The High Impact Teaching Lab
The High Impact Teaching Lab helps digital course creators develop effective, accessible, and inclusive digital content. AND WERE JUST GETTING STARTED
Our mission is to have served 10,000 people, have trained 1000 course creators in how to design effective & inclusive content, have 100 course creators in our HIT lab learning community, and have certified 50 digital courses as Effective, Accessible, & Inclusive by the end of 2022 - because everyone should be able to learn from and access the life-changing content that people are creating and sharing.
04/08/2021
The Sage on Stage needs to go down! This Course Boss is notorious for giving you long talking head videos and lectures and slide decks of succulents and calling it "TEACHING".
I am channeling my inner nerd and announcing this Boss Battle Strategy Guide: The Sage on Stage.
This strategy guide is going to show you different ways of teaching your material.
Ways that aren't simply a recorded head or slide deck.
Just like heroes on a journey - no two have the same skills or background.
This strategy guide will help you identify your strengths and weaknesses as a course creator. And develop a battle plan tailored to you!
Together, just like the fellowship, we will set out to take down the Sage on Stage once and for all!
Comment with a 🎮 if you want more info on how to get your hands on this guide!
03/08/2021
I am an expert teacher - not an expert marketer. Though I am doing my best.
Sometimes life just throws a lot at you. Early in my teaching career, I realized I needed to plan, create, and run my courses in ways that are dynamic and flexible.
Because life is unpredictable. It still can be hard and can still suck - but, we can be ready for it.
I see my students struggle with this all the time. "I just didn't have enough time to study for this test" or "this week was just so busy - it will be different next time".
Spoilers... it rarely is.
We need to plan for this nonsense! If you need help doing that comment with a ✋🏻 and I will send you a link to my free training to help you set up courses that are dynamic enough to survive this crazy life.
27/07/2021
The doors to the High Impact Crash Course Series are open - but only until August 5th.
This series is 3 sequential fast paced and action oriented crash courses designed to help you create the best courses in your niche!
Basically you're going to be creating courses that don't forking suck!
The first crash course is on Effective Teaching - I will show you exactly what you need to do to build your course to get more of your students to the finish line - and beyond.
Crash Course 2 is all about Universal Teaching - you'll learn how to create accessible content that supports and works for everyone - so no one is excluded.
Finally in the last Crash Course were going deep into strategies you can use to keep your students engaged from purchase to finish.
You can get any one individually - they work standalone - but are stronger together.
Buy all 3 in a bundle for a discount and some perks.
DM me if youre interested in learning more. Otherwise link is in the bio!
26/07/2021
There ARE SOO MANY digital courses out there these days. What sets yours apart?
Join my free live event masterclass webinar training thingy, "How to Create Courses that Don't Suck," - and start standing out in your niche.
23/07/2021
I want to apologize.
I've done a lot of reflecting - and therapy - and talking to people. I was approaching launching this business in ways that I was taught - ways that didn't sit well with me.
I'm not good at this marketing stuff, so I leaned into what experts have told me. I learned early on in my teaching career that it doesn't matter how amazing the content is or how intelligent the creator was - if I didn't approach my teaching from my strengths, it's going to suck. Not sure how I forgot that lesson - cuz it keeps showing up and kicking me in the face. But here we are.
So I reflected and realized I am good at a few things. I like to think I am a stellar teacher - but what does that even mean?
It means I am good at designing learning experiences.
It means I am good at challenging people's perceptions of what they are capable of and helping them break past those perceptions (this is WHY I teach).
It means I am good at being sarcastic (being myself).
It means I am good at calling things as I see them - and working with those around me to improve.
Why am I sharing all of this? Well, I want to apologize for not being myself and commit to being less 'sales-ey' and more myself.
I have changed my upcoming masterclass/webinar thingy to what it truly is - helping you create courses that don't suck.
I will still teach you how to boost engagement and completion rates and show you some of what I do. I just am going to come at it in a way that is more authentic to who I am and where my strengths lay.
I hope to see you there. It's free. If you value growing as an educator and creating courses that don't suck, you'll be there. You would be kind of be acting like a dingus not to come.
23/07/2021
What is your online platform of choice?
I believe that the best is whichever is the easiest for you to serve your students through.
Which one is easy to use? Which is affordable? Which uses tools do you know how to use well? Which is easy to learn? Which one includes all the pieces you need.
For me, that's Podia. You can check out my review of it from the link in the bio.
22/07/2021
Which is more important? Selling your course or teaching your course?
Such an important question. Obvious the answer is both - but contrary to what most course creators believe - I believe that teaching it well is more important.
Initially selling is more important for sure. But once you have made those first sales - your ability to teach and deliver your content is what is going to drive future sales.
If you are ready to up your teaching game be sure to grab a spot in my upcoming free Engagement Breakthrough Masterclass. The link is in the bio.
20/07/2021
No one wants ANOTHER webinar where someone talks at you for an hour and then sells you their offer.
This is why I am thrilled to announce this free masterclass for course creators - because were going to do things differently.
If you are a course creator who wants to boost engagement in your courses and increase course completion rates, this is for you.
However, if you want a webinar that you can zone out to and never apply anything from... well, this ain't that.
We are going to be diving deep into improving student engagement and course completion rates. It's not going to be just another webinar where you zone out and then try to dodge the hard sell at the end.
It's all about engagement - and if you join, you're going to learn by doing. We are in this together - and the results will be something you can actually take and apply to your courses!
I will also demo an engagement-focused lesson from my upcoming Instructional design crash course series so you can see firsthand what a digital course is possible.
My goal is that you will never look at a masterclass or digital course the same - ever again.
There are 3 globally-friend times available. Head to the link in the bio to sign up.
See you there!
https://www.thehitlab.co/engagement-breakthrough
Engagement Breakthrough Masterclass Engagement Breakthrough Masterclass: Proven Strategies used by Master Educators
17/07/2021
What if I told you that you could increase your course sales by 25% - with one specific design shift?
Well, it's possible. 1 in 4 people has a disability. Making your content accessible to them = instant audience boost.
Disabled communities are tight-knit. Word of mouth can spread quickly. Especially when you put the effort in to serve them.
That is a recipe for a loyal & raving audience if I have ever heard of one. Don't know where to start? I've got you.
16/07/2021
I am about to go live with Lucy Kelly for a Live Instructional Design Coaching call! Join us!
https://youtu.be/av35HPOg2Uw
Instructional Design Live Coaching Call w/ Lucy Kelly - The HIT Lab Welcome to this live Instructional Design Coaching call. Today we are working with Lucy Kelly and answering her questions about course planning, program desi...
15/07/2021
Student engagement is always a sticking point for educators and course creators. I created this video to help us re-think what engagement looks like and how we can influence it. Check it out!
https://youtu.be/pBH7rFEnOBM
How to Drive Student Engagement in Your Online Courses - The HIT Lab Student engagement in online courses is one of the most common sticking grounds for instructors of all types. Once a student joins one of your courses, how d...
13/07/2021
I am so excited to be announcing this more formally! My Instructional Design Crash Course Series for Independent Course Creators is launching soon!
This course is designed to help you go from stumbling course creator to breakout educator ready to begin delivering courses unlike any other in your niche.
You will learn the first & most essential instructional design concepts in creating effective, universal, & engaging digital courses - quickly & from the start.
Here is the thing - I started the High Impact Teaching Lab to do things differently. I am dedicated to offering course experience unlike anyone else out there. I want to help you do the same!
The first thing you might want to know is spots are limited on this - not just 'because I want to scare you into buying - but because I am committed to that promise above. I am capping enrollment at 100 students - because that is the amount I feel confident I can deliver a course experience unlike anything else.
Enrollment opens in 1 week (July 20th) and closes on July 29th. The first Crash Course will start on Aug 2nd.
If you want to save your spot - at no risk - and get a nice discount at launch follow the link in my bio.
13/07/2021
Every course creator, teacher, or educator I have talked to has asked how to increase student engagement.
I want to first challenge you to re-think what engagement is and what it looks like - and then recognize its connection to motivation.
This is good news because there are specific and actionable things we can do to influence our student's motivation.
This might be hard to hear - but much of your student's motivation falls on your shoulders as the educator.
08/07/2021
Tomorrow (July 9th) at 10:30 am PST (UTC -8) I will be doing a Live Instructional Design Coaching call with - a LinkedIn Master!
She has some questions about course creation, learning management systems, engagement, effective presentations and more!
Mark you calendar and come by! The link is in the Bio!
07/07/2021
You can begin using these Inclusive Design Language Shifts today.
When we talk about diversity and inclusion we can't forget about disability as part of that conversation.
**These were inspired by Hayleen Holt's "5 Inclusive Design Reminders for L&D Professionals in Honor of Disability Pride Month" blog post on Scissortailcs.com
07/07/2021
Course creators make up so many excuses for why students don't finish their courses.
While some of these may be the actual circumstance, Good Instructional Design covers them - and helps students succeed DESPITE these barriers!
07/07/2021
Succulents seem to go hand in hand with a digital course. But they have more in common with one than you may think.
02/07/2021
Can you relate?
We focus so much on how to sell & launch our courses - you've probably asked yourself "What do I do once my students show up"
These tips can give you a nice starting place.
Do you use any of these? Let me know in the comments.
01/07/2021
From Amy Porterfield herself - these are 3 of the largest barriers course creators face. And they ALL relate back to effective teaching.
Who would've guessed!
Which of these do you struggle with?
30/06/2021
Have you made this connection yet?
By creating accessible & inclusive content you can and will serve a wider audience (and your current audience will benefit too).
And better serving a larger audience means more success stories from your students.
If you aren't considering how to ensure your content is accessible and inclusive... it's time to.
Grab my free quick-start guide from the link in the bio.
23/06/2021
Episode 2 of the Behind the Scenes series is live. In this one, we are designing our Student Course Goals. Do you include actionable goals for your students in your courses?
https://youtu.be/6ykFGAy_B4Q
Creating an Online Course (Behind the Scenes) - Episode 2: Course Goals - The HIT Lab Go behind the scenes with an instructional design expert as I work on creating an upcoming online course in this BTS series. In episode 2 you will see me dev...
Had a great chat with Mary Nunaley & Amadeus Nunaley about universal design and effective, accessible, and inclusive teaching and content design.
21/06/2021
Do you see comments like this from your students? These are real, authentic, and ANONYMOUS feedback statements I received from my Spring student cohort.
Seriously, I am PROUD of them. And I want you to receive similar comments.
If you arent seeing comments like this about your teaching and curriculum in your digital course, send me a DM, and let's chat. I would love to help!
🔥
18/06/2021
If you are a course creator there is a ton that can be learned from teachers.
To start - your sales page is basically your syllabus. It has two important goals:
1) Get the RIGHT students ready to buy your course.
2) Set those students up to succeed before the course even starts.
Include these 5 elements on your sales page to be sure you hit both of those goals.
🔥
17/06/2021
So excited to kick this series off! It's a behind the scenes look into how I build HIT digital courses! And a sneak peak into my upcoming Crash Course series!
https://youtu.be/qs97IhywQeg
Creating an Online Course (Behind the Scenes) - Episode 1: The First Steps - The HIT Lab Go behind the scenes with an instructional design expert as I work on creating an upcoming online course in this BTS series. In episode 1 you will see me go ...
10/06/2021
Do you do this in your business?
Accessible Content Design Isn't Just... Turning on Captions & Providing A Transcript, but... That's a great first step that you can do today.
Accessible, Inclusive, and Universal digital content doesn't have to be hard. But it is more than just clicking "closed captions".
In the comments let me know what other steps you take to make your content more universal?
10/06/2021
We are kicking off a new Live series on YouTube tomorrow where we do a course audit live with the creator.
Mark your calendar and come by to do a deep dive with Peter Alkema on his Udemy course "Publish An eBook In 5 Days: Beginners Guide To Amazon Kindle"
I can't wait to see you all there!
https://youtu.be/SS7Nz1JFn-Y
Live Course Audit w/ Peter Alkema - The HIT Lab [Description Here]Welcome to this live digital course audit! Today we are working with Peter Alkema and reviewing his course "Publish An eBook In 5 Days: Beg...
09/06/2021
New Video Alert!
Be sure these 3 Cs are a part of your online course!
07/06/2021
I had the honor of being on Paul Thomson's Podcast, Online Course Empires.
We had an amazing chat about Accessible design and effective teaching in online courses.
Be sure to check it out!
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/ep-25-making-accessible-inclusive-digital-courses-for/id1472994836?i=1000523803326&fbclid=IwAR0Jmgnhc1rBu54hggQeWxLjztaskhF3w3l1MIqzZtceztWXMI4FeUSPDVQ
Online Course Empires: EP 25: Making Accessible & Inclusive Digital Courses For ALL Learners with Dustin Bakkie on Apple Podcasts Show Online Course Empires, Ep EP 25: Making Accessible & Inclusive Digital Courses For ALL Learners with Dustin Bakkie - Jun 1, 2021
07/06/2021
If you haven't already, be sure to join our Private Facebook Community! https://www.facebook.com/groups/thehitlab