how to design course content

How to create course content

1. You need a clear course topic and course aim. Your course topic and your course aim are intricately connected. The...
2. Create clear steps that reach the course aim. This is where you need to disseminate the content into steps that all...
3. Write information for each step. You need to now write, or record if you’re not a keen writer, the...

Full Answer

How do I design a course?

Designing a course can seem like a daunting task, so we break it down into a few easy steps to help you navigate creating a structure that's engaging and fun for your students. Have questions? Begin the process early, giving yourself as much time as you can to plan a new course. Successful courses require careful planning and continual revision.

How do I plan my course content?

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.

How can I make my visual course content better?

There a few things people can focus on to help make their visual course content better. The hierarchy of your content is important. It helps your reader know they should read X first, Y second, and Z third. You don’t want a giant wall of copy as that’s hard to digest. You want to make it easy and enjoyable to consume the content you make.

Is there a free course to design a curriculum?

This free training will help you jump the content hurdle. During this course you'll design a curriculum with learning design best practices mind. Then, you'll get how-to guides for creating video lessons, text lessons, quizzes and more. By the end of this 90 minute course, you'll have a course that your students will love to learn with.

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.

What is course content example?

Any informational material that is required for participation or understanding content such as assigned readings, video recordings, exams, and any other material needed for learning. Copyright © 2022 UC Regents; all rights reserved.

What is a course design?

Course design is the process and methodology of creating quality learning environments and experiences for students. Through deliberate and structured expose to instructional materials, learning activities, and interaction, students are able to access information, obtain skills, and practice higher levels of thinking.

How do you create a course outline or syllabus?

When creating your course outline there are some essential pieces that you need to include:Course Description from the Academic Calendar. ... Course Goals. ... Student Learning Objectives/Outcomes. ... Assessment Overview. ... Assessment Plan. ... Schedule of Activities. ... Plagiarism Announcement. ... Reading List.

What's another word for course content?

What is another word for course outline?curriculumprogrammeUKsyllabusprogram of studycourseeducational programmescheduleprogramme of studyconspectustimetable39 more rows

What is online course content?

A university level course that is taken over the internet without the need for attendance in a physical location to order to access materials or the instructor. All instruction is done with the use of a computer and internet service and interaction may include synchronous as well as asynchronous activity.

What are the 5 major components of course design?

The main elements of course design include;Need Analysis.Learning or Course Goal.Learning Objectives.Assessments.Delivery Methods and Strategies.Activities.

What is a good course design?

As indicated by Barbara Davis, in Tools for Teaching, good course design addresses, 'What material to teach, how best to teach it, and how to ensure that students are learning what is being taught “ (Davis, 3). The following is a list of resources for good course design.

What is a course format?

A course format refers to the layout of a course. The course format can be selected in Administration > Course administration > Edit settings. An administrator can enable, disable or delete course formats for courses in Administration > Site administration > Plugins > Course formats > Manage course formats.

What is course planning?

Course planning is a continual process, as illustrated by the diagram below. Each of the steps is necessarily undertaken with the others in mind, and each will necessarily undergo revision each time you teach a particular course. As you plan and revise courses, remember the importance of teaching core concepts and critical-thinking skills.

How to prepare for a new course?

Begin the process early , giving yourself as much time as you can to plan a new course. Successful courses require careful planning and continual revision. Consult with colleagues who have taught the same or similar courses to learn from their strategies and their general impressions of the students who typically take the course.

How to teach more material than you can cover in the allotted time?

Instructors often plan initially to teach more material than they can cover in the allotted time. Determine the structure of the course; arrange the topics in a logical order. Developing a rationale that guides the structure of the course can help you explain the material more clearly to the students.

How to define course goals?

When you define the course goals, focus on student learning. One way to formulate these goals is to determine what students should be learning in terms of content, cognitive development, and personal development. Be as specific as you can and make sure that the goals define learning in ways that can be measured.

How to teach chemistry?

Teach students problem-solving and critical-thinking skills. Demonstrate how chemistry is used in other fields and in everyday situations. Teach students the beauty of chemistry. Determine course content. Select the major topics and determine the order in which you will teach them. Select the main topics to be covered.

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 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 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.

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.

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.

Why do we need an outline?

An outline helps you keep your ideas organized when you are designing a course. It enables you to group together related topics, not to mention see the order in which topics need to be addressed. Starting with an outline helps you create the course more efficiently.

What is course outline?

A course outline is one of the most crucial elements you can create for your online class. It’s the blueprint showing the foundational structure and design for ...

Why is it important to divide an online course into parts?

Designing an online course can be an overwhelming process, which is why it’s helpful to divide it up into parts. Your students will also be able to follow your course more easily if it’s broken down into a few digestible components.

What is the best format for online courses?

Video. This format is becoming increasingly popular with online course creators, as it allows the instructor to communicate directly to students in a personable, relatable way. Video is best for demonstrating skills and giving easily-digestible presentations.

Why is audio important for teaching?

Hearing your voice can be a useful and relatable experience for your students , especially when combined with traditional text-based content.

What is a combination of text and photos?

A Combination of Text and Photos. This is a traditional format, which means people often associate it with dated teaching methods. However, this approach still suits visual learners and remains the best way to convey content that’s a bit too complex to present in video or audio format.

How many lessons are in a module?

While modules should have the same basic structure, they don’t need to have the same number of lessons. One module may have only three lessons, while another module may have ten —and that’s perfectly fine! 4.