how to put together a course outline

by Magdalena Morissette III 6 min read

How to create your course outline 1.Determine your course outcome. So tell me, what pain point are you solving for your clients when they take your... 2.Brainstorm Get it all out. That’s right, take a pen to paper (sticky notes are even better) and dump all of the... 3.Batch From your brainstorming ...

Rules for Creating a Course Outline
  1. Start With the End in Mind. Begin with the solution and work backward from there. ...
  2. Structure Your Content So You Can Deliver it in the Fewest Steps Possible. ...
  3. Course Description. ...
  4. Course Requirements. ...
  5. Learning Outcomes. ...
  6. Course Assessment Plans. ...
  7. Instructional Materials.

Full Answer

How to create a successful outline?

Make the Outline 1. Identify the topic. The topic of your paper is important. Try to sum up the point of your paper in one sentence or phrase. This will help your paper stay focused on the main point. ... successful. If you discover that it's difficult to create an outline from what you have written, then you need to revise the paper. Your ...

How to create an online course outline?

These 10 simple steps will show you how.

  • Step #1: Begin with the end in mind…this is why we evaluated our learning outcomes.
  • Step #2: Determine each major milestone necessary to work toward each learning outcome.
  • Step #3: Create individual action steps to reach each milestone.
  • Step #4: Outline the knowledge you need to demonstrate for each action step.

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How to make the perfect outline?

  • Rationale
  • Specific aims and objectives
  • Experimental approaches to be used
  • The potential significance Specific Aims
  • X
  • Y
  • Z Background and Significance
  • Background
  • Significance to current project
  • Significance to long-term research objectives

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How do you create an useful outline?

Treasurer Josh Frydenberg says people who use the tests for work, such as staff who need to regularly test themselves because of their job, will be able to claim them as a tax deduction.

How do you create a course outline?

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 should a course outline include?

THE COURSE OUTLINE:BASIC COURSE INFORMATION:COURSE DESIGNATION:COURSE DESCRIPTIONS:STUDENT LEARNING OUTCOMES. List one to three student learning outcomes for the course. ... SPECIFIC INSTRUCTIONAL OBJECTIVES: ... COURSE CONTENT:REPRESENTATIVE METHODS OF INSTRUCTION: ... REPRESENTATIVE ASSIGNMENTS:

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 a course template?

Course templates allow you to configure, store and reuse components of a course, such as quizzes, assignments, surveys, images, and so on, and then use the components in individual course offerings.

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 .

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.

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.

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 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.

Can you use a pen and paper for outline?

Like with everything, there are tools you can use to help you outline your course. You can definitely use a pen and paper for this exercise, but it's really nice if your outline is already on a device where you can work with it later. That way you can expand on it when you go from outline to your actual content.

1. Determine your course outcome

So tell me, what pain point are you solving for your clients when they take your course? What is the result that they will get? What is the outcome? I talk more about how to determine your course outcome in an earlier blog post but knowing the outcome your client will get by taking your course is fundamental to creating a good course…make sure you have this in place before you go any further..

2. Brainstorm

Get it all out. That’s right, take a pen to paper (sticky notes are even better) and dump all of the information that someone needs to know/do in order to get that outcome. No filtering here, just get everything out on paper (or computer) so it’s not clogging up your brain.

3. Batch

From your brainstorming session, step back and look at your results. At this point you want to see if you see any patterns or commonalities such that the info that you’ve jotted down can be batched into groups. Chances are, you’ll start to see that smaller subgroups can be created.

4. Create your journey

When your clients are taking your course they’re going to start at one point and end up at another point (the outcome). As a result, your client is going to go through a journey in order to get there. The idea is that you want to lay out the step-by-step process that you’re going to take your clients through.

5. Create your modules and lesson titles

Let’s now start breaking down the journey you’ve designed. Each step in your journey will represent a module. Within that module will be your lessons. What does your client need to know/do in order to be able to accomplish that step?

Find the steps

With your two main questions answered, now is time to get clear on the steps. If “Sam” wants to go from A to B, i.e. their current location, where they don’t know what to do, to this fancy schmancy destination, how are you going to get them there?

Give them the roadmap

Inside each module there are going to be things your student needs to know to progress on to the next step. Don’t assume anything about their previous knowledge or experience. Break down a single step into smaller bit size chunks that give them the literal roadmap.

KISS – Keep it simple stupid

At this point you should know the main objective of your course. You should have defined all the modules and all the lessons. But now you need to think about what you will actually teach in each particular lesson.

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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 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 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.

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.

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.

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 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 an online syllabus?

An online syllabus is similar to one for a face-to-face course, however, research supports that online students need even more detailed instructions. For help in developing a syllabus, review writing a syllabus .

How long is hybrid online learning?

Hybrid & Online Learning. Typically, online courses are divided into weeks or modules that last anywhere from four days to two weeks. Without prescribed class meeting times, you have more options for structuring content and interactions. Here are a few important considerations:

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 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.

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.

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.

Why do people take online classes in person?

This is mostly because in-person classes rely on guidance from professors that allows for a more free-flowing structure. An online course, on the other hand, lends itself to easy confusion on the students’ part if not carefully structured.

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.

image

Basic Course Information

  • Course Name, Number, Credits and Description
    Avoid using cute names that do not clearly indicate the course content. Choose a simple name that conveys the depth and breadth of the subject that will be taught. Assigning course numbers (a 3-4 letter code and/or number) will clearly show potential students the level of the course. Fo…
  • 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 c…
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How and What Students Will Learn

  • 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. For example, “St…
  • Content Breakdown by Session
    Typically this section of the course outline is a session by session breakdown of the topics or course content covered. List the dates of the sessions or refer to each session with phrases such as “week one” or “day one”.
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Course Participation and Evaluation Guidelines

  • Course Evaluation Process, Policies and Grading Scale
    Students will be very interested in how their learning will be evaluated through tests, assignments, projects, etc. List the different evaluation tools to be used with the percent of the final grade they represent. Also include exam writing policies such as whether exams can be taken at a later dat…
  • Classroom Rules/Code of Conduct Expectations
    An outline of consequences should student be caught plagiarizing, cheating or acting out in class is outlined in this section.
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Course Materials

  • Course materials include: 1. Required and Optional Texts 2. Readings both pre-readings and course readings 3. Supplies and equipment needed A well written course outline can be a great course marketing tool, can set clear expectations for student and help instructors to prepare lesson plans. A good course outline can also help record course structure for future offerings. C…
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