How do you create a clear and engaging Content Outline for your Online Course
The process of creating an online course more of an art form than a science. There's no set formula for success, however there are certain factors that successful courses share in the common. One of them is an outline for the course.
A well-organized, engaging and clear content outline serves both the learners and yourself in the beginning of planning the new curriculum. Making an outline may aid in ensuring that your content is in line with the goals you have set for your students.
Do you want to know how to start making your outline? In this post, we'll walk you through every step to build an effective course outline.
What's a Course outline?
The outline of your course describes the subject matter of your course. The outline will provide the game plan when you start laying the lessons, sections as well as quizzes and other materials you intend to incorporate into the course.
It can be tempting to leave out the outline altogether and dive right into creating material for your class, but you should resist that urge. An outline of your course will ensure you're compiling a solid curriculum before getting too deep in the process.
A step-by-step course outline guide
Beginning is the toughest part of any new endeavor. The good news is that you do not have to spin your wheels on your outline for your course. Simple, easy actions will help you go from course concept to course outline within a matter of minutes.
1. Determine your learner's needs and needs and goals.
Start out by centering on your goal and then identifying your end-users--the students who are taking the course.
Some questions to consider:
- What are you learning from your pupils?
- What is it they are trying to accomplish?
- What do they struggle with?
- What can your program do to assist them in achieving your goals?
Asking yourself these simple questions will help to sharpen your focus and ensure you're on course as you design an outline specifically for your audience.
2. Create a plan for the outcome you want to achieve.
After you've identified the learners in your class and their goals It's now time to develop an outline of how they can be able to achieve their goals. Perhaps they want to be able to speak a few words in Italian by the time they finish the class or perhaps the aim is to achieve the professional credential.
Imagine the road map as the bare bones first sketch of your plan. It simply plots out the path from the beginning to the final destination of your journey.
Related article: How to structure an online course
Your starting point must be an easy introduction. No matter your course topic Every course should start with an introduction of important ideas. Be aware that your students may not start out from the same place. Some students may need a quick overview before diving into course content.
Utilize methods of scaffolding when you are identifying the next sections of your plan of study. While you're working, stay aware of your course's progression. Your sections should serve as elements that begin with a simple idea then move to more intricate concepts. Don't introduce a complicated topic or idea at a too early point in your course to get to the big learnings.
3. Reinforce learning.
Following each step of your roadmap for content, you'll want to feature an element that helps keep learning in the minds of your students.
What is this going to mean? This could include reviews at the conclusion of each section with links out to additional reading materials video, resources, or other materials. It could also mean a quizzing of students after each section to assess their comprehension. You could also close each chapter with an essay that allows students to put the concepts into practice.
4. Begin to put the pieces together.
Once you've sketched out an outline for your class, it's time to create the outline of your course with specific lessons and sections.
In each portion of your program, take into consideration the following:
- What medium will be used? The section will be displayed via text, video, or as a mixture of both?
- What is your main point of discussion during each lesson? What information do you need to convey?
- How does this section build on previous sections? Does it flow into the next section?
- How does this section tie to the students' goal?
At this point, you'll have an extensive outline of the content of your course. What's left is the next step: Building your own course.