how to create a proper course description

by Dr. Sabryna Gislason 9 min read

The following are tips for writing a course description:

  • The course description should be no longer than 100 words.
  • Write from a student-centered perspective.
  • Use present tense and active voice.
  • Use clear and simple sentence structure and language.
  • Use gender neutral language.
  • Use common terms that prospective students understand.
  • Use industry-approved technical terms and a...

Full Answer

How to write an irresistible course description?

How to write successful course descriptions. The description should run from 30 words to 120 words in length. Fewer than 30 is too sketchy. Too few words make the course look insubstantial and ... The description should be divided into two paragraphs if it …

How to choose your writing course?

2. Begin each course description with an active verb a. Examples: Explore, Examine, Gain, Learn, Develop 3. Ensure each description reflects how the reader would benefit from taking the course (i.e., consider the question, “What’s in it for them?”) 4. Omit self-evident content. Course descriptions should reflect specific topics each course will cover, such as: a. In this course… b.

How to read course descriptions?

Course descriptions should: Be student-centered, rather than teacher-centered or course-centered; Use brief, outcomes-based, descriptive phrases that begin with an imperative or active verb (e.g., design, create, plan, analyze) Be clear, concise, and easy to understand (< 80 words) Detail significant learning experiences and benefits students can expect; Align with the …

How do you write a sentence with of course?

Good content is crucial to success, but if it is hidden behind a boring course description it might struggle to reach its full potential in the learning marketplace. A course stands a better chance of successfully selling if it is introduced by a few paragraphs that …

How do you write a good course description?

Writing a Course Descriptionshould be no longer than 125 words.should begin most sentences with a verb.should be student-centered and explain how the reader would benefit from the course.should be written in the present tense and active voice.

How do you write a course description example?

Course descriptions should:Be student-centered, rather than teacher-centered or course-centered.Use brief, outcomes-based, descriptive phrases that begin with an imperative or active verb (e.g., design, create, plan, analyze)Be clear, concise, and easy to understand (< 80 words)More items...

How do I write a course description for a syllabus?

In writing a course description, be sure to include the following information:What will students learn in the course (i.e., knowledge, skills, attitudes, as opposed to topics)?Why will learning this matter to students?How will the course help students develop as scholars, learners, future professionals?More items...

How long should a course description be?

The description should run from 30 words to 120 words in length. Fewer than 30 is too sketchy. Too few words make the course look insubstantial and may not allow for enough information to be included. If a description is, more than 120 words, it is too long.Sep 30, 2015

What is course brief description?

A course description is. a short, pithy statement which informs a student about the subject matter, approach, breadth, and applicability of the course.

What is the difference between course description and syllabus?

A course description is usually written in paragraph form with complete sentences. A syllabus often contains timelines, calendars, outlines, bullet points and tables or infographics that quickly and concisely relay important information.

How do you describe an online course?

An online class is a course conducted over the Internet. They are generally conducted through a learning management system, in which students can view their course syllabus and academic progress, as well as communicate with fellow students and their course instructor.

What is course description?

A course description can be defined succinctly as ‘all the relevant details of your course.’. This is a simplistic description and rather open-ended, but there is a reason for that. There are many types of online courses that target a variety of levels of competence and types of customers/employees.

How many sentences should an online course have?

Every online course should have a great one to two-sentence tagline. If you can’t describe your course in two sentences, it might be time to rethink your content and what your course focuses on.

What is the purpose of assessment?

The purpose of assessments is to measure how well students have achieved the learning outcomes. Outline any evaluation methods used in your online course, and the weighting that each method counts for in the final assessment.

How many words should be in an instructor bio?

The instructor’s bio should be around 15 to 50 words in a separate section underneath the main course description fields, or in a sidebar – many hosted course platforms have a dedicated spot for you to include this information.

Can you have more than one online course?

If you have more than one online course in a subject area, you may wish to include relevant, related courses that complement the current course. The course cards should all be designed in the same style, so a user can see that they all belong to the same brand. Dos.

Make it short and relevant

The first thing to consider is its length. Since it is just a description it should not be as extensive as a blog post for example. Basically, you have to say a lot by using just a few words – not an easy task but not an impossible one either.

What will the subscribers learn?

Answering this question in the course description is paramount in increasing the number of enrollments. Strive to be as specific as you can.

Who is the instructor and how will the material be rendered?

The course creator is as important as the content itself. Say something about yourself in the course description – who you are, where your passion for a particular topic comes from, what your expertise on the subject is.

What language should you use?

Your aim is to get people engaged and interested. You won’t achieve that by writing something that reads like a dishwasher instruction manual. What you need is a story – the story of taking your course and the ‘happily-ever-after’ that is subsequent to it.

Additional tips for making your description stand out

Raluca Cristescu has over ten years of experience in corporate training, focused mainly on soft skills for customer service and direct sales.

What you Need to Know

Use the course description to summarize what your course covers, how it is taught, what students will learn, and what they will gain from the course.

Best Practices for the Tone of Your Description

1. Ask yourself these questions before writing (to make sure you really understand your potential student):

Best Practices for the Structure of Your Course Description

1. Add an introductory 2-3 sentences at the beginning of your description:

Minimum Requirements to Pass our Quality Review Process

Use the course description to summarize what your course covers, how it is taught, what students will learn, and what they will gain from the course.

What is course description?

A course description is an important part of the course outline. The course description needs to reflect exactly what will be covered in the course and how learning will be assessed by assignments and/or tests.

What is a good course outline?

A good course outline allows students to assess the course for fit with their learning needs, clearly understand what is expected of them and how they will benefit from the instruction.

What is learning outcome?

Learning Outcomes. The learning outcomes are the goals of the course i.e. what the course is meant to teach students. Often it is the learning outcomes that help a student determine if the course will meet their needs. It is important to use language that does not make false promises.

Is a prerequisite a co-requisite?

Prerequisites/Co-requisites. If the course is at an advanced level, it may be wise to request a prerequisite (a course that must be completed prior) or a co-requisite (a course that is taken concurrently). This ensures that students have a foundation level knowledge of the topic before completing the more advanced course.

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