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How to Create an Online Course

Andrés Ordorica, Lizzy Garner-Foy, and Marcello Crolla

Learn how to design and develop online learning materials.

Digital education is expanding faster than ever before, and learning online has become an essential part of how we teach and learn.

On this two-week course, you’ll learn how to create online learning materials that are open, accessible, and engaging.

You will complete practical activities to explore key topics such as target audience, writing style and narrative, active learning, and digital tools.

Learn how to design and develop online learning materials.

Digital education is expanding faster than ever before, and learning online has become an essential part of how we teach and learn.

On this two-week course, you’ll learn how to create online learning materials that are open, accessible, and engaging.

You will complete practical activities to explore key topics such as target audience, writing style and narrative, active learning, and digital tools.

You’ll be equipped to create targeted, interactive, and inclusive content to thrive in the eLearning sector. The knowledge and skills you develop will enable you to confidently begin your own course design process.

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What's inside

Syllabus

Designing for Your Learners

In this first week, we will look at how to identify a target audience using personas, design active learning opportunities into your course, and write with a clear narrative voice that will appeal to a global audience.

Traffic lights

Read about what's good

what should give you pause

and possible dealbreakers

Introduces techniques for improving eLearning accessibility to global audiences

Provides experience with digital tools used to build online learning materials

Covers key concepts in the design of online learning experiences

Demonstrates effective writing strategies for creating online learning content

Taught by recognized eLearning experts from higher education and industry

Suitable for individuals looking to create online learning materials in various educational settings

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Reviews summary

Comprehensive foundation for online course creation

Students say this course offers a largely positive and comprehensive foundation for creating online learning materials. It is particularly well-suited for beginners and novices in instructional design, providing practical activities and a clear, structured approach. Learners highly praise its focus on identifying target audiences, crafting an engaging narrative, and ensuring content accessibility. While many find it incredibly helpful, some experienced professionals noted it might be too basic, desiring more depth in advanced tools or marketing. Overall, it effectively demystifies the process and equips learners with essential skills.

Provides general digital tool recommendations, but less hands-on.

"Some of the digital tool recommendations felt a little generic, but overall, it was a good overview of the subject."

"Digital tools were mentioned, but there wasn't a practical guide or hands-on segment to use them effectively."

"I was hoping for more advanced techniques, but it's clearly aimed at beginners, which it does well."

Emphasizes hands-on learning through practical activities.

"The practical activities were super helpful, and I loved how they encouraged active learning."

"The 'practical activities' really cemented the learning and helped me understand the concepts deeply."

"I felt much more confident about launching my own materials because of the practical steps taught."

Strong focus on identifying learners and making content engaging and accessible.

"The insights on accessibility were particularly valuable, making me rethink my approach to design."

"I learned a lot about how to make my existing materials more interactive. The focus on learners and active learning was a strong point."

"The emphasis on audience needs and accessibility was fantastic. This course changed how I think about content creation."

Ideal for those new to online course creation.

"As someone new to instructional design, I found it incredibly comprehensive and easy to follow."

"Good for absolute beginners, but if you're already familiar with e-learning concepts, you might not gain much new insight."

"As a complete novice, this course was exactly what I needed. I feel ready to start my own course."

Provides a strong, well-structured introduction to course design.

"This course was absolutely fantastic! It covered all the essential aspects of creating an online course..."

"A very solid foundation for online course creation. I appreciated the modules on writing style and narrative..."

"As a complete novice, this course was exactly what I needed. It broke down a complex process into manageable steps."

Suggestions for more current and diverse real-world case studies.

"My only minor critique is that some of the examples felt a little academic, and I would have liked more real-world case studies."

"It could benefit from updated examples or case studies as the e-learning landscape evolves rapidly."

"I would have preferred more diverse examples relevant to different niches in online education."

May be too basic for experienced instructional designers.

"I have some experience in instructional design, so I was looking for more depth in certain areas, particularly around advanced digital tools."

"While the intentions are good, I found the course quite superficial. It touches on many topics but doesn't go deep enough into any of them."

"If you're already familiar with e-learning concepts, you might not gain much new insight from this course."

Activities

Be better prepared before your course. Deepen your understanding during and after it. Supplement your coursework and achieve mastery of the topics covered in How to Create an Online Course with these activities:

Complete interactive exercises on active learning

Show steps

Reinforce your understanding of active learning principles by completing interactive exercises.

Browse courses on Active Learning

Show steps

Log in to the course platform.
Navigate to the section on active learning.
Click on the interactive exercise.
Complete the exercise as instructed.

Show all one activities

Career center

Learners who complete How to Create an Online Course will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:

Instructional Designer

An Instructional Designer creates instructional materials. This course provides a solid foundation in design thinking and instructional design methodologies, preparing you for entry-level roles in the field.

See salaries and explore the career path for Instructional Designer

Training Specialist

A Training Specialist plans and delivers training programs. This course helps build a foundation in instructional design and adult learning theory. It will strengthen your ability to create and deliver effective training materials.

See salaries and explore the career path for Training Specialist

Instructional Technologist

An Instructional Technologist designs, develops, and deploys educational technology solutions. Understanding learning theory and instructional design will strengthen your proposals and enable you to implement effective solutions.

See salaries and explore the career path for Instructional Technologist

Curriculum Developer

A Curriculum Developer designs and develops educational programs. This course will assist you in identifying learning objectives, sequencing content, and assessing student needs.

See salaries and explore the career path for Curriculum Developer

E-Learning Developer

An E-Learning Developer designs and develops interactive online learning experiences. The skills and knowledge gained in this course will help you to create engaging and effective e-learning content.

See salaries and explore the career path for E-Learning Developer

Curriculum Designer

A Curriculum Designer develops and implements educational programs and materials. This course offers hands-on experience in designing and developing online courses and can expand your knowledge of curriculum best practices.

See salaries and explore the career path for Curriculum Designer

Educational Consultant

An Educational Consultant provides guidance and support to educational institutions and organizations. This course supplies knowledge and tools to help you identify areas for improvement, develop strategies, and evaluate outcomes.

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LMS Administrator

An LMS Administrator manages the day-to-day operations of a learning management system (LMS). This course teaches best practices for content management and provides insight into learning design and instructional best practices.

See salaries and explore the career path for LMS Administrator

Online Course Instructor

An Online Course Instructor teaches and facilitates online courses. This course may be useful in teaching students how to access and succeed in your online classes. You will learn best practices in online communication, engagement, and grading.

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Higher Education Administrator

A Higher Education Administrator manages and provides leadership in a college or university setting. The knowledge gained from this course may be useful for managing and providing leadership in online learning initiatives.

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Education Program Manager

An Education Program Manager plans and manages educational programs. This course may provide useful insights into instructional design and best practices in online learning.

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Instructional Coach

An Instructional Coach supports and mentors teachers. The knowledge and skills gained in this course may be useful as you work with teachers to integrate technology and improve instructional practices.

See salaries and explore the career path for Instructional Coach

School Principal

A School Principal leads and manages a school. This course may be useful in providing insights into online learning and its applications within your school.

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School Administrator

A School Administrator provides administrative support to a school. This course may be useful in gaining insights into online learning and its applications within your school.

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Reading list

We've selected 16 books that we think will supplement your learning. Use these to develop background knowledge, enrich your coursework, and gain a deeper understanding of the topics covered in How to Create an Online Course.

Trends and Issues in Instructional Design and...