Isn't it tempting to leave the cart open right up to your first live session? What if more people want to join?
But it's worth adding a buffer between the close of the cart when you stop accepting new students and the official start of your cohort.
Planning an initiation week can improve the overall experience and prepare your students to get the most out of your course.
Here are 7 different ways to achieve that:
- Get on onboarding calls with small groups of students. You can run through how the course works and answer any questions. This way, you'll get to know your students better and uncover how you can provide the most value.
- Ask students to fill out your onboarding survey. One question should require them to define their goals for the course. By writing them down, they'll be more committed to achieving them.
- Host a session with a few alumni who share their lessons on how to get the best value out of your course.
- Host an informal Q&A session with you, the instructor, so your students can get to know you better.
- Assign prework (e.g., pre-recorded lessons), so everyone starts on the same page.
- Give students the time to buy and set up any materials and hardware they need for the course.
- Sort out any issues. There's always at least one student who can't access the learning platform or community.
The initiation week provides multiple opportunities for students to get to know you and their classmates.
This way, everyone will feel comfortable with each other before they step into the virtual classroom for the first time.
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