Authentic Expert
Interview with Pace Smith
Pathfinding Coach & Course Creator
Interview Summary
Pace Smith, Pathfinding coach and creator of the Engaging eCourses program, shares strategies for keeping students engaged and energized throughout your course. She reveals why community is the biggest factor in engagement and how to design immersive learning experiences.
Authentic Sharing Is Focused Sharing
Pace reframes what authenticity means for course creators: it isn't about sharing everything. Think about sharing in a focused way, and make everything that you do share true.
This is freeing—you don't need to bare your soul or share every struggle. You need to be genuine about what you do choose to share, and make those choices intentionally.
'Authenticity' isn't about sharing everything. Think about sharing in a focused way, and make everything that you do share true.
Let Your Values Lead
Pace offers a powerful design principle: let your online teaching be led by your values. Reflect on what you value as a learner, and incorporate those values into your course design.
This creates coherence. When your course reflects your genuine values, the experience feels authentic to both you and your students.
Let your online teaching be led by your values. Reflect on what you value as a learner, and incorporate those values into your course design.
Your Voice Is Your Differentiator
Here's an encouraging truth: you could teach the exact same course topic as someone else, and different people would sign up because it's you. Your voice matters.
This means you don't need to find an untapped niche or revolutionary approach. Your unique perspective on even a common topic is valuable to the right students.
Your voice matters. You could teach the exact same course topic as someone else, and different people would sign up because it's you.
Community Is the Engagement Key
Pace reveals the biggest factor affecting engagement: community. Her specific tactic? "Assignment buddies"—assigning participants into pairs to do partner exercises.
This simple structure creates accountability, connection, and momentum. Students are far more likely to complete work when they know someone is counting on them.
The biggest thing that affects engagement is community. Try 'assignment buddies'—assign participants into pairs to do partner exercises.
Eliminate Course Guilt
One of the biggest engagement killers is guilt—students feeling bad about falling behind. Pace's solution: focus on creating an immersive experience with at least 2/3 of the time focused on interaction rather than consumption.
When students are actively participating rather than passively watching, the guilt of "not keeping up" diminishes.
One of the engagement killers is guilt. To minimize 'course participation guilt,' focus on creating an immersive experience with at least 2/3 focused on interaction.
The Co-Working Model
Pace shares a successful engagement model: class plus co-working time. Everyone gets together on a call, works independently for an hour, then shares progress.
Feeling part of a group helps people make far more progress than working alone. The social accountability and shared energy of working together is powerful even when the work itself is individual.
Successful model: class + co-working time. Everyone gets together on a call, works independently for an hour, then shares progress. Feeling part of a group helps people make far more progress.
Tell Stories
Pace's top coaching for engagement: tell stories. Stories are both engaging and authentic—engaging because people learn based on stories and examples far more than dry facts, and authentic when based on your own lived experience.
Reflect on your personal stories and how they can enrich your course. Your struggles, breakthroughs, and lessons learned are teaching gold.
Pace's Action Steps
Pace recommends these 3 steps to improve your course planning:
Implement assignment buddies
Pair up your students to work on exercises together. This simple structure dramatically increases accountability and completion.
Add co-working sessions
Schedule group calls where everyone works independently but together. Start with a brief check-in, work for 45-60 minutes, then share progress.
Audit your interaction ratio
Review your course content. Is at least 2/3 focused on interaction and activities? If not, convert passive content to participatory experiences.
About Pace Smith
Pathfinding Coach & Course Creator
Pace Smith helps sensitive spiritual misfits follow their hearts to a wild crazy meaningful life. She's a Pathfinding coach, a teacher, a speaker, and creator of the Engaging eCourses program.