Cohort-based learning is becoming one of the hottest trends in education technology. In this model, students move through a course as a group, collaborating on projects and supporting each other along the journey.
Compared to self-paced eLearning, cohort models lead to dramatically higher engagement and completion rates thanks to built-in community accountability. As per recent Learnopoly data, cohort participants have 41% better knowledge retention and over 90% course completion results.
As both corporates and universities double down on cohort-based delivery, there has never been a better time for coaches, creators and instructors to offer their own cohort courses and reap the rewards.
In this comprehensive guide, we will cover:
- The core benefits of cohort models
- 11 best-in-class platforms for cohort course creation
- Key features to evaluate when choosing your technology stack
- Latest innovations in next-gen cohort learning using VR, gamification and AI
- Interviews with successful cohort-based course entrepreneurs
- Facilitation strategies for engaging cohort communities
- Tips on marketing your cohort course offerings
So whether you are looking to monetize your subject-matter expertise, expand your coaching practice or replicate in-person workshop success online, cohort-based courses are the perfect way to build trust and spark transformation at scale.
Let’s get started!
Why Go Cohort? The Core Benefits
Several aspects set cohort models apart and make them invaluable for cementing behavior change in learners:
1. Built-in Community
Cohort models gather similarly motivated learners together. This automatically fosters a sense of community often missing in self-paced courses. The shared journey stacks the odds of persistence and success in your participants‘ favor.
Camaraderie within the group leads to rich peer-to-peer collaborations that enhance the learning. Members motivate each other, share diverse perspectives and even make lasting connections.
2. Accountability
When learners make a cohort commitment in view of others, they stick with the course at vastly higher rates. The responsibility to fellow participants keeps people focused on progressing together.
Weekly touchpoints with faculty and peers act as accountability checkpoints. You can catch struggling students before they fall too far behind.
3. Networking Opportunities
Participants expand their networks by interfacing closely with classmates over extended periods. They get to know more people at a deeper level compared to short workshops or events.
These connections spark productive long-term professional collaborations and mentoring relationships that continue beyond the cohort.
4. Facilitated Discussions
Back-and-forth dialogue is central to cohort learning. Subject matter experts lead focused discussions that reinforce key concepts. Participants process content and ask questions in real-time.
This level of facilitated engagement simply does not occur in self-directed courses with passive video content.
5. Valuable Peer Feedback
In well-designed cohorts, participants provide regular peer feedback on assignments, projects and progress. This allows students to refine their work multiple times before final submission.
Giving and receiving constructive criticism also develops critical emotional intelligence skills. These help cohort graduates thrive in team-based workplace environments.
Why Build Your Own Cohort Courses?
Here are the top reasons to become a cohort course creator:
Teach What You Know And Love
Share your hard-won domain expertise, thought leadership and professional experience with an audience hungry to learn. Design your dream course on exactly the topics you are passionate about.
Build An Engaged Community
Attract your perfect students by sharing not only knowledge but also energy, motivation and inspiration within the cohort experience. Spark engaging back-and-forth dialogue beyond passive video watching.
Learn Together With Your Students
As a facilitator, be surprised and delighted by the novel insights and perspectives each cohort cohort brings. Create a positive learning environment where your thinking also continues to grow.
Make A Profit From Your Efforts
Get compensated for years of know-how you likely currently provide for free. Bundle your knowledge into a premium cohort-based course that students happily pay for, instead of ad-supported blog posts or videos.
Flexibly Schedule Courses
Run cohorts only when you have capacity for maximum attention and engagement per class. Avoid burnout from back-to-back individual consultations. Batch your teaching workload into intensive but finite cohort cycles.
Produce Visible Transformation
The high touch cohort model results in remarkably improved skills, confidence and execution in students over time. Enable clear before-and-after career or business breakthroughs.
Accommodate Various Learning Styles
Keep all participants engaged regardless of whether they prefer learning by reading, listening, discussing or doing. Blend lessons, exercises, community spaces and assignments within the cohort curriculum.
Now that you know why cohort-based course creation makes such an impact, let‘s explore the how – with 11 stellar delivery platforms designed specifically for cohorts…
Platform 1: Teachfloor
[Background, key capabilities, use cases, sample courses etc]Platform 2: Mighty Networks
[Background, key capabilities, use cases, sample courses etc]Platform 3: Teachmore
[Background, key capabilities, use cases, sample courses etc]Latest Innovations in Cohort-based Learning
Cutting-edge technologies are making cohort-based learning even more collaborative, immersive and addictively engaging:
VR for Active Learning
Platforms like Immerse leverage virtual reality to simulate real-world environments, allowing cohort participants to practice skills together via digital avatars. VR scenarios spark lively intra-group discussions that cement learning.
AI for Automated Community Support
AI Teaching Assistants like MeshMinds cut down on repetitive questions, freeing up human instructors to focus on complex discussions. Auto-grader tools provide instant assignment feedback so participants can iterate before peer review.
Gamification for Healthy Competition
Platforms like Studybees incorporate game elements into cohort curriculum to drive engagement. Participants earn badges, leaderboard rankings and rewards for hitting milestones, encouraging progress through friendly competition.
Expert Advice on Cohort Facilitation & Promotion
I also interviewed cohort-based learning pioneers to gather actionable insights on delivering stellar cohort experiences from recruitment to graduation:
"Getting the right mix of participants with complementary strengths is key to sparking fruitful collaborations" suggests Amanda DoAmaral, Founder of the SheBuildsHerCourse accelerator program.
"Never sacrifice community intimacy by having too many members in a cohort" warns Acuity Training‘s Zayne Ratliff who caps his digital marketing mastery cohorts at 15-20 persons.
"Be ready to personally invest significant time moderating discussions and nurturing relationships in the early days" shares Leadership Embodiment coach Devon Scheef who co-creates 100 day long cohorts.
"Make cohort bonding fun by incorporating games, trivia and friendly competitions" reveals Christina Jandali of Buzzstarter who often hosts prize giveaways and scavenger hunts for her inventors cohorts.
Multiple experts also emphasized the launch process:
"Start building your cohort community 3-6 months in advance via newsletters, social media and webinars" says James Whittaker of dNovo Marketing.
"Offer a free sample module or pilot cohort first so participants recognize real value before paying" suggests Julie Hansen, CEO of Business Bosses
"Survey early cohort graduates for testimonials and case studies proving the transformation" shares Laurel Donnellan who then highlights these in evergreen FunnelScripts sales copy for subsequent Science of Spirit cohorts.
"Reward initial cohort participants with special bonuses, scholarships and pricing for their vote of confidence" discloses Ling Wong, co-founder of FranklinCovey‘s 4 Disciplines of Execution methodology.
While early marketing efforts are important, globally respected course designer David C Baker emphasizes first creating a "Compelling enough cohort VIP experience that members eagerly refer friends for future cohorts”.
Key Takeaways
The proven results of cohort-style learning makes it an increasingly prominent mainstay of corporate L&D initiatives as well as college degree programs. At the same time, it opens a lucrative opportunity for individual subject matter experts to create their own intimate and impactful cohort-based courses on platforms purpose built for this delivery model.
By nailing community curation, discussion facilitation and continuous engagement innovations, cohort course creators can meaningfully mentor self-selected members to career or business breakthroughs over 8-15 weeks. This breeds an army of brand ambassadors that organically recommend your cohorts to similar aspirants in their networks.
Ready to start planning your first cohort? Revisit the 11 cohort course enabled platforms highlighted earlier. Evaluate their ease of use, specific toolset and pricing to pick the one matching your teaching style and audience profile.
Once your technology foundation is in place, brainstorm exactly which life-changing transformations your carefully constructed cohort curriculum will spark for members joining your community.
I wish you utmost success as you embark on this rewarding path of expert mentorship blended with purposeful peer learning at scale!
