A couple of days ago I gave a recap of where Corel Corporation stands. Yesterday I gave my first marketing suggestion, add a publishing tool to the CorelDRAW suite. Today I’m going to lay out a way I think Corel can make inroads into the education market. Some of you have replied to the e-mail feed of the blog with comments and some have posted them directly on the Web site. Remember that if you simply reply to the e-mail, the comment will not be posted on the blog so I’m the only one who will read it.
When we discuss the education market, there are many different sub-sections that could be considered. Just yesterday I saw someone mention that they couldn’t get training in CorelDRAW or Corel PHOTO-PAINT at their local community college. While it would be nice if those classes were to be taught, it is a case of supply and demand. They don’t supply it because demand is so low. In order to make a dent in the education market, we have to think outside the box a bit.
Over the years I’ve taught educators of all types in my CorelDRAW Unleashed Boot Camps and my CorelDRAW X4 Unleashed book is used for teaching classes at various levels. There were college and high school courses. Some were using it at training facilities or within a company. Yet there was one student and one story that stands out above all others to me. If Corel would dedicating an employee to implementing this type of course into as many schools as possible, I think it would boost sales quite a bit in the long run.
Did you take a shop class in high school? I did. We used various woodworking tools to make stuff. I still have the lamp I made somewhere in a closet. My idea for getting into schools is a variation on shop class. We’re going to use CorelDRAW to make stuff and this can be a class that provides the school with a profit after the first year! What other class in the school will make the school money? How can they turn down a class that will make them money?
In the first year the school would need to set aside the budget for purchasing a piece of hardware along with computers and CorelDRAW. I don’t think every student would need a computer. In facts, teams of 3-4 students could probably work together on projects. I seem to remember this is how we did it in my shop class way back when.
Let’s say that the first year the school purchases a wide-format print and cut machine. The students will learn how to use CorelDRAW and then they will use it to make various signage for the school and school events. Since they are creating things the school already needs, the school wouldn’t have to purchase those items elsewhere. Of course if you supply these products to schools now, you probably don’t like this idea. In the long run, you will benefit because it will be easier to hire talented employees for your shop. If all of the school’s needs are met, the students could also create things that could be sold. This is certainly more original than a bake sale or magazine subscriptions.
Along with learning CorelDRAW, the students will be learning some of the entreprenurial skills needed to run a small business. By using the things they create to make money, they should earn enough to purchase a different piece of equipment for the next year. So let’s say they buy a digital garment printer the next year and make shirts for the school. With those profits they can buy a laser engraving machine. This can continue until they have all the equipment they need.
The teacher that joined us for Boot Camp had implemented this exact type of program in her high school and the students loved it. In fact, they called one Saturday evening begging her to unlock the school so they could work on something. Not too long after that the police showed up because they saw the lights on in the school. 🙂 Not only were the students learning, they enjoyed it so much that they were willing to give up their Saturday night to keep learning.
Maybe this type of program could be taught at community colleges or universities. I think the focus should be on high schools. Get the kids before they go to college. Then those students will question why the colleges aren’t teaching CorelDRAW and Corel PHOTO-PAINT.
Again, I doubt Corel will assign an employee to implement such a curriculum and try to push it into schools. Are you involved in some way with a high school where you might be able to suggest such an idea? It won’t take many success stories to see the idea spread!
Let me know what you think about this idea or any other ideas you have for getting CorelDRAW into the education market. Tomorrow I’ll put out another idea for boosting sales of CorelDRAW.
Great idea. I took a course at the local College (now a University) but it was very rudimentary and short and years ago. It was just a few hours, 10 or so I think, and haven’t seen the course since. It has sparked an idea in me though to up my skill level using your Unleashed DVD I have and kick something in to gear perhaps only at the night school level to start… perhaps in conjunction with the Sign Shop I contract work for. Who knows, maybe hold classes in the shop.
Hi Foster,
The getting into schools are a great ide of course, and as early as you suggested.
Here in Sweden it probably not only seems to be Adobe products that are being taught in schools. And proffessional courses for the already invited into the business. And those aspiring to be invited and start in a business.
And Adobe offered student icenses very early in Sweden. Because they kind of have a monopoly, they whant more money and the prises for their products go up.
At one point I heard from my girlfriend/life partner since, that at her company who teaches Webb, desktop, multimedia, graphic design and you name it, that they thought Adobe had become so greedy and expensive they started to talk about teaching CorelDRAW Graphics Suite instead. It stayed as a thought, but she told me that for a moment they actually thought the thought.
Thinking outside thebox as you put it is also the right way. But I too is and have questioned the Corel Marketing Dep for many years now. Or who ever is in charge for this.
Corel make great products sadly the Media of some obscure reason decline to let people know about.
As I told once in another forum you and I know about, a mayor scandinavian (Swedish) computer magazine publisher bought only adobe products because they got such a great deal. And out the window whent Quark from the Art Directors computers, and even the Mac computers started going out, because of saving money on hard ware. Mac being more expensive than PC.
Stefan
Hi Foster,
The getting into schools are a great ide of course, and as early as you suggested.
Here in Sweden it probably not only seems to be Adobe products that are being taught in schools. And proffessional courses for the already invited into the business. And those aspiring to be invited and start in a business.
And Adobe offered student icenses very early in Sweden. Because they kind of have a monopoly, they whant more money and the prises for their products go up.
At one point I heard from my girlfriend/life partner since, that at her company who teaches Webb, desktop, multimedia, graphic design and you name it, that they thought Adobe had become so greedy and expensive they started to talk about teaching CorelDRAW Graphics Suite instead. It stayed as a thought, but she told me that for a moment they actually thought the thought.
Thinking outside thebox as you put it is also the right way. But I too is and have questioned the Corel Marketing Dep for many years now. Or who ever is in charge for this.
Corel make great products sadly the Media of some obscure reason decline to let people know about.
As I told once in another forum you and I know about, a mayor scandinavian (Swedish) computer magazine publisher bought only adobe products because they got such a great deal. And out the window whent Quark from the Art Directors computers, and even the Mac computers started going out, because of saving money on hard ware. Mac being more expensive than PC.
Stefan
HI Foster,
I love your school idea, and truly believe some kids would be there on weekends and evenings instead of getting into trouble or just wasting time.
I wonder if their could even be special gov. assistance for this kind of thing “outside” the school system, through a community outreach program to get kids or the unemployed doing something.
There are some other benefits. These days I’ve been getting somewhat political. More than ever, I think kids should embrace:
1. the process of capitalism. Design, create, sell: The kids can meet a real need in the community, with a real product.
2. The convcept of freedom of expression. If kids want to put flaming skulls on a shirt, bunnies and flowers, controversial ideologies and slogans (regardless of far right or far left position)… it’s all fair game. First Amendment Rights!!!
Another idea: Corel should have a full-time rep that only deals with product manufacturers. Not a sales rep to give them bulk deals, more a technical dude that shows WHY Draw should be #1 choice to drive their equipment, whether preparing files for CNC, garmet output, vinyl cutting, plasma cutting, xerox, canon etc.
Hi Foster,
Excellent idea!
I learned CorelDraw and other PC based programs right along side PhotoShop and other Mac based programs years ago when I was in college in the mid-west. Having both of those platforms and experience with a wide variety of programs really has helped me in and endless number of ways…the best of which is finding a job no matter where I land!
Unfortunately, I’m looking to update myself on Corel after being out of the design field for 8 years and now working with it again for custom apparel. No classes are to be found without going to a private training company or (of course) Boot Camp in Arizona…which is in my plans for this year.
Having it in High Schools never occurred to me, but I’m with some of the others…the earlier, the better. Then I won’t be the only one wondering why they aren’t teaching it in college out here in the east!
I have just been hired as a graphics art teacher in high school. The computers have adobe but i really want to teach corel since i have always used it. Where can i get corel for my classroom at a greatly reduced price? We are implementing the exact type of program you have described but i need corel for the classroom. Please help me! Sandy@silversatchel.net
I have been hired as a graphics teacher in high school. I am implementing a program just like you described right now but i need corel for the classroom. The computers all have adobe but i have always used corel and love it. I need to know where i can get corel for my classroom cheaply. I have 20to computers that need the program for me to utilize it properly. Can you help direct me to a source that can help me?
Sandy, my first suggestion would be to call Corel and discuss it with them. There is always the Academic version of CorelDRAW which is offered at a significant discount. If you are going to purchase multiple licenses, there are people at Corel who can make that happen and I’m sure it is at a great discount.