how to format a course

by Grayce Feeney Sr. 9 min read

Standard course formats

  • Weekly format. The course is organized week by week, with each section having a date heading. ...
  • Topics format. The course is organised into topic sections that a teacher can give titles to. ...
  • Social format. This format is oriented around one main forum ,the social forum, which appears listed on the main page.
  • Single activity 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.Feb 22, 2021

Full Answer

What is a course format and how to edit it?

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 the buttons course format?

The Buttons course format creates a menu with buttons in JavaScript to access the sections, one by one. It has features to create group of sections (example: modules, period) and change the button colors. For more information, please visit Buttons course format .

Why is it important to format Your written training materials?

The general idea is to format your written training materials so it’s very easy to scan them and predict what each section is about and/or to quickly understand what each section is about. In other words, you’re using the formatting to make it easier for your workers to identify the information you want them to learn.

What is a recommended course syllabus format?

Recommended Course Syllabus Format. As the primary, commonly available, summary of a course, the syllabus serves several purposes. It outlines the course, it denotes what students may expect from the course, and it locates the course in the curriculum. Not only read by prospective students, it is the best, concise, ...

How should I structure my course?

How to Structure Your Online Course?Group Similar Ideas into Modules.A progressive flow that depends on the order.A collection of tips – not dependent on order.Select Type of Content.Organize Online Course by Choosing a Format.Providing Supportive Content to Students.Consistency is Important.Add a Link for Discussions.More items...•

What is the format of an online course?

An average eLearning module consists of ten activities: 5 or 6 documents, 3 or 4 questions, and a course outline. An eLearning exam module generally uses a document or outline followed by 15 to 20 questions. The document should explain the exam format and contain any needed context or instructions.

How do you format a syllabus?

Recommended Syllabus FormatCourse Number.Title.Credits.Term, place, time, instructor. ... Place in Curriculum. ... Format (Lecture, Discussion, Lab, . . .)Outline of subject and topics explored.Course materials (Texts, books, readings, . . .)More items...

How can I write my own course?

How to create an online courseChoose the right subject matter.Test your idea.Research the topic extensively.Write a course outline.Create the course content.Bring your course online.Sell your online course.Market your content.More items...•

How do you design an online course?

How to Create Online Training Courses in 5 Incredibly Easy StepsStep 1: Define Your Online Training Goals and Learner Persona. ... Step 2: Create an Outline for Your Online Training. ... Step 3: Build the Content for the Online Training Courses. ... Step 4: Engage Your Learners. ... Step 5: Measure Meaningful Engagement Metrics.

How do you create an online course outline?

How to Outline Your Online CourseIdentify Modules. ... Break Each Module Down into Core Steps. ... Brainstorm the Details. ... Building Your Outline. ... Add Worksheets and Bonuses. ... Validate Your Outline.

What is course outline?

A course outline is a document that benefits students and instructors. It is an essential piece when designing any course. The course outline has a few purposes. A syllabus is a planning tool. Writing it guides the instructor's development of the course.

How is a syllabus organized?

The syllabus as a permanent record To do this, a syllabus should include the following: Basic course information (course by number, section, title, semester, meeting times, days, place, format) Instructor information (name, title, rank, office location, office phone number, e-mail) Description of the course content.

What is a course syllabus?

What is a Course Syllabus? A course syllabus is an important document given to you by your professor on the first day of class. Ideally, a course syllabus can be looked upon as a roadmap of your course -- it contains valuable information that will help you succeed and stay organized throughout the entire semester.

How do I create a PDF course?

Go to Manage Learning Content.Select Courses.Click on a specific course in the Course Overview.You will now be in the Course Curriculum area of the Course Builder.On the left-hand side, click Add Lesson.Select PDF.Name the Lesson Title as desired.More items...

How do I write an online course script?

How To Write Perfect eLearning ScriptsTurn your eLearning script into a conversation. Your eLearning scripts should sound organic. ... Keep it short. ... Brainstorm before you type the first letter. ... Leave out the jargon. ... Use vivid imagery. ... Watch your tone! ... Edit, edit…and then edit again.

What makes a good online course?

A good online course requires a few things to make it worth the investment of time, effort, and money people are willing to invest in themselves an...

How long should a course outline be?

A course outline is a really important component of any prospective online course and it needs to fulfill a few different and important roles.An ou...

What is the difference between a course outline and a syllabus?

These are both very important but very different tools with quite distinct purposes, and they certainly shouldn’t be used interchangeably.The outli...

What should a course outline contain?

A course outline should contain several things. Ideally, it will include some basic information about the tutor such as name, contact information,...

Why do students have synchronous sessions?

Because students must schedule multiple courses, synchronous sessions occur at pre-scheduled times indicated in the course schedule. Example 1: Donna teaches a chemistry class that she now delivers as a Remote course. Donna joins her students each Tuesday and Thursday between 2-3:15 pm for class in a Zoom room.

How many students can Chris have in the classroom?

The class is scheduled to meet on Mondays and Wednesdays from 11:00 am – 12:15 pm, but because the room only accommodates 15 students, Chris can only have half of his students physically in the classroom at one time. Chris has split his class into two groups (A & B). Each group attends class in person once a week.

How much of the instruction is synchronous?

Approximately 20 to 80 percent of instruction is synchronous in-person direct instruction. There are also flexible online learning components and there may be synchronous virtual direct instruction. Hybrid courses must have at least one in-person, on-campus meeting.

When do students meet in Zoom?

The students only meet synchronously once a week on Mondays between 9:30-10:45 am for class in a Zoom room. During these synchronous sessions, Ana lectures and facilitates group discussion. The rest of the course is taught asynchronously.

Does Franklin University use Zoom?

For most of the semester, Franklin holds lecture and discussion sessions using Zoom during the regularly scheduled class times. During the last 2 weeks of the semester, however, regular class meetings cease, while students work in groups to complete a major project that synthesizes their learning over the semester.

Is class online or on campus?

Class takes place entirely online. There are no on-campus components. All instruction is carried out through the delivery of content, activities, labs, discussions, group work peer interaction etc. that occurs virtually and is moderated, guided, facilitated, and reviewed by faculty.

How many modules should I use for a short course?

For a short entry-level course, you probably want to focus on just 3-5 key steps or modules that will make up the backbone of your course. Each module or step will then contain a number of lessons within it that teach the actual content.

Why is it important to make an online course outline?

Structuring your online course content and making an online course outline is a vital step in creating an online course. It helps you focus on the most important content for your course, and creates a lot of clarity for when you come to the follow up step of actually recording and making it.

What are the different formats for online courses?

Choose An Online Course Format. There are three main formats that you could use as a basis for your online course structure: 1) A step by step program. 2) A week by week program. 3) A reference course.

What is course outline?

A course outline is a really important component of any prospective online course and it needs to fulfill a few different and important roles. An outline, as its name suggests, needs to be brief, and give your students all the relevant information about what your course provides without any filler at all.

What is the key to a great online course?

the course can produce a clear outcome that they desire. 2) The key to a great online course is: that it teaches 'one big outcome' or transformation. has a specific audience in mind. Keep these points at the top of your thoughts as you outline your course structure.

What makes an online course good?

A good online course requires a few things to make it worth the investment of time, effort, and money people are willing to invest in themselves and improving their skills. Ultimately, an online course needs to provide value to the student and this comes in a variety of forms.

How to get to where you are today?

1) start with the main outcome of the course and work your way backwards through the steps needed to get there. or if you prefer: 2) imagine your former self before you gained the knowledge you now have, and then plot out the key steps you have taken to get to where you are today.

What is 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 single activity format?

The single activity format only has 1 section, and allows the teacher to add one activity only to the course. When the single activity format is selected, a drop down menu appears for the teacher to choose the activity they wish to use. See the "See also" section below for a screencast and working example of the single activity course format.

How many hours are in a 3 credit course?

Therefore, a 3-credit course would engage students for approximately 90 hours total among the activities listed below, whereas a 4-credit course would entail approximately 120 hours of activities in which students are actively engaged in learning over the course of the term.

What is academic scheduling?

Academic Scheduling. As the primary, commonly available, summary of a course, the syllabus serves several purposes. It outlines the course, it denotes what students may expect from the course, and it locates the course in the curriculum. Not only read by prospective students, it is the best, concise, description of a course by those who teach it ...

What is a course syllabi?

Not only read by prospective students, it is the best, concise, description of a course by those who teach it that is available to students and colleagues. The University Committee on Courses uses course syllabi in its review of courses. To maximize the usefulness of a syllabus to students and faculty, it is suggested that it contain ...

How to contact Sarah Strickler?

For additional information or if you have questions, contact Sarah Strickler at 541-346-1264 or sstrick2@uoregon.edu. (link sends e-mail) .

How many hours does a 3 credit graduate course take?

Therefore, a 3-credit graduate course would typically engage students approximately 120 hours; a 4-credit graduate course may be expected to entail approximately 160 hours for the average student for whom the course is designed. Educational activity. Hours student engaged. Explanatory comments (if any)

Why do you format training materials?

The general idea is to format your written training materials so it’s very easy to scan them and predict what each section is about and/or to quickly understand what each section is about. In other words, you’re using the formatting to make it easier for your workers to identify the information you want them to learn.

What is the goal of scanning written materials?

Remember your goal is to make it easy for your employees to quickly scan your written materials, be able to predict what each section is about and how it’s different than the other sections, and to let them “prime” their brain for the written information they’re about to process.

Why do we use numbered lists?

Numbered lists also help your employees process information. As you might have guessed, use numbered lists only when there is a true sequence or numerical order to your information, which is another tip to your readers.

How many sections can the brain process at one time?

Shorter Sections. The human brain can actively process only a small amount of information at one time. Traditionally, it’s been assumed that “7 plus or minus 2” describes that limit. But more recently, that estimate has been reduced to around 4.

Is a lot of workforce training material written?

A lot of workforce training materials are written. This is true if it’s something your workers will actually read. And it’s true of scripts that are used for e-learning training courses as well.

How much does a Udemy instructor make?

Forbes reports that the average Udemy instructor makes about $7,000 per course , but the range is wide. Some might make $60 a year and others in the six figures.

How to create an online course?

1. Choose a Topic. Your first step in creating an online course is to choose a topic to teach. This should ideally be: 1a. A Topic You Understand Well. If you are going to teach others, you need to understand the topic inside and out.

How to write a course?

Some things to keep in mind as you're writing the course. The person taking the course doesn't know what you know. He or she is a beginner, so start at the beginning. Make a glossary of terms and define them. Make sure you also define them in the course the first time you mention them.

Why is it easier to write a course?

Once you've chosen a platform, it will be easier to write your course, because you'll know what format you need to create the course in. For example, if you're planning to offer a video course, then you'll need to write a script to follow and practice recording lessons.

Who is Lori Soard?

Lori Soard has been working as a freelance writer and editor since 1996. She has a bachelor's in English Education and a PhD in Journalism. Her articles have appeared in newspapers, magazines, online and she's had several books published. Since 1997, she has worked as a web designer and promoter for authors and small businesses. She even worked for a short time ranking websites for a popular search engine and studying in-depth SEO tactics for a number of clients. She enjoys hearing from her readers.

Is it hard to write an online course?

Writing an online course isn't hard, but writing an online course that impacts people is challenging. By paying attention to all the elements that make up an excellent class, you can develop a reputation as a good instructor. Not only will your students love you, but they'll recommend you to others.

Is word of mouth good for online courses?

Getting the word out about your online course isn't going to be easy or happen quickly. It's a good idea to ask for help. Word of mouth is one of the best and cheapest forms of advertisement.

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.

Why is it important to use language that does not make false promises?

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. For example, “Students will learn to…” statements can not be guaranteed as learning is highly variable based on student effort .

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.

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.

What is a presell course?

Presell courses serve as a storefront of an upcoming course. They can rapidly validate a course idea and start building an email list of your potential students before officially releasing a course.

What is a mini course?

Mini-courses are short to consume summaries (teasers) of a full-sized course. Like presell and orientation courses, they serve as teasers that make students enroll in a course. However, in contrast to the other two categories, Mini-courses provide real educational value: A full summary of what will be taught in the full-sized course .

What is instructional design?

Instructional design is a thoroughly researched subject I suggest you study to get lots of insights into your course design.

Why are companies important?

Companies are used to promote job quality, efficiency, and effectiveness while also motivating employees to make a formal commitment to growing with the institution and being more productive. Corporate training is a main use case of professional training courses and this course outline template.

What is conceptual change?

Conceptual Change courses are courses that aim to create an experience with the power of storytelling. These courses don’t intend to teach a skill but rather change students’ mentality on a subject. Their structure is random (it can include, for example, five videos, three ebooks, and two assessments).

What are traditional academic courses?

11 Traditional Academic Courses. Academic courses are courses with a traditional academic structure followed by universities. Each section usually consists of an introduction to the course, where objectives are discussed, a short test to assess pre-existing knowledge, and multiple lectures.

What is an orientation course?

An orientation course provides an overview of all the courses you offer. If you are offering many courses in your Academy, create an orientation course to build student engagement and interest with the course contents and let them get acquainted with the goals of your Academy.

How to create a course that blows your audience's mind and transforms their lives?

Step 1. Identifying your target audience. Before you can create a course that blows your audience’s mind and transforms their lives, you have to determine who your audience is. To get started identifying your target audience, ask yourself a few questions:

What is online course?

When it comes down to it, online courses are simply a shortcut to an outcome. You’re providing your students with the education and resources that they need in order to be successful within your course topic.

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