Interactive vs. self-learning courses: Which type of online course suits you best as a course creator?
- Marie Foerste
- Mar 7
- 2 min read
Updated: Mar 24
If you are thinking about creating an online course, you may be faced with the question: Should it be an interactive online course with live elements or a self-learning course that participants can take at their own pace? Both formats have their own advantages and challenges.
In this blog post, we'll look at the differences from the point of view of online course creators so you can make the best decision for you.
Interactive (online) courses: close to the participant
Interactive courses, such as hybrid online courses, live online courses or combinated online courses, include live calls, group coaching or extensive community elements. They require more direct presence but also offer deeper connections to the participants.
Advantages:
✅ Immediate feedback: You can address questions and uncertainties immediately.
✅ Customizable content: You can see where your students are at and dynamically adjust the course.
✅ Community feeling: A group of like-minded people motivates and promotes exchange.
Challenges:
❌ Time-consuming: Regular live appointments take up a lot of your time.
❌ Planning: You have to think through the structure carefully and coordinate schedules.
Self-Learning Courses: Flexibility for you and your students
With self-paced courses, you provide all content in advance, e.g. in the form of videos, PDFs or interactive modules. Students learn at their own pace, without you having to be there live.
Advantages:
✅ Time Independence: Once created, the course can be sold over and over again.
✅ Scalability: You can accept an unlimited number of students without having to do more work.
✅ Passive income: Your online course will continue to generate revenue after it's created, even if you don't actively work on it every day.
Challenges:
❌ Less direct interaction: Students might have questions without getting help immediately.
❌ Student motivation: Without live elements, there is sometimes a lack of commitment.
Which online course type is right for you?
I created a quiz that helps you figure out which online course type is best for you!
Why not give it a try?
No matter which path you choose, sharing your knowledge and helping others is always a win-win – for you and your students.
And if you want to find out which platform is suitable for your chosen type of online course, I have developed a FREE online course platform decision-making tool. Here you can find the platform that best suits your online course, budget and requirements from more than 45 platforms and with the help of 16 filter categories.
Click on the image below to get FREE access to my decision-making tool:
By the way, I chose Braincert. In my decision-making process Braincert proved to be the platform that offers the best value for money and everything I need. You can test the platform for 14 days free of charge:
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