Building the STRONG Teacher Course: A Journey of Growth and Contribution

The Beginning of a New Adventure

Hey there, fellow educators and lifelong learners! Today marks the start of an exciting journey, and I'm thrilled to have you along for the ride. I'm starting a new project—creating a course I've been dreaming about for quite some time. Through this series of blog posts, I'll be documenting my process, sharing my thoughts, and hopefully, providing some valuable insights for those of you on similar paths.

Why This Course?

Let's talk about the 'why' behind this course for a moment:

• I firmly believe that educators are the real experts in our field.
• My goal is to create a channel for sharing the invaluable knowledge we hold.
• I hope this resource will benefit teachers and inspire them to improve their practice.
• It's a way for me to grow as an educator and document my evolution in this field.

For the past three years, I've been dedicated to my project here at Why Edify, gathering a treasure chest of content that I believe could genuinely benefit other educators.

The Course-Building Process

Initial Steps

I've been researching online course platforms and effective course creation methodologies to kick things off. I've gathered tips on planning and developing a valuable online learning experience from various sources.

Course Objectives

This course is designed to address current challenges faced by educators. Its focus is on helping teachers become happier, healthier, and stronger—essentially, an anti-burnout strategy.

Target Audience

Our audience comprises educators seeking ways to navigate the increasing complexities of teaching in today's world.

Platform Choice

After some analysis, I've decided to work with Teachable. As we grow, it offers a free start-up option and a reasonably scalable cost structure.

Content Development

I already have an outline for the modules, which I'll share soon. I aim to make this content engaging while honing my video recording skills to ensure effective communication.

Lessons Learned So Far

• Keep lessons concise and focused - a logical approach that Teachable supports well.
• Utilize quizzes and audience interaction opportunities - an advantage of the platform.
• Start with what you have - my current equipment for producing high-quality audio and video isn't the best, but I'm committed to starting now and improving over time.
• Develop supplementary resources - reflection questions and additional materials are in the works.

The Benefits of Building in Public

Now, let's talk about why I'm choosing to document this journey publicly:

• Accountability: Sharing my progress keeps me motivated and on track.
• Community Feedback: Your insights and suggestions can help shape and improve the course.
• Transparency: It allows others to learn from both my successes and mistakes.
• Networking: Building in public can lead to unexpected collaborations and opportunities.
• Personal Growth: Articulating my thoughts and progress helps clarify my thinking.

As Austin Kleon says in his book Show Your Work, "If your work isn't out there, it doesn't really exist." By sharing this journey, I'm not just creating a course—I'm inviting you all to be part of the process and hopefully inspiring some of you to share your work.

What's Next?

As we move forward, I'll be sharing updates on the course development, including:

• The module outlines and content sneak peeks.
• Challenges faced and how I'm overcoming them
• Tips and tricks I'm learning along the way
• Feedback from early testers

I'm excited about piecing everything together and can't wait to share more with you. The hardest part has been overcoming the inertia of planning and getting caught up in prerequisites. But now, it's time to move beyond planning and start taking action.

Join Me on This Journey

I invite you to follow along with this adventure. Stay tuned to see how everything unfolds, and don't forget to subscribe to my newsletter, which I send out every Friday. It's a collection of insights from the past three years that could be a valuable resource for any educator aiming to grow.

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