TRL 155: Why Cohort-Based Courses are the Future of Online Education with Wes Kao, Cofounder of Maven

<p>Today on the podcast Mitko (<a href="https://twitter.com/mitkoka">@mitkoka</a>) is joined by Wes Kao (<a href="https://twitter.com/wes_kao">@wes_kao</a>) the cofounder of Maven - the first course platform focused specifically on Cohort-Based Courses. Wes came up with the idea of cohort-based courses while she was working with Seth Godin and together they launched the AltMBA which was the first cohort-based course of this kind on the internet. </p><p>During this conversation you will learn how Wes ended up working with Seth in the first place, the problem with the current generation of Massive-Open-Online-Courses or MOOCs, and how running your courses through a cohort helps boost your revenue, helps improve completion rates, and most importantly helps students implement what they learn.</p><p><br><strong>💬  Topics Discussed:</strong></p><ul> <li>What were some adjustments for Wes when she moved from the U.S. to Canada?</li> <li>What is a cohort-based course (CBC)?</li> <li>How Wes ended up working with Seth Godin</li> <li>Is there a benefit of going through the corporate world before focusing on a more entrepreneurial career path</li> <li>Defining and perfecting your craft</li> <li>What are the benefits of using Maven as opposed to other platforms when creating a course?</li> <li>Can Maven function as a course marketplace in the future</li> <li>Finding your audience and growing as a lecturer</li> <li>Are MOOCs (massive open online courses) still a viable learning option?</li> <li>What is the Creator Monetization Matrix?</li> <li>Balancing free and paid content</li> <li>Can CBCs be used in regular schools?</li> <li>The differences between CBCs and traditional teaching methods</li> <li>How does Maven encourage bidirectional learning?</li> <li>Using online courses as credentials when applying for jobs or projects</li> <li>Differences between a content creator and operator</li> <li>Creating content in your style and on your own terms</li> <li>Why companies should not reward Super ICs (Individual Contributo