As the adult education market continues to grow, associations need to make sure their learning offerings are more valuable than ever. You may already have high-quality online courses from top instructors, but there are additional ways to stand out in a crowded field.

In a recent post, WBT Systems shares a dozen ways to add value to your educational program.

Start with adding pre-course resources. It may be years since some of your members have taken a class. Get them up to speed by providing advice on studying and note taking. Consider adding a refresher session for courses so your members can review the basics.

Your members want to talk with others about what they’re learning. Facilitate that interaction by adding a community component to your courses. “You can incorporate an online community into your curriculum by seeding the community with questions and requiring students to participate in a specific number of discussions per unit,” the post says.

WBT Systems also suggests inviting guest instructors, providing class discounts, giving students exclusive access to experts, and providing deep-dive options into course material.

Taking a Break

Here's What Travis Kalanick (or Anybody) Needs to Do to Take an Effective Leave of Absence | by @warriortoughphd https://t.co/Z56H6ms363

— Entrepreneur (@Entrepreneur) June 16, 2017

Even the most committed leaders may need to take a leave of absence. Uber CEO Travis Kalanick, who is taking a step back from his troubled company, is one recent and notable example.

Entrepreneur shares a few thoughts on how Kalanick and other executives can get the most out of a leave of absence. And it begins with actually being absent. “Leave of absence means staying off social media, out of the mainstream media, no speeches given, no attending fundraisers, no awards banquets, no charity balls or galas, no going to plays, festivals, or concerts, and absolutely no dining out where you will be recognized,” writes Andrew D. Wittman.

This break should include self-reflection. “The target of the leave of absence shouldn’t be limited to repair of one’s image and reputation; it should be to rehab one’s character,” says Wittman.

Other Links of Note

Make sure your events aren’t falling behind the trends. The Professional Convention Management Association reveals three ways to design a forward-thinking meeting.

A call for papers is a vital part of meeting planning. Eventsforce details how to improve your call-for-submissions process.

Are your social listening efforts effective? Check out Hootsuite’s social monitoring guide to find out how to do it correctly.

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