Screencasts Vs. Live Online Seminar

[quaydo123]

Hi David,
Prior to knowing about your site, I had purchase the Prem. Solution from Schweser that includse a Live interactive online Seminar that commence in Sept. I'm not sure if I can wait until Sept for these seminars and dont know how useful they'll be. I've seen some of your screencast and have found them to be very informative and match my learning style. From your experience, would screencast be better than a live interactive seminar? Also want to know if its possible for me to purchase just the screencast, as I have notes from Schweser that I can't return even though they're not used.



Regards,

Quay

 

[David Harper CFA FRM]

Hi Quay

Thanks for liking the screencasts! Truly, I think both (screencast and live) can be effective. At the margin, from an elearning perspective, there are pros and cons. For example the advantage of prerecorded is that you can be a bit more deliberate, precise, comprehensive (staying on track) but the special advantage of live is that you get instant f/back to see if the lesson is tracking. For the FRM, I currently favor prerecorded for the following reason: precision in language/terms is very important and this is easier to achieve prerecorded. There are a dozens if not hundreds of little language details (e.g., this year Gujarati stat is new, so last year we spoke only of a PDF now we want to distinguish between PDF/PMF, just one of many examples!)

This year, I will try least one live, for my customers, nearer to the exam (i.e., cram in both live and prerecorded). If it's effective, i might do more live work nearer to the exam, but i'll let customers tell me what works. So, all in, i don't think the medium is the key. I think the preparation is the important part, and either can work/not.

I don't unbundle. Interestingly, I get the a la carte question in regard to each piece; i.e., can i buy just the notes/screencasts/questions. To be frank about it, my goal is to deliver value on each of the 4 elements individually (4 elements = notes, screencasts, questions, and editgrid) that would individually justify the purchase price. I'd *aspire* to the sort of over-delivery to earn that sort of customer satisfaction. The other thing that inspired this approach is, as a buyer, I didn't like the buffet approach - it made me feel like i was missing something if i didn't payup for the total. So, my "philosophy" is that, if someone is willing to spend a few hundred dollars, i want them to have the whole kitchen sink (more than they need), if you will.

What I do is offer is - $100 if you have proof of (competitive) product purchase. I hope that makes it affordable. Thanks for your interest!

David

 

[narayananvenkat]

Hi David..

Just a few thoughts on the above. earlier this forum took up the issue. I wish to share my experience on webinars. Especially, an exam curriculam is better understood by Bionic's concept of prerecorded screencasts since they are concise, illustrative, exam focussed. Webinar's in my experience though interactive distracts a lot . Your apporaoch with the forums isindeed the best approach. I honestly feel so. My reservations are if you could parrallely release the notes (which are a treasure) I think the prep will be mpre structured. Also my candid opinion 9forgive me) your thrust initillay in Quant , there seems to be a bit rush in the core credit risk and Market risks wherein the concepts are tricky (I am yet to see the Investment and other domain0. Of course now that the episodes are over the shift is on us the candidates to make the best use. I am still battling through the concepts but only your support has been the best guide.
Regards
venkat

 

[David Harper CFA FRM]

Hi venkat,

Thank you very much...that is all great feeback.

Also, I see your points about (i) credit/market versus quant and (ii) the timing of the notes. I agree with both points; both of these points ring true for me, too. Thank you for being candid, it is truly helpful, there is no better way for me to make adjustments..

can i ask you something? For next year, I was *thinking* about immediately posting the study notes to *free* pages - that can be commented with query back to forum (with downloadable PDF). I mean, i put up the notes ASAP - in november - starting with 2007 AIMS, then they get gradually updated with 2008 AIMS. This will be the fastest possible, free deployment of notes. There will be no timing issue with notes, as a byproduct benefit, b/c the status will be live

my reasoning is:
1. the PDF note are frankly hard to protect, even if you try, they tend to find their own free distribution
2. I sort of think that text is the commodity, anyway, that is tending toward free in the long run
3. It will increase traffic as an offset

But here is my main motive:
4. I would like to be able to attach comment threads to each AIM. I think it is cool/helpful that you see an AIM on cost of carry, e.g., and you can see illuminating conversation thread attached to the AIM. I feel like i have learned more about some AIMs just by forum chat on them

And here is the key:
5. It only works if people will still pay for the other stuff?!!

If you get a chance to reflect on that, i would like to know if you think that is a good idea (to make the notes live and free with link to forum comments, etc)? Would you still buy the screencast + questions + EditGrid?

Thanks, David

 

[narayananvenkat]

Hi David..
Glad my views was useful to you. I carefully went through your points..
1. I personally feel the current format is precise, suits well the candidates , quite unique compared to other similar service providers. Hence I stronly prefer you continue the current format of screencasts. In the screen casts, your verbal lecture reflects much more insights and comments on each concepts and my be youmay diversify that instead of attaching comment threads. Forum is the right platform. Also chat blogs also serve the purpose.
As I said the timing of screen castrts and notes must be parallel.
3. Your current package is crisp and economical and hence my suggestion is Not to change them making Notes as free packs. Always one can add Addendums, Errata and so on. These should be for Members only. You may try PDC files like GARP.
4. I sincerely feel the screen casts accompanied by Notes with a little bit eloborate lectures with much more explanations and examples will definitely help us. MAy be you may slice up the episodes further to include more explanations. Also on each topic e.g., deriviatives a small introduction about deriviatives may help for GARP candidiates are a mixture of professionals from variuos fraternities.
Hope my comments are useful thanks for the opportunity.
venkat