# Instructional Design: Multi-channel Learning in WordPress
*Published: 2012-12-30*
*Tags: online-learning*
*Source: https://chrislema.com/instructional-design-multi-channel-learning-wordpress*
---![elearningbutton](https://cms.chrislema.com/api/media/file/elearningbutton.png)## Not everyone learns the same way

Recently I've been working on a few courses that I'll be rolling out in the new year. In doing that work, I've had a few key conversations with people about how they learn best. And it won't come as a surprise to you that different people learn differently. Personally, I don't mind watching a video or listening to a podcast, but I'm much better with a transcript. Others, I've found, are the opposite.

## Multi channel learning

The notion of multi channel learning is pretty simple. You attempt to create a system where you educate using more than (you guessed it) a single channel. For people who are comfortable with the written word, like bloggers, adding some video might be the ticket. If you're a podcaster, maybe a post would help.

The more advanced you get, the more you want those channels to accentuate and leverage the unique dynamics of that channel. So let's say I write a short post daily. I clearly can't get into nuance in a post that short. But maybe I can add an audio stream that goes deeper into the same material, so that someone who is commuting to work could listen. That's putting multiple channels to work for you.

## Step One: Transcripts

For the courses I'm creating, most of what I'm doing is video. So that begs the question, how can I reinforce what I'm doing in other modes - for folks who learn better listening or reading. While I haven't cracked the code on this completely, I did want to share two approaches for your WordPress site that look interesting to me (one of which I've been testing).

- [SpeakerText](https://cielo24.com/partners/speakertext/) - They work with WordPress as a plugin, and will create a transcript of your video for $2/minute. More than the transcript, the text will go in their captionbox that will highlight the text as the video progresses. It's a really clean approach to making the transcript "come alive."
- FoxTranscribe - These guys would simply produce the transcript of your audio or video. These guys did that for $1/minute - which was low enough for me to give it a try. I had them create transcripts of 5 video and 7 audio files. Other than a tiny spot here or there, these documents have been fantastic.

Were I to use SpeakerText, I'd place my video and transcript into a player that would show both. In using FoxTranscribe, I'll simply be placing a link under the video file so that readers can download it, if they prefer the text approach.

## Step Two: AudioCasts

So I hate it when people do this, but I'm going to do it, because it's a logical part of this article. That said, announcing something before it's done is something I hate, so I'm hating myself right now. Got it? Ok, so with that said, I'm thinking about shifting one of my courses that is currently an email-based course to an audio course where people get an mp3 once a week for five weeks.

This will be interesting, to say the least, because it means I can go longer and deeper, but it will take a bit more to figure out (membership, access to file, podcast creation, etc). I'd say I'm 75% there, but we'll have to see if I can get it done before the next version of "Personal Mastery" is released.

Until then, you can always sign up for the [email-based course](https://chrislema.com/learn-better/).