How I Made My First Million Online Course Learners
INDEX
Technology Lectures - Studio Photography
Augmented and Virtual Reality - Course Promo
Back to Campus - Virtual Reality 360 Video
Thomas Ulch - English 101 Lecture Video Series
Working in Higher Education
In 2012, as soon as I graduated from Oakland University with a B.A. in New Media, I immediately started working as a freelancer. Another phenomenon that happened in 2012 was the beginning of the MOOC, massive open online courses. After working with many production companies, I decided to commit to a full time job as the 2nd person to lead the online education initiative at the University of Michigan.
The Department of Academic Innovation services all 19 schools and colleges within the university. The first few classes we produced were very niche, including classical piano, thermodynamics, physics and courses for cataract eye surgeons.
Online Classes Going Viral
1 year later, the courses I produced became more generalized, which included courses on finance, negation, and computer coding. Each of these classes gained millions of learners, and helped our department grow to over 100 staff and expand to 4 media studios and office buildings on campus.
7 years into my role our department received a 50 million dollar grant. I lead media for the extended reality initiative, which was allocated 3 million. We created education around emerging technology and ethics in artificial intelligence.
I implemented innovative video recording methods that combined augmented and virtual reality composited onto footage in real time. During covid, we experimented with online course experiences in full 360 degree virtual reality.
In 1 decade I produced 200 online courses each composed of 8-12 hours of edited content, in a wide range of subjects. But as my freelance opportunities grew larger than my salary, I designed my own studio to offer educational media services.
If you’re interested in creating educational content, message the Digital Nomad!
