The Campaign for Real Virtual Learning

Years ago Dove funded a research effort to uncover "The Real Truth About Beauty." According to their site, their "global research highlighted a universal issue: that beauty-related pressure increases whilst body confidence decreases as girls and women grow older -- stopping young girls from seeing their real beauty."

Some of their key findings:

* Only 4% of women around the world consider themselves beautiful

* Only 11% of girls globally are comfortable describing themselves as "beautiful"

* 72% of girls feel tremendous pressure to be beautiful

* 80% of women agree that every woman has something about her that is beautiful but do not see their own beauty

From this research was birthed a marketing effort: The Campaign for Real Beauty. In this campaign, Dove began to redefine "beautiful" and highlight the beauty found in each woman. A goal was to pull away from the typical, the standard of beauty our society has established, and to reimagine a new model of beauty.

The parallels between this campaign and virtual learning are striking to me. We have a current model that cannot live up to its promise nor can anyone live up to the promises it wants to make.

It is time, not to merely find another model that is younger or has a certain look about her. No, it is time for virtual learning to reflect the beauty it has to offer in a real, authentic fashion. It must build to serve the audience it can best serve. It must redefine "learning" and break completely from the current way of seeing things.

The "Campaign for Real Virtual Learning" must exist because the individuals who are influenced the most by this effort are the same ones we all say we want to serve: KIDS.

If Dove can do it for beauty (see images in Target and other stores that reflect this new definition) then it can also be done for virtual learning.

houston@figment-consulting.com

A Zig and a Fig

"You cannot perform in a manner inconsistent with the way you see yourself." Zig Ziglar

Our behavior is inspired by our beliefs. These beliefs are not in what we can have in life but in what we are worthy to receive and hold onto. Our belief in ourselves guides our behavior, produces the results we see in our lives, and either lifts us higher or restrains us from what we might become.

Perhaps if we spent more time in school working to elevate the confidence each student has in themselves, the other results might just manifest too.

A "C" student becomes an "A" student when they first believe they are an "A" student. Sometimes though, they must make a temporary stop at "B" just to make sure.

houston@figment-consulting.com

Virtual School Enrollment Call Centers

If you pay your Enrollment team, or enrollment call center, based on enrollments, you do not and cannot have a retention culture.

So, you can unleash all of the "retention programs" you want but they will not have the impact you desire. And, your marketing efforts will fall flat, no matter how brilliant they may appear.

Attrition rates (in-year departures) and retention rates are what they are in virtual schools because we merely want to talk the talk while avoiding walking the talk.

houston@figment-consulting.com

One is a lonely number

When parents tell you they are leaving your school due to lack of socialization, they are not asking for more field trips.

Nor are they seeking more clubs to join.

What they are looking for, what they are asking for is connections, not socialization.

Become a human connection virtual school and you create the potential to be a place where families want to belong.

To JP: Know who you are, accept who you are, and be who you are. The world needs what you have to offer.

To AK: Be as committed to your art when no one is watching just as much as you are when on stage. Success is found in the work done off stage, it is merely appreciated when on stage.

houston@figment-consulting.com