We asked LERN leaders to contribute their top take-aways from the big LERN annual conference this year. Here’s the top 25 tips they are taking back to their programs.
MANAGEMENT
1. “Catch someone doing something right and recognize them for it.” From keynote speaker, Craig Valentine
2. As a manager, I should be asking:
a) What are you working on this week?
b) How can I help?
3. Trello is a great online app/tool for your office to-do list!
4. Our organizations should not only be running with business efficiency, but we should also be thinking like entrepreneurs. Creativity and innovation are key to tapping into new markets, developing new programs, and meeting our customers’/students’ needs and expectations. There are close relationships between entrepreneurial/innovative thinking, systems change, and sustainability across all of education.
5. Extra importance of senior management actively demonstrating their leadership qualities in times of change (From “Leading with the Jack of Spades”). To be aware of how the environment is changing for their reports and to really lead the transition by building bridges to the new environment.
Participants got individual consulting attention. LERN consultants Fred Bayley, left, and Rick Walsh speak with one attendee.
6. Insert video into your course description – invest in editing and video/stock photos –do your own recording.
7. Conduct a brochure page analysis by LERN – maximize brochure space
8. Video Marketing NEEDS to be in your budget.
9. Creating Effective Incentives – give people on wait list advance chance to register for future classes
10. Creating Effective Incentives – if cancelling a class due to low enrollment, rather than giving money back, offer to give a voucher plus $10 good towards another class OR move into another class at almost any price
11. Have instructors recommend 3 other classes to students at end of session
12. Your website is your storefront and is critical to attracting window shoppers wanting to find out more. When possible, using actual photos from your programs makes your site more shareable, more trustworthy and more authentic.
13. Use of pop-ups on website and social media to ‘opt’ in to newsletters, emails, etc.
Networking was made easy in LERN Central, part of the Hall of Learning.
NEEDS ASSESSMENT AND PROGRAMMING
14. Benchmarks: Have 10 – 15 conversations a year. Some 10 – 20 % of programmer’s time should be on needs assessment.
15. Build a strategy to pay attention and hear from your best customers, its more than just knowing who they are.
16. Bundle existing programs – particularly 3rd party vendor courses to make Certificate Programs
17. Pay more attention to government labor and workforce statistics reports for your region, state or province
KIDS, YOUTH and SUMMER CAMPS
18. Offer kids’ events/classes in afternoon/evening to complement adult courses –helps with enrollments/retention
19. Offer 30 minute adult fitness classes at same location where children are taking 45-60 minute swim lessons.
20. For summer, offer two early bird prices – one for those who participated last year, and a second for all others.
21. Design learning outcomes when you develop programs. Parents need to understand the learning outcome of the program. This takes your program from quality to above and beyond
22. New growth market ideas: importance, especially in Recreation / Personal Interest programs of marketing to whole family: have courses for the parents whilst their children are in class.
Our Gen Y leaders are taking an increasingly active role in LERN.
MILLENNIALS
23. Over two-thirds of millennials have the goal of one day owning their own business, while less than 13% see themselves satisfied in climbing the corporate ladder.
24. Millennials not only want experiential learning opportunities, they want to be able to tweet/post/instagram about them. Having and sharing experiences is more important to them than physical possessions. Local Unique Experiences are a must.
25. Millennials like print. That’s what the research says, according to LERN’s Julie Coates. She reports that millennials want your print brochure, and that they register in higher numbers if they receive your print brochure.
Thanks to LERN Leaders Jessica Uhlmann, Edmonton, AB; Marie Price, Post Falls, ID; Sherry Kuehn, Morgantown, WV; Kelly Regan and Michael Seppi, Ellisville, MO; Michael Garamoni, Milwaukee, WI; Kim Becicka, Cedar Rapids, IA; Daniel Thorpe, Vancouver, BC; Tom Parfitt, Richmond, VA; and Jillian Kersh, Spartenburg, SC.