how to create content for online course

What type of online course content should you create?

Combinations of text, video, images, and screencasting make for the most engaging online courses. Screencasting content might not be necessary, though, depending on your course subject. Now, let’s have a closer look at each type of online course content.

Do I need to create all the content for my course?

That being said, you don’t need to create all of the content for your online course before you start selling it. It’s always better to start off with a smaller batch of content, as this will allow you to take in feedback from your students and make improvements accordingly.

How to create a successful online course?

The course subject determines your audience, your method of teaching, and a lot more factors. It’s crucial that you decide on a specific course subject in the beginning phase of creating your online course. Be as specific as possible. Don’t try to cover too wide of a topic in your first course.

How to create effective eLearning content?

This will help you succeed in your job and create effective eLearning content. Of course, proofread and edit your text. Use tools such as Google Drive, Google Docs, Grammarly, etc. They will help you create, archive and edit your content.

How do I create a course content?

Four Steps to Create Course Content that FlowsConsider your goals in teaching this course. Decide what you would like your students to accomplish from taking this course. ... Develop topics and subtopics, then narrow down further. ... Structure the course with what you have finalized. ... Plan your content types.

How do you make good online content?

Explore best practice in content media creation. Interpret the messaging and intention behind online content. Evaluate the use of tone and language in communication. Describe how various media formats are used to create compelling online content.

What content can I create?

The Top 12 Types of Social Media Content to CreateWritten posts, blogs, articles, guides, and more. ... Electronic books (eBooks) ... Links to external content. ... Images. ... Videos. ... Video Stories. ... Live Videos. ... Infographics.More items...

How do you write content?

Effective Content WritingWrite a Head-Turning Headline. The headline determines whether audiences will read the rest of your work. ... Create a Hook That Grabs Their Attention. ... Do Your Research. ... Focus on a Single Purpose. ... Write in a Unique Voice. ... Optimize Digital Content. ... Edit Your Work.

How to create text content?

Text content is the simplest of all: just write your content and drop it into your course platform, no extra tools or skills required. You can create great text content even if you don’t consider yourself a “good” writer. Here’s how:

What is PDF content?

PDF content is great for giving your student a handy reference that they can look at anytime, or for creating worksheets for students to fill out. Examples of effective PDF content include: I asked Mackenzie Child, Podia’s first designer extraordinaire, for some tips on creating better visual content.

How to make an online course more engaging?

An easy way to make online courses more engaging is to stimulate the student visually. This means pictures and videos. The simplest method of using picture and videos in an online course would be constructing your online class more like a PowerPoint presentation:

What is the most important part of creating an online course?

One of the most important components of creating an online course is setting a learning goal for the course . However, there’s more to it. Every online course consists of various sections, and each individual section also needs to have a clear learning goal.

What is the gender of MOOCs?

Gender. On average, the gender make-up for MOOCs is 53% female and 47% male. However, in some subjects such as engineering courses, the ratio can shift heavily, with up to 85% of students being male. Level of education. The majority of online course students are highly educated with a Bachelor’s degree or higher.

What does it mean to get started teaching?

Which means you need to get your knowledge together.

What is the target audience of an online course?

The target audience is the group of people to whom you are writing your course.

Do you have to create all the content for an online course?

That being said, you don’t need to create all of the content for your online course before you start selling it. It’s always better to start off with a smaller batch of content, as this will allow you to take in feedback from your students and make improvements accordingly.

Is it a waste of time to create an online course?

It’s crucial that you decide on a specific course subject in the beginning phase of creating your online course. Be as specific as possible.

What is the most challenging part of creating an online course?

Creating course content, particularly content that works to reach the goal of the course, can be one of the most challenging pieces of creating an online training course. Fleshing out what to put into the course and what delivery methods to use is critical to the success of your course.

How to make sure students are learning?

To make sure that students are successfully learning, you need to integrate quizzes, assignments, and other interactive tools to see how students are progressing. Offering forum support is a great way to connect with students, but don’t count on it to make sure the students are understanding the lessons in your course.

What is the mark of a great course?

The mark of a great course is does it complete the goal of teaching what you want to teach? Was your student able to complete the course and then do the task if it’s a task related goal, make the behavioral change if it’s a behavioral goal, or recall the content if it’s a memorization and recall type of goal.

What is the spice of life in a course?

Variety is the Spice of Life in Course Content. A major part of great content is variety. Almost all courses should include a variety of audio, visuals, video, and text. If the goal is to accomplish a specific task, there should also be assignments and exercises allowing the student to complete the task and accomplish the goal.

Is it bad to cram too much content into a course?

Cramming too much content into a course is a sure way to lose your students. This is particularly true when writing for a business audience. Unless you’re writing a course for graduate studies, and even then I’d reconsider making it too complex, break the content down into bite sized pieces.

How to create content for students?

For example, to make a cup of tea you have to boil water, measure out tea, put tea leaves into a teapot, etc. 3. Write information for each step.

What is the aim of a course?

The aim is what you want learners to achieve, which means that the aim is the overall point of the course. The topic of your course is basically a reframed aim. Brainstorm, the best way to come up with your course aim is to undertake a massive brainstorm, or a few brainstorms on similar topics.

Do you have to write information for each step?

Write information for each step. You need to now write, or record if you’re not a keen writer, the information for each step. This written content does not have to be your course content, although it is good to provide students with an option to read content.

How does content help in training?

Content can help you build the authority of your training. Content can encourage learners’ engagement. Content can add value to your training. So, let’s see how you can make your training content great. Imagine that you are in the following situation. You’ve already started working on your new eLearning course.

What to keep in mind when working on an eLearning course?

One of the main things you need to keep in mind while working on your eLearning course is the fact that your training targets adult people. Adults have different training needs and expectations compared to kids, so you need to get acquainted with the main principles of andragogy.

How to teach learners to be adults?

Your learners are adults, and adults want to know why they need to take the training, what’s in it for them, how the training will ease their day-to-day job duties, etc. Make learners use their current knowledge. Include activities that will make them apply what they already know. Present the content.

What do adults need to know about training?

Adults need to know that the training will have a direct and immediate impact on their daily job duties. The training needs to be problem-oriented. Your content has to focus on defined problems and how they can be solved. Adults prefer to learn through their experiences.

How to create effective training that focuses on the results and changes in learners’ behavior?

To create effective training that focuses on the results and changes in learners’ behavior, you can use Gagne’s 9 Events of Instruction. Gain learners’ attention right at the beginning of the training. To achieve this, you can use an interesting example or a task that they need to complete.

What is a good practice for on screen text?

If the training plan includes a narrator , keep in mind that it is a good practice for the on-screen text and the narrator’s script to be different. If the training will include audio and video files, you are the one that will be responsible for their text development.

What do adults prefer to learn?

Adults prefer to learn through their experiences. Your job is to provide them with a safe environment where they can test new things, make mistakes, progress, and use their knowledge. Adults prefer to have a say in the training development and assessment process.

Qualifications met

Some people get hung up in this stage. But as you set out to plan your course content acknowledge your fears. We realize many online course creators have that moment of panic that says, “Who am I to teach this? I’ve only just learned it myself and I’ve never taught anyone anything! I’m not even an expert!”

Narrowing down a course topic

For the purpose of this post, we’re going to imagine that you already have a pretty solid idea of what you’re going to teach. But before we go any further, let’s refine it.

Deciding who your course is for

When you’re working to plan your course content, you need to decide what level your audience is currently at. If they already know the basics of your topic and you’re going to help them advance in their skills or apply them in a new way, you don’t need to spell out the very beginning steps.

Creating your course structure

Take yourself back to when you knew what your target audience knows and nothing more. Now, start writing down every single step you took to get to where you are now, no matter how small or insignificant it might seem.

Creating your video outline

Once you’ve broken your course topic down to steps, you’ll need to buff each individual step out further. For example, sticking with our knitting example, casting on is more than just “casting on.” There is some twisting and tying and looping and pulling. List out every thing involved in each step. Don’t treat anything like it’s too obvious.

Putting it to the test

Before you go all in and commit to recording everything, consider asking a friend you trust (who doesn’t have experience with what you’re teaching) to take a critical look at your outline. Ask them what questions they might have or what gaps need filling.

Planning supplemental materials

A lot of online course creators like to add bonuses to their online course. Things like workbooks, checklists, online communities, and whatever else they can dream up. These bonuses help increase the value of your online course and sweeten the deal for people who might still be debating whether or not they want to take the plunge and purchase.

How long does it take to create an eLearning course?

The idea behind rapid eLearning is where you use every tool and strategy you can to potentially create a course in 2 to 3 weeks instead of taking several months. So within your lessons, outline the exact content you will cover.

What is the purpose of an outline in a course?

Creating an outline that serves as a guide to the course is useful for both learners as well as for you so you can develop a more effective course .

How long should a microlearning lesson be?

Depending on how far down the path of microlearning you are going, lessons might only need to be a couple of minutes up to 10 to 15 minutes in length. There's not too much content in a 2-minute lesson so you really need to get at the heart of the topic and do so quickly if you're going that route.

What is the best tool to use to outline a project?

These are great, but with most, you will have to manually re-type your ideas into other software to use them later on. However, if you're a visual learner, mind mapping is probably the best tool for you. You can also use Trello or other productivity software to outline and manage your projects.

What is the lesson in Module 1 of Marketing?

Module 1: Marketing. Lesson 1: How to choose the right marketing strategy for your business. Topic 1: Why choose Facebook marketing. By using the modules, lessons, and topics for each new idea, you will create a system that is simple for your learner to follow.

Why do you need a script for a video lesson?

You don't want to lose your audience because you are rambling from topic to topic with no clear direction. Outlining will also help with lesson planning.

Why is it important to have an outline?

Having an outline allows you to organize these topics in a way that will make sense to your students. In addition, it prevents you from forgetting to add critical information that is relevant to the topic. Writing out what you plan to cover will also help you generate ideas.