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Home-study course structures and guarantees

by marciayudkin
5 replies
Have you ever taken a home-study course that included feedback from the instructor/mentor? If so, do you have comments on the structure for such a course that would work best for you?

The way I have done this is to have a set series of "lessons" and after each lesson there is a homework assignment that they submit to me for my feedback and suggestions. A student who just completed one of these courses said that being able to look at the upcoming lessons actually got in the way for her of being able to focus on the lesson that was officially next. She suggested that I email the lessons one at a time, and send the next lesson only when the student had completed the preceding one.

What do you think of the pros and cons of that suggestion? (From the standpoint of the student, please.)

And have you taken a home-study course that includes feedback and that is set up in a different way?

My guarantee for a course like this is that there is a 100% money-back guarantee for one year or until you have submitted the first homework assignment for feedback, whichever comes first. Does that seem fair and reasonable?

Thank you for your input.

Marcia Yudkin
#guarantees #homestudy #instruction #structures #study
  • Profile picture of the author chubbsky
    I've experienced taking a course where the mentor will only email the next module after you submitted your completed tasks from the previous module. Its actually effective because it makes you accountable to someone and at the same time, there's interaction when the mentor gives feedback re your homework.

    The problem with this setup is when the mentor takes more students than he can attend to. Since there is more work involved for the mentor to check on each student's progress, there will be times when the student will experience delays in feedback or in getting the next module. That's what I experienced and it actually dampened my enthusiasm for the course.

    I don't quite get your guarantee - one year or when the 1st assignment is submitted? So basically you're giving the student 1 year to start working on your course? And once he starts (by submitting his first assignment), guarantee is off? Personally, the one year guarantee doesn't sound enticing since I won't really see yet how good the course is (because the student will only see the 1st module). Also, won't that encourage procrastination on your student?
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  • Profile picture of the author Don Schenk
    Marcia, I think once someone has paid the entire price of the course, they are entitled to download the entire course. It is up to them to follow the course in logical order.

    It is the student's problem, not yours, if a student decides to become sidetracked by looking ahead at future lesson. I suspect most students will look ahead, but they then need the little bit of self-discipline it takes to follow the lessons in order.

    In ancient times (twenty years ago before public Internet use) I distributed a series of coupons with a course I sold. Students received a certain number of these coupons - depending on which version of the course they bought. They would then send me a copy of the advertising and marketing materials they created through the course, and include one of the coupons. Then I would review the materials and get back to them.

    :-Don
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  • Profile picture of the author txconx
    I have one word for you: Moodle.
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    • Profile picture of the author marciayudkin
      I've experienced taking a course where the mentor will only email the next module after you submitted your completed tasks from the previous module. Its actually effective because it makes you accountable to someone and at the same time, there's interaction when the mentor gives feedback re your homework.

      The problem with this setup is when the mentor takes more students than he can attend to. Since there is more work involved for the mentor to check on each student's progress, there will be times when the student will experience delays in feedback or in getting the next module. That's what I experienced and it actually dampened my enthusiasm for the course.
      Thank you for sharing your experience, Chubbsky. It makes total sense that having to wait for the next lesson would be irritating.

      Marcia, I think once someone has paid the entire price of the course, they are entitled to download the entire course. It is up to them to follow the course in logical order.

      It is the student's problem, not yours, if a student decides to become sidetracked by looking ahead at future lesson.
      Don, I think you are right. What I am thinking, though, is that I can warn some of them away from this pitfall by addressing it explicitly. And I will incorporate that into the course instructions. It only takes a couple of sentences to do that. Thank you.

      Marcia Yudkin
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  • Profile picture of the author Rose Anderson
    I took a writing course like this years ago. It was very helpful to have the instructors comments on my specific work instead of just reading a book or course.

    Are you thinking of doing a copywriting course in this way? I'd be interested if you do.
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