The College recently implemented D2L Brightspace with Course Merchant for Non-Degree programs. We’ll outline why we selected these platforms and how we leveraged tools to create enhanced interactive content to engage learners. We’ll also share the benefits for administration and sales, simplifying enrollment and purchases for B2B and B2C customers.

In this session, we will share our experience exploring the myriad learning management systems, course catalog tools, and sales platforms we initially identified as potential options in our search for tools and platforms that would best serve the customers for our continuing education programs, specifically to provide the best service experience, closely mirroring current online consumer experiences.  

We recently implemented D2L Brightspace with Course Merchant for Non-Degree programs, as part of a broader Lifelong Learners initiative. We selected D2L for its intuitive user interface that lets learners easily purchase and enroll in courses and track progress, including automatic “nudges” using intelligent agents. On the administrative side, the D2L platform allows us to enhance content using H5P interactive elements and Brightspace tools, while Course Merchant simplifies enrollment and purchases for B2B and B2C customers, creating a comprehensive marketplace. 

The successful implementation of this integrated system has been largely attributed to the seamless cross-collaboration between Course Merchant and D2L Brightspace. Their combined efforts ensured that the transition was smooth and well-supported, providing our team with invaluable guidance and resources. This partnership allowed us to harness the full potential of both platforms, creating an enriched learning environment that other institutions can look to as a model. 

We will outline the criteria that led us to select these platforms for our executive education and other income-generating programs, and why we ultimately selected D2L Brightspace and Course Merchant for these non-degree programs. It was important for us to identify platforms that were intuitive for learners, easily adapted and adaptable for specific customer needs and goals, and simplified administration for both our in-house designers and sales and marketing teams. Factors such as the platform's superior integration capabilities, user-friendly interface, and advanced interactive elements were crucial in our decision-making process. We believe that Brightspace's unique features align perfectly with our goal to create a more engaging and efficient learning environment for these programs. 

It was important for us to design a seamless and positive user experience from start to finish. We knew we needed tools that make it easy for potential clients and learners to discover and learn about our program offerings, and that this intuitive and positive experience continues through the learning process. Our sales and marketing team also needed avenues to expand on these programs in order to offer clients additional opportunities for future learning. In the end, the overall experience must align and meet participant needs to ensure retention of learners throughout – and after – the process and learning experience.  

Our partnership makes it seamless to incorporate certifications and badging, allowing learners to share their ongoing professional development and executive-level marketable skills and accomplishments. Additionally, learners achieve the side benefits of gaining more visibility through sharing their accomplishments via LinkedIn and other social media.  

This presentation is relevant and valuable to institutions with existing or planned programs specifically designed for new or additional revenue streams. We’ll explore how to best leverage existing high-caliber content and institutional knowledge from faculty and administration to expand the reach of the institution using asynchronous - but highly engaging - content.  

We’ll look at the large number of institutions exploring additional revenue streams and address issues around the fear of potential negative impact on an institution’s public image and reputation, by showing that offering a broader range of non-academic programs can provide a wider reach with positive outcomes. 

Our presentation encourages lively engagement through a variety of interactive activities, including: 

• Allowing participants to run through a personal and dynamic “mini course,” from start to finish. They will each select their own material from Course Merchant, complete the criteria, and earn a badge 

• By having participants choose between a selection of course options, we’ll demonstrate the powerful analytics functions of each tool.  

• Asking participants to propose use cases for ways in which institutions of all sizes and specialties can take advantage of this program. 

• Highlight how the synergy between marketing techniques, highly engaging content, and tangible rewards results in a positive experience and high potential for repeat clients and services. 

This program was explicitly designed to mirror a traditional eCommerce experience with lifelong learning. The successful implementation of this integrated system has been largely attributed to the seamless cross-collaboration between Course Merchant and D2L Brightspace. Their combined efforts ensured that the transition was smooth and well-supported, providing our team with invaluable guidance and resources. This partnership allowed us to harness the full potential of both platforms, creating an enriched learning environment that flawlessly highlights our institution’s world-class academic content, knowledge, and results, which other institutions can look to as a model.

Stephen Clifford

Faculty at Babson College

Stephen enjoys working with faculty, business and non-profit leaders to craft classroom, online and blended learning solutions that fit their specific student population. He is passionate about efficiently communicating important ideas through blended learning.

This is such a great time to be in higher education and working with learning professionals, because every day new technologies emerge that expand our toolbox of communication tools. Like a growing range of spices and foods, it is exciting to figure out how to 'cook well' with all of these possibilities. We can now use those technologies to reach more learners, help them learn more quickly, and more efficiently manage the time of professors, teachers, trainers and subject matter experts!

Babson's Blended Learning MBA program leads the way in blended learning at Babson, but there is a lot more we can do with it! With tools like Canvas, Webex and Discussion Boards we have the basics of a really good blended learning class. But with Studio, Brainshark, and so many other technologies we can radically transform how students learn.

He has worked in the investment management industry, with stays at Putnam Investments, Wellington Management, and Boston Financial. His undergraduate degree is in Political Science from the University of Massachusetts at Amherst.

Eric Palson

Director, Academic Technologies at Babson College

Eric Palson is an educational technology professional with over 15 years of experience creating learning assets and applications, innovating curriculum, and pedagogical strategies. Eric currently holds the position as the Director of Academic Technologies at Babson College. His responsibilities for the group include strategic thinking and planning, creating content for blended and online learning, training faculty, coaching, and implementing innovative academic technologies. Eric has extensive experience using and administering WebEx, Brainshark, Canvas, Tableau, Google Apps for Education, Telepresence, as well as a host of other platforms. He has a passion for diving into challenging technology-based applications with the goal of applying them to teaching and learning.

In addition to his work as Sr. Director of Academic Technologies, Eric is an adjunct faculty member at Babson College, where he teaches web and user interface design. Eric has also taught at a number of other nearby instructions including Suffolk, Dean, and Emerson.

Jason Salzenstein

Sr. Instructional & Curriculum Designer at Babson College

With a consulting portfolio that includes marketing, eCommerce, publishing, luxury retail, and academic projects and clients, Jason Salzenstein draws on his breadth of experience in a diverse range of industries to manage challenging projects and find creative solutions to problems. His work with both "creatives" and "bottom liners" has given him an understanding of both sides and helps him bring together teams effectively, to produce the highest level product. Jason has a BA in European Studies with certificates in International Business, French, and International Relations from San Diego State University.

As the creator of Babson's Canvas Course Design Style Guide and Exemplary Course Templates, Jason has presented and participated in panel discussions on consistency in course design and the benefits of incorporating real-world technology tools in coursework. He has taught seminars on personal branding through individual style, how to best present yourself to succeed in the dynamic global business world, and navigating multicultural business settings.

Jason works closely with the Media and Academic Production Services (MAPS) group on high-visibility and multi-faceted multimedia projects. He also specializes in the design, piloting, and roll-out of Babson signature programs.

Lauren Belmont

Senior Instructional Designer at Babson College