Content curation is the process of gathering information relevant to a particular topic or area of interest. Services or people that implement content curation are called curators. Curation services can be used by businesses as well as end users. ~ Wikipedia
I have been questioned about offering such curated content in my courses because students have stated they could have found the information within the course themselves on the internet. Even some of my peer-reviewed journal articles are available through a simple google search. Yes, much of the content may be available in a book you can purchase or on the internet. As a content curator for my online courses, I choose the best, I summarize and synthesize the content and present the information in a manner that is easy to follow. I format, I conceptualize the content and I choose content that must meet the rigors of CE (continuing education) requirements for the coach and therapist professions. I choose from a variety of sources and try to mix up the reading so that the student experiences the content from an easy-to-read blog post to a peer-reviewed journal article or an academic book chapter. I even include content that might be considered “pedestrian” or pop-psychology, new-age or alternative, because as professionals and professionals in training we need to be aware of what the popular culture is saying about such topics.
I teach on topics ranging from telemental health to chakras and intuition. I offer personal growth and professional development courses. While some of my courses are for personal growth, many of my professional development courses qualify toward coach or therapist required CE (continuing education).
I am one of many online educators. One can find an online course on just about any topic these days. I am grateful for the opportunity that online education has brought me and more and more, learning online is becoming mainstream. One can even acquire a doctoral degree that is accredited and solely taught via distance technology.
Some online courses consist of a single person lecturing on their topic of expertise; other courses may be based on written media such a a book with the expert author offering new and add-on information to the topic. From podcasts and audio files, to video and writing assignments, online learning has its own pedagogy. Some online courses commence at the same time and all cohorts are assigned to an additional forum or group for open discussion. Other online courses are taught in a self-paced environment with or without the additional group activities. Some courses offer exclusive content while other courses include information available on the world wide web or at the library.
My online courses are self-paced. Most of the content is written and offered through links and articles I have curated for the course. My job as curator is to gather the appropriate content (whether authored by me or a colleague) and glean the best information that represents the topic. Some of my courses are based primarily on my teachings while others may be based on another’s teachings. Some of my courses have required books for additional reading. A student might also be asked to view a video (even a YouTube video) or listen to an audio.
If you are new to online learning, I recommend reading these tips for a successful experience in a self-directed, online learning environment.
I love facilitating my online courses! I offer individualized feedback with every lesson and offer additional resources as appropriate. Don’t be shy. If my course topics are of interest to you, I would love to meet you online!