Offer Value-Added
Instruction (Continued…)
To add value to your courses today, you must meet the tests of available time, convenience and relevance. One bright note is that the increased reliance on self-study materials to help students master the necessary academic skills can actually result in a modest increase in the class time available to cover additional material.
Here are some ideas that can help you increase your courses’ perceived value (without making them so long no one has time to take them).
Instructor Experience How many years’ combined diving and teaching experience do your instructors have? How many dives have they made? How many advanced and specialty instructor ratings do they share between them? If your staff is above average in these areas, let people know.
Facilities Does your store have its own pool? Then you already know to promote its flexibility and convenience. One store I know doesn’t have its own pool; however, the pools to which it has access are well above the norm in terms of size, warmth, depth and clarity (and you can bet they let their customers know about that).
How about your classroom? Is it roomier or more comfortable than most? Is your store itself easier to get to, or the parking more convenient? Whatever it is that sets your facilities apart, make sure to let people know about it.
Instructional Materials Do either of the following apply to you?
- Your competitors’ instructors plod through classroom sessions with slides, videotapes and white boards. Your instructors use laptop computers, CD-ROM-based course materials and video projectors to present fast-paced training that elaborates only on information students failed to master through self study.
- Your competitors’ students must wait until they can come into your store and pick up the necessary learning materials before they can begin studying. With just a phone call, your students can find out what they need to access Web-based instructional materials on the Internet, and thus begin learning right now.
Even if neither of these descriptions apply to your course, there may still be something about the instructional materials you use that helps students learn faster, better and more conveniently. Make sure you let prospective students know this.
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