Benefits of Online Cohorts at IBH

Last year, I had the opportunity to participate in a few online cohorts, and as I realized the benefits of a cohort, I decided we needed to start offering them for my online courses. Since starting them at the end of last year, I have been asked what exactly a cohort is at the Institute for Birth Healing and what are the benefits of joining a cohort.

What is an Online Cohort at IBH

Cohorts are a group of people going through an online course together within a certain timeframe. They are designed to offer greater support to the students so they feel they are doing something with a collective group and have timelines to complete the units to get through the material and actually complete the course they paid for.

In my cohorts, I wanted to offer more than just support, so I have added a few other pieces to help you feel like you have a community and to ensure you are really understanding what you are learning. I provide weekly emails with goals for the week and extra information to help you delve deeper into the week’s material. My intention is to help you connect the material with how it will help you to improve your clinical outcomes. I, also, offer group calls, where you can actively participate in discussions and get your questions answered, ensuring a more engaging learning experience. In addition, I provide a group forum that is just for each individual cohort, so you can talk together as a group, share ideas, start discussions, and reach out with questions as you work through the material.

Getting More From Your Online Courses

My decision to offer cohorts is driven by a deep desire to see more students complete my courses and master the information. I do not want you to buy a course that sits in your account doing nothing for you – I sell courses that teach you the skills that you can take and run with. My goal is for you to see a true impact on your business and clients, so you continue to gain passion from your profession and impact those who truly need our help.

It brings me immense joy when I see students like you, equipped with the knowledge and skills from these courses, and hear how you are making a difference in the lives of pregnant and postpartum people. Your success is a testament to your dedication and hard work, and it’s a moment of pride for me to know I may have helped play a small role.

Honoring Your Hard Work

New for our cohorts, I will be adding a graduation ceremony as well (Thanks, Lindsey Vestal for this beautiful idea!). In our last group call, we will celebrate and honor all those who have completed the course for their efforts and a job well-done. I feel like this is a piece that is missing from online work – you do all that hard work, but there isn’t anyone there to celebrate with. Well, I would love to be able to celebrate with you, so this is why this is now part of our cohort model.

I always strive to make my courses and material better for you! Cohorts allow me to support online learners and to interact with you to help ensure that you are getting the most out of your online courses. I have, personally, enjoyed the collaboration, support and flexibility of working on online courses as I have time, but with a clear goal and deadline. I want those benefits to be available to you as well.

About the Author: Lynn Schulte is a Pelvic Health Therapist and the founder of the Institute for Birth Healing, a pelvic health continuing education organization that specializes in prenatal and postpartum care. For more information, go to https://instituteforbirthhealing.com