Rachel McHardy | The Course Writer | Course Creation Process
One of the most crucial components of an online course is figuring out which formats you should use for each lesson. I’m going to break it down into four primary options in this article (although you may think of others):
Option #1: Written Material
Your first option is probably the simplest. You could just take any scripts or other written material and post it to your course. In other words, your students will just read all your material.
Then you’d simply upload each section into your online course as well as any other materials you want to add, and you are pretty much set to go.
While this option may be the easiest for YOU, it’s probably the least convenient for your students. Their ability to multi-task while going through your online course is going to be severely limited. There’s no way they can safely read while driving a car, for example.
You may think that’s a good thing- fewer distractions while they are learning- but your students will likely feel like they essentially paid for an over-glorified ebook. Even if you add things to your online course like projects and group discussions, your students are going to be so limited by their ability in terms of time commitment to read your material that they are less likely to do those other add-ins.
So while this is an option, I would STRONGLY urge you to consider using this format sparingly and use one of the other options I’m about to discuss as the primary format for your online course.
Option #2: Audio Only
The next one I want to mention is audio. This would be you recording yourself reading a script or other content.
Audio content is definitely more convenient for your students than read-only content. They can listen while they commute, while they’re brushing their teeth, while they’re vacuuming, or any other mundane daily task.
The biggest downside is that you’re leaving out a visual component to your online course which can be powerful. We tend to retain more information when we see something to do with what we’re learning rather than just hearing it alone.
There are some cases, however, where audio alone may be the best choice for a lesson in your online course. For example, if you are including meditations or thought exercises. Audio-only may increase focus.
Option #3 Video
Next let’s talk about incorporating video into your online course. You can use video in a couple of different ways:
- You can use screen recording videos in your online course, which is especially helpful if you’re teaching any kind of software, app, or simply showing something on screen.
- You can include video lectures in your online course. Seeing your face can enhance your personal brand. If done well, it can also feel like an engaging conversation instead of a boring lecture.
You might also want to consider a teleprompter, especially if you are going to read a script. This will eliminate the umms and other fillers, but you’ll need to practice with it to make it look natural. You can buy a real teleprompter, or for a more budget-friendly option, you can buy an app for your tablet and create your own rig to prop up your tablet.
Option #4 Slides + Narration
Now let’s talk about creating slides and narrating them in your online course. For this you will need a computer program capable of producing a slideshow (like PowerPoint or Canva) and you will also need access to design elements like pictures and other graphics.
There’s a reason this format has been popular in online courses for years. If designed well, they complement the verbal message of your course. When I say “designed well” I don’t necessarily mean that they are beautiful. While beautiful slides are great, they can actually hurt learning if they detract from the key concepts of the lesson. Choose your graphics wisely and always be respectful of copyright restrictions!
Slides are a resource you can use repeatedly. You can record your slides and narration to create a video lesson for your online course, but you can also use them in situations where you want to deliver the content live.
What’s Right for You?
I like to incorporate a variety of formats in online courses. This adds variety to the course.
When choosing which format for a particular lesson, I think about what is being taught and what would be the most effective way to teach it. Sometimes this is obvious- as in the case of teaching a how to use a particular software. The natural fit would be a screen recording.
Sometimes the format is less obvious. In this case, I work extensively with my clients and utilize the most current research on learning to find the best fit. Yes, this is more time-consuming than just doing whatever is easiest, however, it is totally worth the effort when you see your learners succeed thanks to your online course!
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