This February, Join the
Relax and Connect on Video Challenge
And move from video shy to video savvy in just 4 weeks.
Registration closes when seats fill up or on Thursday February 13, 2020—whichever happens first. Challenge starts February 17.
CONFIDENTLY BUILD YOUR DIGITAL SKILLS, COMFORT, AND COMMUNITY ONLINE
In as little as 6 hours per month, start benefiting from more of what the Internet has to offer (without fears of the unknown, information overload, or struggling to learn alone).
- Three 30-minute activities (1.5 hours of your time) per week is all it takes to get started
- Build online skills for collaborating, communicating, and critical thinking
- Grow in a supportive community whose mission is to increase trust online (in yourself, in others, and in technology)
- Learn with others in our members-only Facebook group
- Collect certificates of achievement and supplemental bonuses whenever you complete a challenge
See What's Coming in 2020
≈ If you spend most of your day using email, websites, intranets, chat, video conferencing, and other modern Internet applications, then I don't have to tell you that there is always more to learn.
And it won't surprise you that most people feel overwhelmed by how often these systems change. Despite their best intentions to keep up, they eke by—day after day—hoping not to miss out on job offers and other opportunities because someone else was better prepared to leverage technology.
Here Are a Few Things You Might NOT Know
It's Never Too Late to Start Building Your Digital Skills
MANY people avoid learning new technologies because they don’t trust their own ability or knowledge. They do the bare minimum to avoid appearing ineffective or incompetent, and they resist learning new, rapidly changing systems because of valid, unaddressed fears. Trust Changers addresses this by purposefully developing lessons and activities that help members build comfort, confidence, and community online without fears of the unknown, information overload, or struggling to learn alone.
Googling Isn't Enough
Access to information is important, but it’s not enough. If it were, Google would be the ultimate educational platform, and everyone using it would be healthy, wealthy, and wise. The fact is, you don’t need more information… you need CONNECTION (environments that foster a sense of community) and TRANSFORMATION (a way to internalize knowledge so that it becomes a part of who you are).
Community Makes Learning Easier
Trust Changers uses social online learning to foster member relationships while introducing tasks that people can work on and learn from together. We do this because there is no better incentive to show up and participate than sharing a common struggle with others who are counting on you for support and motivation. Additionally, seeing other people's work in the challenges helps accelerate your adaptability to more online applications and activities.
For Most Topics, 5% of the Skills Can Get You 95% of the Way
A typical self-paced video course (from services like Lynda or Udemy) may be PACKED with upwards of 50 videos on a topic and likely covers way more than you’ll ever need. Trust Changers takes a different approach. We always focus on the 10 processes, skills, and behaviors that will provide the MOST IMPACT for a topic (e.g., writing for the web). This saves you time and sanity. These “Trust Changers” are intended to HELP YOU GET THE MOST value for your effort.
Building Competency Builds Trust
You don’t need to be the most talented writer, designer, communicator, or collaborator. YOU JUST NEED TO BE THE PERSON WHO PEOPLE TRUST has a core set of competencies that can elevate any project. When you start applying Trust Changers to your work, people will notice. You will be sought out for advice, added to higher-profile assignments, and start gaining a reputation as the go-to person. I know this, because it’s exactly what happened to me.
Here are a few client testimonials I received while developing and applying Trust Changers skills:
Matt Klein
Collaboration Tools Communicator, Cornell University
"I’ve had the privilege of making use of Shaley's skills for nearly a decade and I hope to continue to do so indefinitely. Her skills at bridging the gap between technology and people who use it are unparalleled, and her solutions are novel, effective, and efficient. The vibrancy and liveliness of her work puts to rest the false belief that information technology is destined to be humdrum, dull, or obstructive. If you’re looking for someone with a vision for the future, you’ve found your solution."
Carla DeMello
Graphic Designer, Cornell University Library
"I’ve had the good fortune to work with Shaley on a long-term project, and she made the experience an excellent one. Many kinds of people with different strengths were involved, and it could be a challenge to bridge those strengths. Shaley’s understanding of how people think repeatedly proved to be just that bridge. She is uniquely gifted in being able to straddle the world of highly technical experts and non-specialists so the two can communicate effectively and develop meaningful, productive results."
Michelle L. Artibee, MBA
Associate Director, Work/Life at Cornell University
"I worked with Shaley for five years on remote-work and communications issues. She guest presented remotely to a large audience, authored materials, supported HR in flexible-work initiatives. Despite the many miles between us, she is such a strong communicator that it feels as if she's in the office next to me. She thinks critically about language and tone and is constantly striving to help others develop. When I think of the people I want around me when facing a challenge or change, Shaley is on my list."
Here’s Why Most Online-Learning Programs Aren't Right For Keeping Up with Digital Skills
They take up too much time. As a busy person with family, friends, and coworkers who depend on you, and possibly also full-time work (and a side hustle), you literally can’t afford to shrug off the importance of staying current. But it's unrealistic to assume that you can spare more than an hour or 2 per week.
There is no accountability or incentive. Without accountability, you can easily give up and drop out. If the training isn’t fun, there is no incentive and it feels like work. It should feel like your presence matters and you are working toward valuable goals.
The big wins are buried or altogether missing. You don't have time to sit through hours of lessons for a single morsel of value, and nothing is worse than waiting patiently for something that never arrives. You don’t need every detail about every topic. You just need the best stuff.
There is no community. In most online training, instructors and other participants are nowhere to be found. In the absence of a way to communicate with others, you are unable to ask questions or get feedback about your understanding and application of course materials.
Here’s How Trust Changers Is Different
We respect the value of your time.
Members have the opportunity to participate in 1 challenge every 6 weeks. Each challenge has three 30-minute activities per week, released on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays (1.5 total hours). We also ask that everyone spend 10 minutes per activity motivating and supporting others (30 total minutes). Interacting with the community is one of the best parts of social online learning. It can draw you in and hold your interest longer. You are welcome to spend more time interacting with and encouraging others, but that’s totally up to you.
We are hyper-focused on value.
We only teach you 10 big lessons per challenge topic (e.g., Detect and Avoid Online Scams), so there’s never any reason to hold back our best information. Challenges are also carefully designed to minimize complexity and maximize practice, so each daily activity starts with a short video lesson (e.g., how to tell if a URL is safe), then provides a prompt to help you practice the lesson (e.g., hover on webpage URLs and do this thing…).
BUT THERE’S MORE
We want this to be a movement that changes how people interact with each other and work together online.
Most course sites don’t encourage you to share. Trust Changers wants you to take everything you learn in our challenges and use it at home and at work...teach your kids, show your friends. Invite others to also join Trust Changers, and help us change the Internet, because we want to make it a better place for everyone.
Most digital-skills courses aren’t designed to produce life-changing results. Challenge-based community learning is effective. That’s the ONLY reason we use this method. However, unlike most challenge-based learning experiences, members get access to video lessons from all topics as soon as they are published. Then, when they participate in a challenge (we keep the challenge activities a secret until the challenge), they get to incorporate the lesson into their life and earn the Certificate of Achievement with supplemental BONUSES.
Most online courses are created in a vacuum. Conversely, Trust Changers actively solicits and democratizes input from our members about the topics they are struggling with the most. Feedback helps us prioritize course creation to address pain points, while strengthening our bonds with members.
Here's What People Are Saying about Trust Changers Founder, Shaley DeGiorgio
Ethan Anthony
Founder and CEO, CrankChart
"I met Shaley in a Cloud Security class at Harvard. She proved to be an excellent communicator and team lead. Her ability to keep us organized, in sync, and on task was nothing short of excellent. Even though our team of 5 was geographically distributed, she seamlessly orchestrated both the technology and meetings, which kept us on schedule. Most importantly, she maintained a level of awareness that allowed her to remain empathetic to the challenges of various team members. The skills she’s teaching in Trust Changers were literally the glue that held our team together."
Amber Soranaka
Posh Mom
"I call Shaley, Trust Changers' founder, for all my techy questions. She helped me find the right computer and showed me which applications my kids needed for school. I sell clothes online through Posh and have to click on links from strangers. Shaley taught me how to tell if a link is fake, which has saved me more than once from being scammed. She has a master’s degree in IT from Harvard, but helping people learn is her real passion. Her advice keeps me grounded so I don't get caught up in the latest fad or app. This speeds up my work and lets me focus more on my family life."
Marlene Casel
Adjunct Faculty, University of Phoenix
"I've known Shaley for a little over 3 years. In that time, she has continually grown the Trust Changers' concept to be focused on a skillset that anybody can use to make their online lives easier. Her laser focus, genuine interest in helping others, and love for learning show through in the Trust Changers program. As an educator, I’m inspired by Shaley’s passion to help adults continue to grow their abilities. If you are looking for an alternative learning approach that meets your needs, consider choosing Trust Changers. Shaley DeGiorgio, the founder and CEO, is on a mission to help."
Never Miss a Challenge
Join our email list for a 1x per month update.
Introducing Trust Changers Membership
All Members Get Access to the Following Resources
Members-Only Benefit 1: A Personal Trust Changers Library
Access to video lessons for all challenge topics appear here as soon as they are published.
As we build up our library, members will also receive access to supplemental non-challenge topics (each with 10 high-value Trust Changers lessons, per our standards). Supplemental topics will vary and may include:
- Building Trusted Interpersonal Relationships
- Collaborative Ideation
- Communication
- Cybercrime
- Data Presentation
- Decision Making
- Design, Graphics, and Color Theory
- Device Literacy and Fluency
- Finding Your Tribe
- Growth Mindset
- Image Manipulation
- Information Use Ethics
- Job Search and Resume
- Netiquette
- Overcoming Technophobia
- Personalizing Devices
- Positive Social Contribution
- Presenting/Presentations
- Productivity
- Project Management
- Research, Analysis, and Search
- Safety and Security
- Strategy and Planning
- Team Collaboration
- Tech Trends
- Troubleshooting Techniques
- User Experience
- Video
- Writing and Organizing Content
AND to better serve our members, we are developing tracks for objectives like:
- Building High-Functioning Virtual Teams
- Cleaning Up Your Online Accounts and Identity
- Getting Started with Computers
- Preparing for Higher Education and the Workforce
- Teaching Digital Skills in the Classroom
- Working from Home
Members-Only Benefit 2: Access to the Members-Only Community Facebook Group
All members-only challenges and discussions occur here. Trust Changers is for people who ASPIRE to be more comfortable and confident using Internet technologies. It’s also for people who are seeking CONNECTION, rather than attention. This is key. It’s a safe space for learning within a supportive community. If that sounds like something you can appreciate and get on board with, you're in the right place.
- The Community Facebook Group is available 24/7 for you to post questions and have discussions with other members.
- Instructors are available every Thursday for hour-long Facebook Lives in the group to answer member questions (subject-matter experts and other special guests may attend).
BONUS! Certificates of Achievement appear in your personal Trust Changers Library whenever you complete challenges.
Members-Only Benefit 3: Access to All Challenges
When we launch, only one challenge will be available—our first challenge—Relax and Connect on Video. However, we know that everyone will be joining the membership at different times and with different priorities. So, to serve our members better, we are working toward offering several challenges to choose from, every 6 weeks.
It's unlikely that we will ever run more than 3 challenges at a time, to maintain a high-quality experience for all participants. Instead, once we have more than 3 options, we'll rotate challenges based on popularity.
Offering a selection of challenges every 6 weeks will give members the chance to choose the challenge that they want to participate in most. It will also ensure that members can take part in more of the challenges that they are excited about… without feeling pressure to engage during a month when they have other big priorities, like kids or work.
| Start Date | Option 1 | Option 2 | Option 3 |
|---|---|---|---|
| February 17, 2020 | Relax and Connect on Video | — | — |
| March 30, 2020 | Relax and Connect on Video | Choose Impactful Images | — |
| May 11, 2020 | Relax and Connect on Video | Choose Impactful Images | Generate and Organize Ideas |
Before each start date, members can opt into the challenge they want to participate in next.
- For the best experience, members should participate in only 1 challenge at a time.
- For more practice, members can participate in the same challenge more than once.
Challenges Start Every 6 Weeks
Challenge Overview
Challenge participation is not mandatory for members, since all of the video lessons are available in the members-only Library. However, if you become a member, you are still encouraged to participate in each challenge at least once, even if you've already watched the video lessons. Challenge activities add depth to learning and practice is the best way to internalize the lessons—that's what you're here for, isn't it?
During each 4-week challenge, three videos are released per week (one each on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday). Each video consists of a short lesson and a prompt to spend 15-20 minutes practicing what you learned in the lesson. After watching each video, members are asked to:
- Post an example in the Facebook community of what they learned, found, or practiced.
- Spend a minimum of 10 minutes supporting other challenge participants with constructive and motivational comments.
2020 Challenges - Starting Every 6 Weeks
FEBRUARY 17 | Relax and Connect on Video – Get comfortable being yourself on camera, and learn how to create simple, yet powerful videos with your phone.
MARCH 30 | Choose Impactful Images – Enhance everything you do by creating or selecting graphics that tell a story.
MAY 11 | Generate and Organize Ideas – Explore new collaborative tools that help groups of people think and work together.
JUNE 22 | Mind Your Online Manners – Demonstrate respect for yourself and others with netiquette for the 21st century.
AUGUST 3 | Work Smarter, Not Harder – Apply productivity hacks to accelerate your work and make your life easier.
SEPTEMBER 14 | Write for the Web – Stop overwhelming your readers. Reduce, format, and organize text for the web.
OCTOBER 26 | Detect and Avoid Online Scams – In recognition of National Cybersecurity Awareness Month, start changing your habits to help protect your identity, bank accounts, job, and more.
Members' Choice. We are continually developing new content, but we always give members the opportunity to suggest and vote on new topics.
All challenges incorporate a combination of hard and soft skills, because if you don’t know how to communicate and collaborate with others (soft skills), it won’t matter how great you are at the technical stuff (hard skills).
Completing just 1 challenge every 6 weeks means you’ll learn at least 100 new things per year (we’re being conservative)! And we’re sure you’ll also make many friends along the way.
Lowest-Ever Pricing for Founding Members
Enroll as a Guest
$30
On special from $45
- Participate in the Upcoming 4-Week Challenge:
Relax and Connect on Video
- Certificate of Achievement for Challenge Participation
- 90-Day Access to BONUS Challenge Materials
- Join the Trust Changers Relax and Connect on Video Facebook Group
Become a Member
$15 Per Month
As a special thank you for becoming a founding member and supporting Trust Changers' inaugural year, join for our lowest-ever price—50% off the monthly subscription—$30 $15 per month for the lifetime of your membership.
- Participate in the Upcoming 4-Week Challenge:
Relax and Connect on Video
- Join a New Challenge Every 6 Weeks
- Join the Trust Changers Relax and Connect on Video FB Group
- Certificate of Achievement for Challenge Participation
- BONUS Challenge Materials Access for the Life of Your Membership
PLUS
- Join the Trust Changers Members-Only Community Facebook Group
- Weekly Hour-Long Facebook Lives with the Instructor
- All New Topics (with 10 high-value lessons) Published in Your Library as Soon as They Are Available
- Certificates of Achievement for Each Challenge You Participate in
AND
More Coming in 2020
- Objective Tracks
- Certificates of Achievement for Completing Tracks
Never Miss a Challenge
Free
Join our email list for a 1x per month update about things like:
- Upcoming Trust Changers challenges
- Special deals
- Recommended resources (software, training, services, articles, etc.)
- Member and special guest stories