how to structure online course content

10 Tips for Structuring Great Online Courses (+ Bonus Tip)

• 1. Design It Backward: Begin With the End in Mind. One of the best approaches to designing an effective online class is to start with the desired ...
• 2. Choose the Best Way to Present Your Content.
• 3. Group Similar Tips Into Modules.
• 4. Order and Outline Your Lessons.
• 5. Create Specific Learning Outcomes.

Full Answer

How do I create an online course structure?

While creating your online course structure, it’s essential to go ahead and outline each lesson—even if it’s only for your own benefit. First, make sure each lesson is in the proper module and that they are ordered the way you want them. Then, decide on a flow that each lesson will follow.

How to create an effective online course outline?

The key to creating an effective online course outline is to make it simple, clear, and easy to understand. – Step-by-Step: This format is the most common because it follows a logical progression from beginning to end, where each lesson builds on the previous lesson.

Do you structure your course the right way?

Not only do you need to structure your course the right way, you also have to get your customers to consume the content and implement what you teach. And this is what leads us to the last three steps of the Result Centered Training Formula TM.

What are the components of a course outline?

Most course outlines contain a few standard components. The main structure of your outline will consist of modules, lessons, and topics since these are the basic building blocks of your online course.

How do I organize my online course content?

Structuring Your Online Courseorganize your course using the Modules tool.use the course Home Page and/or a "Getting Started with the Course" page to welcome and orient your students.write a readable, accessible syllabus that includes the information necessary for online students.

How do you structure content for a 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.

What is the best format for a online course?

1) A Step By Step Program This is probably the most common online course format and it works well in taking your students on a clear step by step journey from where they are now to where they want to be.

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.

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 I create an online learning module?

How to develop an online training moduleKnow your audience. First up, you need to focus on who'll be taking the course. ... Break your topic into modules. Now you've identified your audience, it's time to think about how to organize your course content. ... Plan your content formats. ... Add knowledge checks. ... Responsive course content.

How should an online classroom be structured or arranged?

How to structure online classesDiscuss the course with your students. Before creating content for the class, it is better if you discuss the course with your students. ... Pick an interesting topic. ... Be organized. ... Student progress. ... Be reasonable when it comes to your expectations. ... Keep students engaged.

What are the key factors for making an online course effective?

Previous PPIC research has identified five key factors to help ensure student success in online programs:Use a systems approach to course design. ... Provide professional development. ... Set student expectations. ... Create community. ... Take advantage of the online environment.

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,...

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.

How to create a course plan?

Having a formal Course Plan is extremely important for lots of reasons, but some include: 1 Ensures that you meet your aims, objectives and outcomes 2 Being able to clearly see the flow and content of your course and to optimise the learning experience 3 Organising your content and avoiding duplication of teaching 4 Keeps you clear and organised when filming 5 Organising your videos and other teaching resources 6 Assist with the formulation of your sales page 7 To help any staff or contractors assist you

Why is it important to have a course plan?

Having a formal Course Plan is extremely important for lots of reasons, but some include: Ensures that you meet your aims, objectives and outcomes. Being able to clearly see the flow and content of your course and to optimise the learning experience. Organising your content and avoiding duplication of teaching.

What are the lessons in a collection of tips?

A COLLECTION OF TIPS – NOT ORDER DEPENDANT. • Lesson 1: Tip 1. • Lesson 2: Tip 2. • Lesson 3: Tip 3. You see, it all depends on what you’re teaching. Now go back to your post-it notes, and move each tip around so that they are positioned in what you feel is the most natural order.

Do modules have to be equal?

NOTE: Modules do NOT need to be equal sizes! You do NOT need to have the same amount of lessons in each module. Some of your modules might have 2 lessons in it. Some might have 10. That’s totally ok. Then, look at your modules and decide if they should go in a certain order.

How to get content to learners?

An effective way to get your content to learners is to organize content based on the similarity of characteristics. This technique is easy when all the information is equal (without a specific sequence). Grouping content into categories reduces screen clutter by bringing together similar content.

Why do online courses require exams?

You can organize exams through various learning management platforms. For obvious reasons, exams are time-sensitive and must be completed before a specific deadline

Why is consistency important in a course?

Consistency is Important. Once you choose your course outline strategy, the best thing you can do for your students is to be as consistent as possible. For instance, with in-person teaching, students are in the habit of going to class at the same time and same place every week.

What is a reference course?

A reference course, for the uninitiated, is a collection of content that is neatly organized together, in which students can jump to separate sections of the course whenever they need to.

How does grouping content into categories reduce screen clutter?

Grouping content into categories reduces screen clutter by bringing together similar content. These groups can then be called ‘modules’. Note: Modules do not have to be of equal sizes. Some of your modules can have 3 lessons in them. Others may have over 20.

What is step by step online?

The step by step program is the most popular online course format that works by taking your clients on a clear journey and provides a more accurate estimation of the endpoint. Each step builds on the last one, contributing to specific goals as it reaches the end, where a learning objective is completed.

Why is it important to break up content into separate lessons?

Breaking up your content into a handful of separate lessons is useful and helps students recognize the main stages they will have to move through as they progress through the course.

What are some ways to keep students learning?

Offering resources such as “printables” or other handouts are also a great way to keep students learning and studying. It allows them to focus on your course even when they are offline and keeps them working toward the completion and the outcome they desire.

Can you add gamification to online courses?

There are many ways you can add gamification elements to online courses, without going the route of building a full game-based learning course from start to finish (which has been accomplished by a few ambitious educators).

What is a course shell?

A course shell reduces cognitive load, but there are specific steps that are required to implement it successfully.

Is there a similarity between online MPH courses?

In an ideal world, there would be a similarity between all courses as described earlier in the online MPH program. This requires a level of leadership, time, and cooperation that may be elusive—and perhaps not even universally desirable given the disparate needs of individual courses.

What is the completion rate of online courses?

A study in the December 8 issue of Educause Review Online (ERO) by Harvard University researcher, Justin Reich, reveals that completion rates of online courses range, between 2 and 10 percent.

Why would someone buy a course?

The only reason someone would purchase a course is to solve a problem they are currently facing or if they believe it will improve their life in some way. Therefore, your first step is to identify their current pain-points.

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 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.

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.