Learner engagement and motivation are the driving forces behind many decisions we make as a team before, during, and after the production of our drama series and learning resources.
When Education New Zealand invited us to be part of the Study with New Zealand Online initiative hosted by the excellent FutureLearn platform, we jumped at the opportunity to showcase our content to a global audience. While quietly confident that the 4-episode Skippers Pass series highlighted an exciting blend of dramatic narrative, purposeful activities, and a large dose of the beautiful natural environment New Zealand is renowned for, the results to date have been simply mind-blowing.
After seven weeks, more than 20,000 users have signed up to the course from over 150 countries around the world with satisfaction rates in the 95%+ range. Learners from all corners of the globe have interacted with this unique learning opportunity, posting overwhelmingly positive reviews about their experience, and perhaps most importantly, stated their desire for more content to be made available as soon as possible.
What then are the takeaways from this early success? Firstly, we can say with confidence that our approach to delivering English language learning in this format is appealing to a wide and diverse group of learners. With strong representation across an age group demographic spanning 18-55 years of age, and a healthy uptake of learners in Asia, South America, Europe and beyond, the course has demonstrated phenomenal reach. A further exciting factor that has been expressed in user feedback is the clear value of purposeful learning opportunities embedded in engaging (and high production value) scripted video content.
As we prepare for the release of a second online course later in the year for learners at the B2+ level, this hugely positive beginning to the FutureLearn journey gives us great confidence in following up with another winning formula for learner engagement.