseStorm webinars once it’s complete.) This format works exceptionally well for lectures and presentations, and even multi-week lessons.
However, you can also release this content for new students, as an eLearning course, providing an opportunity for more students to take the class, without a great deal of extra work. And you can offer it again and again.
If you’ve already been recording, you probably have everything you need to create an eLearning course.
Adapt for eLearning
Previously recorded video is often used in eLearning, because it easily allows for simple, asynchronous learning and rolling enrollments. Your classes can also be adapted for eLearning, enabling you to offer more sessions of a popular course while giving the instructor extra time to focus on communicating with students rather than re-performing the material live, over and over again.
Creating an eLearning course can be detailed, but we’ll focus on the basics. The easiest way to get started is to record your class, upload it to YouTube as a private video, and provide students with a link to the recording. You’ll list the pre-recorded class in your next catalog. When students register for the class, send them a link to the private video. You could even deliver multi-session classes by emailing a new link each week to your class roster. You can provide extra value to your students by including some kind of access to an instructor who can answer questions.
Adapting classes for eLearning is an efficient way to reach more students, and it may even be more convenient for your learners.
Break It Into Microlearning Modules
Microlearning presents educational content in small chunks, offering students bite-sized modules (typically less than 10 minutes) rather than traditional long-form classes. If you’ve ever gone to YouTube to figure out how to do something, watched a series of short videos on LinkedIn Learning, or even enjoyed a TED talk, you’ve experienced different forms of microlearning.
These learning moments are usually relatively specific and provide the learner with quick, easy to digest pieces of information. Microlearning has been most popular in employee training, but its a technique applicable to many topics.
Microlearning is perfect for modern learners who may not have the time to sit in a classroom or even in front of a computer for an extended time. It’s also perfect content for folks to incorporate education into their commute and work breaks. And finally, it’s an ideal offering for someone who may know the subject matter but will benefit from a refresher.
By recording your classes, you can break a class or workshop into a new learning experience made of smaller pieces that can be watched by students on the go.
Ideal for Mobile Learners
According to Statista, people on mobile phones watch more than 60% of videos in the US. That number continues to grow, and recent research shows that nearly 70% of learners actually prefer to use their smartphones for learning.
Breaking your existing class content into small videos that can be accessed and watched in short bursts gives you a great, adaptable way to present information. Your busy learners will appreciate this flexible method of learning that helps them slowly and steadily increase their knowledge over time.
Class content provided this way may even provide your students with a better understanding of the material. Research indicates that microlearning leads to improved competition rates and higher levels of engagement.
Teasers, Snippets, and Other Marketing Content
It’s well established that video provides compelling content that is well-received by people using the Internet. One-third of online activity is spent watching videos, and 64% of consumers make a purchase after taking in a branded video! And they don’t have to be long and complicated —the most popular videos are under two minutes.
If you are recording your classes, you already have sharable marketing content that is practically ready-made! Every class will have at least one delightful moment —a piece of practical information, a riveting story, or an interesting fact. With a little editing, those moments can be highlighted and shared to increase interest in your program.
How to Use It
You can create a homemade video advertisement for your program using footage of friendly instructors paired with Zoom screens of engaged students (filmed with permission, of course). Or share a branded microlearning module for free on social media as a teaser and invitation for your viewer to take the rest of the class. (Neat fact: 92% of users watching video on a mobile device will share it with others!) Feature a video on your website and share the link when you send your next marketing email.
Whether you’re creating a more traditional ad using your classes as footage or providing a real-world snapshot of a student’s experience, video is a tried and true marketing tool that you should be using.
Video Content is a Valuable Asset
There are many things you can do with video from a class. It needs to be engaging, entertaining, and educational, but it doesn’t need to be fancy.
Inevitably you’ll find that as your instructors become more familiar with online presenting, the content that you have to share will increase in its quality and quantity. Eventually, you’ll have an incredible library of video material to use to benefit your students, instructors, and your program.
Nic Lyons
Nic is skilled in scaling start-up edtech and education organizations to growth-stage success through innovative marketing. A former journalist and copywriter, Nic holds a postgraduate certificate in digital and print publishing from Columbia University School of Journalism's publishing course.