how to write course description for online class

by Alysa Ruecker 6 min read

12 Step-by-Step Points to Write Your First Online Course (Part I)

  1. Choose a Topic. Your first step in creating an online course is to choose a topic to teach. ... If you are going to...
  2. Pick a Platform to Deliver. There are many different platforms you can use – some are free, some are paid. You can...
  3. Write Your Course. Once you've chosen a platform, it will be...

And it better be one that makes people want to take your online course.
...
How to write a Course Description
  1. Write down your course outline.
  2. Nail tone and structure.
  3. Describe your ideal audience (who the course is for)
  4. Spotlight the progress your students will make.
  5. Special attention to benefits.
Jan 7, 2022

Full Answer

How do you write a description of a course?

Nov 05, 2019 · Additional tips for making your description stand out: Use direct, simple language; Address the learner directly (say “you will learn” instead of “at the end of the course the students will have learned”); Don’t sell the course, sell the knowledge and skills it will bring; Use real-life examples; Include testimonies from former learners;

How to write a good eLearning course description?

Here are a few guidelines for the description: The description should run from 30 words to 120 words in length. Fewer than 30 is too sketchy. Too few words make the course look insubstantial and may not allow for enough information to be included. If a description is, more than 120 words, it …

How to write your first online course?

The main point is to clearly and concisely emphasize what your course offers. Include a personal benefit for the learner. Not only do you want to briefly explain what the course will offer, but emphasizing a more personal gain from the course always adds another incentive for students to purchase a course.

What is an online course description?

Jul 23, 2021 · Online course creators and course instructors experience this too. Starting your online course is hard. But there are a few tricks to the trade. One of the number one secrets to beating writer’s block is to create a course outline first. Let’s go through how to put together a course outline for your online training.

How do I write an online course description?

2:4216:08How to Write a Course Description that Converts: 13 Tips and Best ...YouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipEvery online course should have a great one or two sentence tagline. If you can't describe yourMoreEvery online course should have a great one or two sentence tagline. If you can't describe your course in two sentences. It might be time to rethink your content.

How do I write a course description?

The following are tips for writing a course description:The course description should be no longer than 100 words.Write from a student-centered perspective.Use present tense and active voice.Use clear and simple sentence structure and language.Use gender neutral language.More items...

What is your course description?

A course description is. a short, pithy statement which informs a student about the subject matter, approach, breadth, and applicability of the course.

How do you write a compelling course description?

Best Practices for Writing a Catchy Course DescriptionUse active tense.Keep it simple and pointed.Showcase the benefits.Address needs and offer solutions.Use a quote.Apr 9, 2021

Why is course description important?

It communicates important information about a class such as course outcomes, class expectations, and grading structures. Both instructor and student are obligated to follow the content of the syllabus.May 1, 2012

What is course description?

A course description can be defined succinctly as ‘all the relevant details of your course.’. This is a simplistic description and rather open-ended, but there is a reason for that. There are many types of online courses that target a variety of levels of competence and types of customers/employees.

How many sentences should an online course have?

Every online course should have a great one to two-sentence tagline. If you can’t describe your course in two sentences, it might be time to rethink your content and what your course focuses on.

How to get learners to know you are qualified?

Learners want to know you are qualified, but they also want someone they can relate to. Use a bio to highlight your background, experience, and credibility in your field. State your qualifications in terms of experience. Use credentials or degrees only if you have to.

What is the purpose of learning objectives?

The learning objectives should describe in detail the knowledge, skills, behaviors, and competencies that the learner is expected to possess upon completion of the course. They are typically presented from the learner’s perspective, so they show both what the learner is required to learn and the level at which that learning should occur. Clearly written learning objectives ensure that students know what to expect and feel more prepared for the workload.

How many words should be in an instructor bio?

The instructor’s bio should be around 15 to 50 words in a separate section underneath the main course description fields, or in a sidebar – many hosted course platforms have a dedicated spot for you to include this information.

What is the purpose of online study?

The purpose of assessments is to measure how well students have achieved the learning outcomes. Outline any evaluation methods used in your online course, and the weighting that each method counts for in the final assessment.

Do you need to include more than one online course?

If you have more than one online course in a subject area, you may wish to include relevant, related courses that complement the current course. The course cards should all be designed in the same style, so a user can see that they all belong to the same brand. Dos.

How long should a course description be?

Your job in writing a course description is much easier, since Where and When are in the logistics section, and the Who is irrelevant or a useless gesture (don’t write, “Everyone should take this course.”) Here are a few guidelines for the description: The description should run from 30 words to 120 words in length.

Why is a course description important?

The course description is vital to getting people to enroll in your course. A good course description can mean many enrollments while a poor course description can doom your course before it starts. Ideally, you should work with your class sponsor in writing the course description.

What should a description focus on?

Your description should focus upon the content of the course or the learner, not upon the course itself or you as the teacher. To attract learners, the description should emphasize the benefits to the learner coming from either the results of attending the course or from the value of the subject matter itself.

What is batik art?

Batik is an age old art of fabric coloring using wax and dye. This workshop is open to beginning and advanced students. It covers preparation of cloth and dyes, some design principles and sources, effects of different wax techniques and mixtures, color theories related to the craft, and the various finishing methods.

What happens if you don't read your course description?

Many if not most course descriptions are repetitive, dull or grammatically sloppy. If people do not read your course description, they will not take your course. Look at a typical course catalog.

What is logistics in a class?

Logistics. Logistics include the teacher’s name, class location, day, length, cost, material fees, course number and other adjunct information. The course sponsor normally provides this information, although you should be aware of all information pertinent to your class. The course description.

How many words should a teacher's biography be?

Don’t use useless or meaningless sentences, such as “Time allowing we will discuss other areas.”. The teacher biography. The teacher biography should be 15 to 50 words in a separate paragraph underneath the course description. Some organizations run all of their teacher biographies at the end of the catalog.

How to write a course description?

The following are tips for writing a course description: 1 The course description should be no longer than 100 words. 2 Write from a student-centered perspective. 3 Use present tense and active voice. 4 Use clear and simple sentence structure and language. 5 Use gender neutral language. 6 Use common terms that prospective students understand. 7 Use industry-approved technical terms and acronyms when appropriate. 8 Use generic terms when referencing software. Only use specific software names if they are the central focus of the course or if they are required for course delivery. 9 Course titles, numbers and levels in which the course is offered are not included in the course description as they are indicated elsewhere. 10 The intended course delivery mode (hybrid, online, in-class) are not included in a course description. 11 Prerequisites and corequisites are not included in the text of the course description (GeneSIS has functionality for establishing prerequisites, corequisites and equivalencies). With Genesis, a student’s progression from course to course is driven by the prerequisites, corequisites and equivalencies entered against each course number.

What are the key components of play?

Toys and games, key components of play, have evolved from homemade trinkets to highly engineered items in a multi-billion-dollar industry. Students explore the connections between technology and play, specifically the benefits, drawbacks and ethical implications of toy and game design. Case studies allow students to consider familial, cultural, sociological, and other influences upon toy and game design over the last century. Through discussion, analysis and workshops, students move towards designing their own toy or game, or modifying an existing one.

How to use gender neutral language?

Use gender neutral language. Use common terms that prospective students understand. Use industry-approved technical terms and acronyms when appropriate. Use generic terms when referencing software. Only use specific software names if they are the central focus of the course or if they are required for course delivery.

What is a community service gen2007?

GEN2007 Community Service. Volunteerism not only benefits a community, it can broaden the worldview of the volunteer. Students who give their time and energy to a particular cause, gain an opportunity to reflect on the value of the volunteer in contemporary society.

Provide Catchy and Concise Course Details

First and foremost, offer a single, clear vision of what life will be like once the student enrolls in the course. Competing amongst dozens, if not hundreds of similar online courses, you want something that effectively catches their interest, but still manages to clearly and concisely explain what the course is about.

Include a personal benefit for the learner

Not only do you want to briefly explain what the course will offer, but emphasizing a more personal gain from the course always adds another incentive for students to purchase a course.

Clarify the benefit

Don’t just mention a simple skill the course promises to equip the learner with. How will this skill make them a better individual? Emphasize the personal gain for the learner in more ways than one.

Get a bit more specific on what will be taught

As mentioned earlier, getting too detailed on course topics or assignments can make your course less than intriguing. However, it’s important to include specifics on what the student is going to learn within the course. Be sure to highlight what skill (or skills) the student will gain once they’ve completed the course.

Add a sentence that speaks to a desire, fear, need or curiosity. Put it at the beginning

Address a need, offer a solution. This is the simplest way to attract a prospect. Hook the reader in immediately by placing this part right at the beginning and prompting THEM on the needs and desires they’re looking to fulfill.

Include a clear call to action

Last but not least, don’t forget to include a call to action! Always add an encouraging close so the potential student feels compelled to purchase and start reaping the benefits of your course.

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.

What is assessment plan?

Assessment plans fall in line with learning objectives. While your learning objectives identify what the student will learn, the assessment allows you and the student to have a clear picture of how well they have mastered the objectives. Your outline will identify the types and frequency of assessments.

How to address learners in eLearning?

Rather than writing your description in the third person (“students of this eLearning course”), address them directly by using “you” or the implied you all throughout.

How to make students feel like they are active participants in eLearning?

Use words like “explore” or “discover” in order to make them feel as though they are active participants in the eLearning experience. Instead of using more passive words, opt for ones that encourage them to take action and sign up for your eLearning course. Avoid redundancies.

Do eLearning courses have to be dull?

There's no rule that says eLearning course descriptions have to be dull. In fact, why not open your eLearning course description with an attention grabbing statement or a question that encourages your potential learners to think about how the particular eLearning course might benefit them in the real world.

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.

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 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.

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 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.

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.

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