Create an online course

Choose your online course format 

Disco offers a few basic templates to help get you started in creating content: cohort-based course, self-paced course, event series, and blank. Within these templates, you’ll have plenty of flexibility and customization available to really make it your own.

When selecting the appropriate format, consider the course topic to ensure it aligns with the chosen format. Since we’re looking at cohort-based courses in this playbook, we’ll go with that!

Live events

Even if you don’t choose the event series template, we highly recommend including events to create a successful online course. You can both host live events and release pre-recorded events to give your learners plenty of flexibility in determining how they want to absorb your content.

Live events are something really special in Disco since it’s such a great way to connect with learners in an online learning setup. Disco can fully integrate with whatever hosting platform you like, from Zoom to Google Meet; you can even host in-person events and still track and record RSVPs all through Disco.

Here's how you can add live events to the Disco platform:

Feeds and announcements

Within your Disco dashboard, you’ll find your announcement feed right off the bat. This is the perfect place to call out any new courses, events, or features that you want to educate your learners on. It can also be a great spot to announce new cohorts, special awards, or graduating classes (yay!). 

Highlight new courses and content

The announcement feed is the ideal place to showcase new courses or modules you’ve just added. By regularly updating your feed with new content, you can maintain a steady stream of engagement with your learners, ensuring they’re always aware of the latest offerings and updates.

Whether it’s a brand-new course or a timely addition to an existing one, your feed ensures no one misses out on valuable learning opportunities.

Promote upcoming events

Planning a live Q&A, workshop, or guest speaker session? Your announcement feed is the go-to spot to build anticipation and excitement. By promoting upcoming events well in advance, you give learners ample time to prepare, register, and participate. This not only drives attendance but also creates a buzz within your community, fostering a sense of involvement and anticipation.

Celebrate achievements

Your announcement feed is also the perfect place to celebrate the milestones within your learning community. Whether it’s announcing the launch of a new cohort, recognizing special achievements, or celebrating graduating classes, these updates add a personal touch to your online course environment.

Public recognition of achievements, like awards or certifications, can boost morale and encourage continued engagement, reinforcing a positive learning culture.

Expert Tip: You can spotlight the top-performing members from your leaderboard, showcasing those who excelled in your virtual class. With Disco AI, you can effortlessly generate the entire post and share it with your cohort in just seconds, keeping your community motivated and engaged with minimal effort.

Share important updates and features

If you’re rolling out new features or making significant changes to your course structure, the announcement feed is your communication lifeline. Use it to inform learners about updates, such as changes in course schedules, new tools or resources available, or modifications to course content.

Keeping your community informed ensures a smooth learning experience and minimizes confusion or frustration.

Encourage interaction and community building

Announcements aren’t just one-way communications; they can also serve as conversation starters. By inviting feedback, comments, or even questions on your announcements, you create opportunities for interaction and discussion among learners. This can transform your feed from a simple notification tool into a vibrant community hub where ideas are exchanged, and relationships are built.

Expert Tip: Utilize Disco AI suggestions to generate suggested replies for member queries, allowing you to manage your community efficiently within your course platform. This feature can also be integrated with Slack, streamlining communication and enhancing your ability to support your members effectively.

Tailor announcements for specific groups

With Disco, you can customize your announcement feed to target audience within your learning community.

Whether you want to send a message to a particular cohort, alumni, or a specialized group, tailored announcements ensure that the right people get the right information at the right time. This feature is particularly useful for managing multiple cohorts or for providing exclusive content to premium members or alumni.

Use visuals and multimedia for impact

Enhance your announcements by incorporating visuals, videos, or infographics to make your messages more engaging and easier to digest. A visually appealing announcement is more likely to catch the eye and hold the attention of your learners, ensuring your message gets across effectively.

Disco’s integration with various media tools allows you to create and share rich content effortlessly, making your announcements not just informative, but also visually compelling.

Keep learners motivated

Consistent communication through your announcement feed can play a crucial role in keeping learners motivated. Regular updates, encouragement, and recognition remind learners that they’re part of a thriving, active community. This ongoing connection helps to sustain momentum, reduces drop-off rates, and fosters a sense of belonging, which is key to the success of any online course.

In summary, the announcement feed within Disco isn’t just about relaying information—it’s about creating a continuous dialogue with your learners, building community, and enhancing the overall learning experience. Use it strategically to keep your learners informed, engaged, and motivated throughout their educational journey.

Use AI to create better course content faster

AI is a game-changer for online course creation. With AI tools at your disposal, you can whip up high-quality content in no time; it’s like having your own personal assistant that runs on pure caffeine, but the caffeine is the Internet, and it never runs out.

Additionally, AI can help manage and revise course material effectively, ensuring your content stays relevant and engaging. Let’s dive into how Disco AI can help you speed up a course content creation process.