The Great Kilowatt Challenge Project – Call to Arms

So what have I been feverishly working on over the last few days?  I will give you one guess.

Okay, no guesses.

I have been working on my next big project, which is to help you and anyone who wants to participate, in lowering their own energy bills!  But I said I was publishing an eBook, right?

Well, this is not the eBook you are looking for, dear readers.  I have decided that The Great Kilowatt Challenge will not work as an eBook.  The format is too restrictive.  It needs to be flexible.

The outcome of the TGK challenge needs to real and tangible.  You guys and girls need to be able to show something for the cash you fork out.  Something super.  You need to have achieved a successful outcome.  You need to be able to reduce your power bill via small actions.  Actions that are measurable.  Actions that are repeatable.  Actions that save you money $$$, and lowers greenhouse gas emissions if your utility provides you with fossil fuel generated electricity.  

Reading an eBook will not cut the mustard as far as I am concerned.  Why?  Well not everyone learns that way.

Let me explain.  How many times have you read a book and had all intentions of implementing it, but never got around to it?  I think that participating in a course, and providing feedback to me and other course members will help the students take that step towards action in their own home.

So, I have been mulling this over in my head, looking for alternatives.  I then started researching what was actually possible to deliver using digital methods only.  And it had to be automated so that I am not laying awake a night wondering if I was supposed to send something to a student.

Have a look what I have come up with.  Yes, it is my very first mind map.  Click to enlarge as it is a little small.  In case you are wondering, I used XMind 2012 to make the mind map.  It is easy to use.

copyright Gavin Webber 2013

As you have probably noticed, this will be my very first eCourse.  I firmly believe that it can be done.  I have seen a few other courses similar to this that are purely delivered online, which are mostly workbooks and some PowerPoint slides, but I can do better than that.  I want to provide rich media content that helps with all types of learning.  We all learn differently.

I hope to be able to produce video, audio, data worksheets, content workbooks, and instructions, all digitally.  I may have to pay for some hosting, but would bundle that into the cost of the course over time.

You are probably wondering what the price point will be.  Well, I have seen a similar 4 week (20 hours) course for $500, which I thought was extortionate, so I will be aiming much, much lower.  Somewhere between $25-$50, maybe a little more, all depending on the hosting fees.  No guarantees, but that cost is around the point I am looking at to make it affordable.

This project is going to take some time, so I am working on the plan now, adding to the mind map each day until I know it is nearly right.  Then it will be full steam ahead.

So, if you want to be a part of this project by getting updates of its progress, please leave your email address in the form below.  As your privacy is important to me, so I promise not to use it for any other purpose other than project updates.  You will also get early notification of the eCourse availability well before it is released via any other medium should you wish to enrol.

Closer to the completion date, I will be asking for beta testers who will be able to do parts of the course for free, so that I can solicit valuable feedback.  So if you also want to be one beta testers, sign up as well.  I will send an email via the list looking for limited volunteers.

So there you go, friends.  A bit of hard work ahead of me during the development phase, but I believe that it will be good value and a great outcome for those who decide to enrol.

As always feedback is always welcome via comment.  Fire away!