WP Builds 451 – The realities of teaching WordPress: Dave Foy’s shift to live cohort learning
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Jan 8, 2026 In this discussion, Dave Foy, an educator and web designer who creates WordPress courses, shares his journey from traditional teaching to innovative online training. He highlights the urgency of keeping tech courses current amidst frequent software updates and the pitfalls of perfectionism that lead to burnout. Dave unveils his transition to live cohort teaching, which fosters accountability and community, enhancing student success. He discusses the benefits of real-time learning and how his hybrid model balances core lessons with engaging Q&A sessions.
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First Course Became Obsolete Quickly
- Dave Foy left classroom teaching in 2003 and later taught himself web design, launching online courses from 2017 onward.
- His first Elementor course became obsolete within months after major software updates, forcing costly remakes and burnout.
Tech Courses Aren't Evergreen
- Teaching software has an inherent obsolescence that undermines the evergreen-course model for page builders.
- The urgency of current software versions actually makes selling timely courses easier.
Perfectionism Drove Excessive Editing
- Dave discovered a harsh inner perfectionism when creating recorded courses that drove excessive scripting and editing.
- That perfectionism increased workload and contributed to burnout when content quickly aged.