How can you use student success stories to attract and retain students in online programs?

Student success stories online are impactful when relatable to viewers. Define your target demographic and share stories resonating deeply with them. It's not just about race or ethnicity; consider life paths, mindsets, and the transformative journey pre, during, and post-program. Aligning these narratives ensures a meaningful connection, inspiring others on their unique paths.

Les succès des étudiants constituent un outil puissant pour attirer et fidéliser les étudiants dans les programmes en ligne. En partageant les histoires de réussite des étudiants, l'université peut mettre en avant les méthodes pédagogiques efficaces, les outils technologiques performants et les différentes expériences d'apprentissage en ligne. En soulignant les bénéfices et les résultats concrets obtenus grâce à ces programmes, les futurs étudiants sont non seulement encouragés à s'inscrire, mais aussi à s'investir pleinement dans leur parcours académique en ligne.

In the past two decades, online certification programs, online degrees and online learning tools have rapidly proliferated in the educational empowerment. While many are just to make quick bucks on the popular brands, there are many quality online educational programs as well. What would be efficacy of such programs in nurturing the budding talents ? How suitable are they in the current scenarios? Which one should be chosen? These are few questions that remains in the minds of prospective students. What can be more apt to answer these questions than inspiring them through student success stories. Not only these can be motivational before choosing a particular programme but also during the discourse of the program.

In my view, student success stories aren't just testimonials; they're the heart of showcasing what an online program is all about. They go beyond proving value – they reveal the diverse journeys, resilience, and pure satisfaction of online learners. These stories build a trust bridge with future students, give a boost to current ones, and create a real sense of community in the online realm. Sharing these tales isn't just PR; it's about making the online learning experience relatable, inspiring, and downright awesome.

While collecting the success stories, it’s imperative that focus must be retained on all aspects of the programme that is, how successfully one can integrate the course duration & it’s requirement while remain in the pursuit of the ongoing. Success is not only in the outcome but also in persuasion must be collected. Collection methods are well documented in the above para so doesn’t require much emphasis.

Las historias de éxito de los estudiantes se recopilan principalmente desde el aula. Son fruto de la confianza que adquieren los alumnos con los profesores, y son los mismos alumnos quienes las comparten con aquel profesor con el que tienen confianza. Conversar con los alumnos al acabar la clase, acercarse a ellos en la cafetería, hablar por los pasillos, etc. Todo esto genera situaciones de confianza donde los alumnos pueden abrirse y explicar sensaciones, ideas, situaciones personas, etc.

Experience-rich content can add authenticity to your branded marketing, sharing student stories for social proof. Student to student conversation in this way is sparked by inspirational success stories - and triggers aspirations in others. The notion of 'don't take it from us' on the part of the institution, rather the idea heard through the student voice is testimony of success. Held in a repository, blog, website, and when used as soundbites throughout (course or student specific) related marketing collateral and digital publications, student success stories deliver that relatable content that goes to legitimise institution marketing. Strength in student community, in itself, is a success!

Start with the challenges the student had, this could be how they felt before the course e.g. concerns. Following with what course helped them with and any bonus benefits they had not considered. It is important to be careful the details shared especially for underrepresented student groups so gaining explicit consent of how and where there details can be shared is useful. If particpants want to be completely anonymised you can use a pseudonym but retain the course title and level of study. Ultimately a prospective students wants to see their concerns echoed and addressed in the story. e.g. (I was worried I wouldn't have enough time, but actually the course was really flexible and we were given notice and support for our deadlines.)

Assim como as empresas, os alunos gostam de ver resultados. Cases de sucesso são importantes em todos os ramos profissionais. O professor precisa entender que atualmente o ensino não é sobre conhecimentos técnico-científicos apenas. O docente não é um mero transmissor de conhecimentos e nem os detém como antigamente. Hoje temos a tecnologia para ensinar os alunos, para que possam fazer trabalhos, tirar dúvidas, e até mesmo conversar com a IA. Os alunos hoje aprendem quando o professor conseguem aumentar o grau de interesse e motivação deles. Contar histórias de sucesso de outros alunos, além de um gatilho de prova social, é uma forma efetiva de motivá-los.

Story telling is an art and if not delivered in calibrated manner, can ruin the entire process of motivation. If the success stories are delivered in a right time and at a right phase of the ongoing process; they can be very effective towards motivating the students.

Student Success Stories should not happen by coincidence. They should align with the overall goal of collecting those stories. If you wish to increase the % of women in the online MBA program, choose students who have a story to tell that can resonate with potential candidates. The struggle of balancing the learning journey with professional commitments and family is usually a big concern for many candidates. Choosing students who found a balance, is the first step to winning over doubtful candidates. The second step is to ensure the authenticity of the story and the candidate. Create an unscripted dialogue and record a video or podcast for even more credibility. Written stories might lack authenticity if they are too good to be true.

Often, success stories are delivered during the student acquisition period of the online program however, to make sure that the acquired student lot also become successful, it’s essential to deliver them during the currency of the program as well.

En las jornadas de bienvenida que realizan las universidades, es habitual que se dé paso a alumnos excelentes que puedan explicar su historia a los asistentes. De esta manera, tanto padres como futuros alumnos, pueden escuchar los casos de éxito de otros estudiantes y obtener una motivación aun mayor.