e3 Strategies worked with Strayer University to design online courses that could be available 24 hours a day/7 days a week, improving accessibility for working professionals nationally and internationally. The Communications for Business Professionals course initially developed by e3 Strategies President Stephanie Eskins Gleason became the model for new online learning practices at the University, and asynchronous courses now represent the main revenue stream for Strayer University Online.

Challenge: Broaden the appeal of online courses by making them more accessible to working professionals nationally and internationally. Maintain the effectiveness of established learning objectives in a self-directed, online learning environment.

Stephanie designed and taught the first asynchronous business communications course for Strayer University online. This enabled students to participate in courses at
their own convenience, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, from anywhere in the world.

Solution: Until 2003, Strayer offered only live online courses that afforded real-time interaction with instructors and required students to participate in courses at set times. e3 Strategies adapted existing content and learning objectives into learning experiences that students could absorb independently. We ensured students' retention of material by incorporating additional assessment methods, creating assignments that required application of learning along the way, and building instructor contact into each course using interactive chat sessions, instant messaging, and robust feedback.