fbpx

Author Archives: Brian Rahill

About Brian Rahill

Brian is a scientist-turned-education technology executive. He has founded and led technology companies for more than 20 years and uses his analytical mind and experimental approach to spur growth in small and medium businesses and start-ups. He is passionate about using technology to enhance access to lifelong learning.

  1. 4 Simple Ways Instructors Can Help You Attract More Students

    Leave a Comment

    Running classes, managing enrollments and trying to market all at the same time can seem overwhelming. However, you can get help filling your classes from an often overlooked resource — your instructors! Don’t forget your instructors are usually just as interested in filling classes, especially if there’s a minimum needed for the course to run. When they become your partner in the effort to promote their classes, everyone wins in the end.

    Here are 4 simple – and free! – strategies that your instructors can use to promote classes and attract more students.

    Read more

  2. A $2,000 “Grant” In AWS Cloud Services Credits Available For Nonprofits

    Leave a Comment

    Most of the nonprofits we work with are constantly on the lookout for ways to reduce costs and grow their programs. That’s why we had to share the news that Amazon Web Services (AWS) has recently partnered with another company called TechSoup Global (TSG) to connect nonprofits and public libraries with up to $2,000 worth of select AWS products and services.

    TechSoup is a nonprofit technology network that connects nonprofits with discounted or donated tech products and services. That list now includes the AWS Credits Program for Nonprofits.

    Read more

  3. Adding Your CourseStorm Online Class Calendar To Your Website

    Leave a Comment

    Want an easy way to display a calendar of your upcoming classes on your website?

    For anyone who attends regular classes or anyone who wants to keep track of upcoming classes, viewing your courses in a calendar format is a convenient way to see upcoming classes at a glance.

    Here’s an easy step-by-step tutorial for adding a constantly updating Google calendar to your site, and the good news – it takes very little technical expertise!

    Read more

  4. Feature Announcement: Family Tax Information For Parents And Organizations

    Leave a Comment

    One desirable aspect of after-school child care and sports programs is that the fees are often tax deductible. However, gathering all of the necessary information come tax time can be a hassle for parents and organizations alike. Program directors are flooded with calls at the beginning of the year from parents that need tax ID numbers, receipts, and amounts paid for each child so that they can claim the Child and Dependent Care Credit (CDCC) on their tax returns.

    To make tax time easier for everyone, we are excited to announce a new feature that allows parents to retrieve the program’s tax information right from the registration system!

    Read more

  5. Increase Class Signups With Summer Camp Software

    Leave a Comment

    Summer camp season is here! The school year is ending, the weather is finally getting warmer, and kids everywhere are getting anxious to head off to camp.

    For camp administrators, the busy season is already in full swing. Fielding phone calls, answering emails, tracking registrations, following up on cancellation lists – just getting the campers registered is a full-time job in and of itself. Many camps still require parents to fill out a paper form and pay the registration fee by check. Others use email registration or Google forms, which simplifies the process a little but still requires time and effort on the part of the administrators and parents.

    Instead of spending hours on paperwork, wouldn’t you prefer to use that time to develop new programs, talk with parents, or work on marketing?

    We hear this a lot, and that’s why we decided to make tracking and managing camp sign-ups impossibly simple.

    Read more

  6. Growing Non-Profit Class Enrollments – How To Get Free Traffic From Google

    Leave a Comment

    Here at CourseStorm, we want our clients to be successful in all aspects of running their organizations. Sure, we try to make it easier by providing a simple course registration system, but another way we can help is by letting our clients know about a fantastic program where you can receive advertising grants for nonprofits from Google. With just a little bit of legwork, nonprofits can receive up to $10,000 per month in FREE advertising on Google.

    The program is called Google Ad Grants, and here’s what you need to know about it.

    Read more

  7. Ready for the Zombie Apocalypse?

    Leave a Comment

    Inspiring & Extraordinary Offerings from Around the Country

    Just browsing the fun, practical, completely unlikely possibilities in your local Adult & Community Education brochure makes one thing clear. Program directors in towns and cities around the country relish the opportunity to entertain new, original course ideas from talented community members. We traversed the nation, digitally speaking, to highlight some of the most interesting, inspiring and of-the-moment community education classes you can sign up for right now. Even if you can’t get to Arizona to join a Mariachi band or to Pima to prepare for the zombie apocalypse, this list will at least motivate you to take – or teach – a class in your own hometown.

    Read more

  8. Need Job Training? Language Skills? Certification? See You at Adult Ed!

    Leave a Comment

    At a time when the skilled labor gap is an economic reality, Adult Education programs are doing the heavy lifting. Successful Adult Education programs play a critical role in our local and national economies. It is as true today as it’s ever been: a strong Adult Education program means a strong community – one that serves the needs of the labor market and the needs of individuals that make up their student population.

    Read more

  9. Digital Badging in Maine: Connecting Curiosity with Credentials

    Leave a Comment

    We thought it’d be fun and informative to update you about a conference our CEO, Brian, attended in Denver, Colorado – all about reimagining systems that make learning that occurs anytime, anyplace, and at any pace count towards college and career readiness.  

    In this vein of learning anyplace, you may remember a blog post we published a while back in which we discussed the excitement around digital badging as a new way to recognize and reward education.

    In a nutshell, according to LINCS (Literacy Information and Communication System) digital badging “is a new way to capture and communicate what an individual knows and can demonstrate.” And what’s arguably most exciting about the badges themselves is the “digital” part: this means that when earned, the badges can be attached to digital signatures, LinkedIn profiles, shared on social media… the possibilities are endless!

    And so, in this post, we’ll be covering how CourseStorm has been supporting digital badge use here in Maine, as well as Brian’s experience at the “Competency-Based Education & Digital Credential Design Convening” in Denver.

    Let’s jump in!Read more

  10. How to Create Certificates of Achievement for your Students

    Leave a Comment

    Occasionally an instructor will want to provide students with a certificate of completion or achievement.

    Because these are created and managed using a variety of software programs, CourseStorm provides an easy export to help with this task. We’ve moved the instructions to our help site. Please visit the CourseStorm help site article:How to Create Certificates of Achievement for your Students for more information.