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www.ecommerce-guide.com/news/trends/article.php/341311
By Mark Merkow, CCP, CISSP April 14, 2000 A highly innovative and "wished I thought of it" idea has recently surfaced on the Web in the form of eduCommerce, as coined by notHarvard.com out of Austin, Texas. EduCommerce is billed as an enrichment to branding through the uses of free online education as a permissions-based sales and marketing tool. Operating under the premise that informed consumers quickly become informed buyers, notHarvard helps e-businesses build a stronger brand image, reach out to customers more intimately, keep consumer interest piqued, which ultimately increases revenues and loyalty. According to Mike Rosenfelt, notHarvard.com''s founder, "notHarvard.com is helping democratize education by turning the current pay-for-content model upside down and making education free and accessible. We''re building a high-value context for e-businesses to interact with their customers. Students can attend classes and meet other students -- on their own timetable -- for professional development, personal enrichment, or to get more out of products and services. E-businesses can build greater intimacy with their customers and use online learning as an e-commerce opportunity." Rosenfelt claims that the Home Depot model is similar to what he''s doing online, only with much larger audiences. Although no one is forced to buy Home Depot products, it''s clear that "how-to" classes on home improvement projects will help consumers build the confidence they need to purchase the materials (hopefully at Home Depot) and try it on their own. As reported in the New York Times, CodeWarriorU is one example of a university that notHarvard developed for Metrowerks, a software development tool manufacturer. The first courses were offered in February 2000 on two Metrowerks products, a C++ programming course and an introductory course on Code Warrior. Instructors posted new lessons every week and responded to questions posed by students on the discussion board. By the end of February, over 2,000 students had registered for the course, even though the limit was set to 500 students. Those signing up late could ''audit'' the class by reading the lessons and the messages, but could not post their own questions. To register, students are asked their names, their e-mail addresses, and their interests. Once enrolled, the students are directed to a Web page that lists the required course materials, including a book on C++ and one of two versions of the software package being taught. |
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