Occupation Performance Coaching
Taking occupational performance coaching global
Going online and going global in one hit!
As an internationally recognised expert, Dr Fiona Graham (Otago University) had been delivering her Occupational Performance Coaching (OPC) course in a face-to-face setting. However, it became clear that there was an opportunity to reach more learners by using online, on-demand delivery, at the same time as addressing the problem of how she could be everywhere – in the world – at the same time – delivering courses concurrently. The topic is internationally relevant, but delivery had been limited to those who could meet in person with a single subject matter expert.
An all-in-one package to make it simple
Starting with the OPC model and exploring each stage and each concept with Dr. Graham, we went back to the drawing board. Together, we turned the complex material into online delivery, adding interactive components and real-life scenarios for learners to explore the concepts in action. This was housed in a purpose-built Moodle learning management system to make it available to an international audience with its own online payment gateway.
Effective learning knows no border controls
For a significant amount of this project, Dr. Graham worked remotely from Canada. We successfully navigated the time differences and communicated effectively through the available online tools for video and messaging to produce an automated, nimble and effective solution, that reduced the reliance on in-person delivery.
And if that wasn’t confirmation enough that geography does not limit us, the course quickly drew enrolments from all around the world with participants from over 15 countries in the first two months, even reaching as far as Iceland and Brazil.
There is always room to improve and adapt
Having used various payment gateways before and seeing ways in which the process could be streamlined, we researched alternatives and chose to implement a new method of online booking and payment. Heads down, we figured it out quickly and the implementation went smoothly, resulting in successful domestic and international enrolments from the first day of go-live.
We also faced new challenges in developing the product with our client being based on the other side of the world. The meant we had to be flexible and adaptable, and working with Dr Graham gave us valuable practical experience on how to better navigate some of these challenges for future remote-working projects – particularly relevant in a post-COVID world.