We may earn an affiliate commission when you visit our partners.
Course image
Ian Stables
  • More than 1,900 students already enrolled.
  • 22 lectures
  • 1 hour 10 minutes video instruction

Hi. My name is Ian Stables. I love to help online instructors become more successful.

This simple step-by-step method will allow you to create online course outlines easier and faster.

The method is designed to create the type of course many people say they want.

The structure also makes it really easy to record all your lectures.

Course outline creation is often taught as a complicated process. It doesn't have to be.

Read more
  • More than 1,900 students already enrolled.
  • 22 lectures
  • 1 hour 10 minutes video instruction

Hi. My name is Ian Stables. I love to help online instructors become more successful.

This simple step-by-step method will allow you to create online course outlines easier and faster.

The method is designed to create the type of course many people say they want.

The structure also makes it really easy to record all your lectures.

Course outline creation is often taught as a complicated process. It doesn't have to be.

I used to follow the common advice. Spend hours brainstorming. Try to come up with as much information as I could to include in the course. Then I would spend ages sorting it all into a logical order.

I thought about what it is students really want. What type of course do they really want?

When I had the answer, it became very clear how to create future course outlines.

I now find it a lot easier. I can quickly decide on a new course topic and then put together everything I need to teach.

It's really easy when you have a simple plan. This is what this course will show you how to do.

All you need to do is follow each simple step. The last step in the process will make your course even more desirable to students.

To be successful, you need more courses. This is especially true on Udemy.

This method is easy to learn. Once learned, creating quality course outlines will be quick and simple. Just follow the steps every time you need a new course.

In addition to the method, I have also included some valuable extras.

You also get these bonuses:

- How to Create an Analogy

- The Best Picture Size for Slides

- Use Stories to Convince, Demonstrate, and Warn

Enroll now.

Enroll now

What's inside

Learning objectives

  • Easily and quickly create online course outlines
  • Record course lections easier.
  • Have a structure that creates courses students want.
  • Be able to increase course value.
  • Quickly create new courses over and over again.

Syllabus

Introduction

Why you should take this course

What is the type of course most students want?

When you create this course, it will be easier to create, market, and sell.

The step-by-step method taught in this course will allow you to create this type of course.

Read more

This will help you a lot. It's like seeing the picture on the lid of a puzzle. You know where you're going.

This step in the outline makes it easy to know what to say in your course lectures.

When you know what you will show in your lectures, recording them is faster.

Summary of all the steps.

I thought it would help you by including an example outline created with this process.

Analogies are very powerful. However, coming up with one is not always easy.

In this bonus lecture, I'll show you how to do it.

Your picture can look bad in a slide. This is how to insert pictures so slides look great.

This is how you can demonstrate, convince, and warn students effectively.

Traffic lights

Read about what's good
what should give you pause
and possible dealbreakers
Provides a step-by-step method to streamline the course outline creation process, potentially saving instructors valuable time and effort
Focuses on creating courses that students desire, which may lead to higher enrollment and better student satisfaction
Includes bonuses on creating analogies, optimizing picture sizes for slides, and using stories effectively, enhancing overall course quality
Emphasizes a simplified approach to course outline creation, which may be particularly beneficial for instructors new to online teaching
Assumes that instructors need to create multiple courses to be successful, which may not align with every instructor's goals or situation
Relies on the instructor's personal experience and perspective, which may not be universally applicable or supported by pedagogical research

Save this course

Create your own learning path. Save this course to your list so you can find it easily later.
Save

Reviews summary

Fast course outline creation for instructors

According to learners, this course offers a simple, step-by-step method for creating course outlines that many found to be fast and effective. Students appreciated how it demystifies the process and provides a clear path, especially when feeling stuck. The method is described as practical and actionable, helping to streamline the outlining process. However, some reviewers felt the approach was too basic and lacked depth, particularly for more complex courses or for instructors seeking advanced strategies. While the method is praised for its simplicity, a minority found the content shallow and wished for more detail.
The simple method may be best for new instructors.
"Good for beginners though."
"The method is simple, maybe too simple for complex courses."
"I was overcomplicating things... This course stripped it down..."
"Didn't find this very helpful. It's too basic..."
Instructor and lessons are easy to follow and understand.
"...Ian is clear and provides a practical, actionable method."
"Short, sweet, and incredibly useful."
"The step-by-step approach is easy to follow..."
"It's clear, concise, and gets straight to the point."
Provides actionable tips immediately applicable to outlining.
"Good course, gives a solid framework. It's definitely faster than my old method."
"Practical tips that I can use immediately... It helped streamline my process."
"I applied it to my current project and it worked perfectly."
Offers a straightforward and rapid course outlining process.
"This course delivers exactly what it promises - a simple, fast way to create course outlines."
"Excellent! The step-by-step approach is easy to follow and implement. It really changed how I approach outlining."
"Short, sweet, and incredibly useful. I was stuck on outlining my next course and this broke through the block."
"Fantastic simple method. I was overcomplicating things. This course stripped it down and gave me a clear path."
"Exactly what I needed... Applied it to my current project and it worked perfectly."
Some learners found the content too basic or shallow.
"The method is simple, maybe too simple for complex courses. It's fast, yes, but I felt it lacked depth in some areas..."
"Didn't find this very helpful. It's too basic and just common sense presented as a 'fast' method."
"Very disappointing. The content is extremely shallow. I didn't learn anything new. Just basic advice..."
"I expected more advanced strategies."

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 a Course Outline Fast - For Online Instructors with these activities:
Review Course Design Principles
Reinforce your understanding of fundamental course design principles to better appreciate the streamlined approach taught in this course.
Browse courses on Instructional Design
Show steps
  • Review key concepts in instructional design.
  • Identify different learning styles and how to cater to them.
  • Familiarize yourself with Bloom's Taxonomy.
Review 'The Online Teaching Survival Guide'
Explore strategies for effective online teaching to enhance your course design skills.
Show steps
  • Read chapters on course planning and assessment.
  • Identify strategies for engaging online learners.
  • Consider how to apply these strategies to your courses.
Review 'Understanding by Design'
Explore backward design principles to enhance your course outline creation process.
Show steps
  • Read the introduction and first chapter of 'Understanding by Design'.
  • Identify the key principles of backward design.
  • Consider how these principles can be applied to your course outlines.
Four other activities
Expand to see all activities and additional details
Show all seven activities
Peer Review Course Outlines
Participate in peer review sessions to receive feedback on your course outlines and provide constructive criticism to others.
Show steps
  • Share your course outline with a peer.
  • Provide constructive feedback on their outline.
  • Receive and incorporate feedback on your own outline.
Create a Short Video Explaining the Method
Solidify your understanding of the course outline creation method by explaining it in a short video.
Show steps
  • Plan the content of your video.
  • Record and edit your video.
  • Share your video with other instructors for feedback.
Outline a Course in a Niche Area
Apply the course outline creation method to a specific niche area to solidify your understanding and develop practical skills.
Show steps
  • Choose a niche topic you are knowledgeable about.
  • Apply the steps taught in the course to create a course outline.
  • Reflect on the process and identify areas for improvement.
Create a Course Outline Template
Develop a reusable course outline template based on the method taught in the course to streamline your future course creation process.
Show steps
  • Design a template based on the course's steps.
  • Test the template by creating a sample outline.
  • Refine the template based on your experience.

Career center

Learners who complete How to Create a Course Outline Fast - For Online Instructors will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:
Instructional Designer
An Instructional Designer creates engaging and effective learning experiences. Crafting online courses is a key part of this role, and this course directly addresses that. The course's focus on creating outlines quickly and easily, as well as structuring courses that students want, is extremely relevant to an Instructional Designer's daily tasks. The course provides a method for rapidly developing course outlines and a structure to record lectures easily. This addresses a critical need for Instructional Designers who are often tasked with quickly developing high-quality online learning materials. The bonus lectures on creating analogies and using stories can further enhance the learning experience.
Curriculum Developer
A Curriculum Developer designs and implements educational curricula. A key aspect of this work is crafting effective course outlines. This course aligns perfectly with a Curriculum Developer's needs, focusing on rapidly creating these outlines for online courses. Curriculum Developers need methods to quickly turn their ideas into structured learning experiences, and this course offers a step-by-step approach to achieve this. The course's emphasis on creating courses that students actually want is invaluable for ensuring curriculum effectiveness and student engagement. The modules on structuring lectures will be particularly useful, as will the bonus lectures on additional methods to make course lectures more valuable.
Training Specialist
A Training Specialist designs and delivers training programs, often in a corporate setting. Online courses are increasingly used for employee training, so this course about outlining such courses is highly relevant. Training Specialists need to be able to quickly develop training materials that are engaging and effective. This course's focus on fast course outline creation and student-centric design directly addresses these needs. Understanding the best picture size for slides, use of stories, and creation of analogies are all methods that a Training Specialist can employ. A Training Specialist who takes this course will be well-positioned to create compelling online training programs.
E-Learning Developer
An E-Learning Developer creates digital learning materials. The core function of this role is creating online courses, which makes this course very valuable. E-Learning Developers need to efficiently structure course content and create engaging learning experiences. The course's method for quickly developing course outlines and its focus on student preferences are directly applicable to the E-Learning Developer's tasks. Further, the course shows the learner how to organize the course for easy lecture recording. These skills will enable E-Learning Developers to produce high-quality online courses more efficiently. The bonus lectures provide additional techniques for improving course design and delivery.
Content Creator
A Content Creator develops material for online platforms. As online courses become more popular, Content Creators find themselves working in this space. Building quality course outlines is critical, and this course dives right into accomplishing this goal. Content creators need to be able to conceptualize and structure courses and this course will help them achieve this result faster. The course's focus on creating courses students want is a great tool for Content Creators to engage students, and the bonus lectures on stories and analogies are wonderful assets to enhance course content.
Online Educator
An Online Educator teaches courses in a virtual environment. This course can assist Online Educators by providing tools and techniques for efficiently designing and structuring their online courses. The ability to rapidly create course outlines, as taught in this course, is essential for Online Educators who need to develop new courses or revise existing ones. In addition, the course's focus on student needs helps ensure that the courses are both engaging and effective. The bonus lectures, such as those on analogy creation and storytelling, can improve the overall quality of Online Educator's teaching materials.
Corporate Trainer
A Corporate Trainer is responsible for designing and delivering training programs to employees. The course can be a valuable resource for Corporate Trainers looking to develop engaging and effective online training modules. The ability to quickly create course outlines, as emphasized in the course, is particularly helpful for Corporate Trainers who need to rapidly develop new training programs. The method taught is easy to learn and focuses on building blocks that increase course value. Further, the bonus lectures provide Corporate Trainers with additional tools for improving their training materials.
Training and Development Manager
A Training and Development Manager oversees the design and delivery of training programs within an organization. This course may be useful for these managers to understand the process of creating effective online course outlines. Even if they are not directly creating the courses themselves, a Training and Development Manager benefits from understanding the principles of good course design. The course's focus on rapid outline creation, student-centric design, and lecture structure provides valuable insights for managers overseeing online learning initiatives. The tips on slide design may also be helpful.
Academic Advisor
An Academic Advisor provides guidance to students on their academic paths. While not directly related to course creation, this course may offer insight into the design and structure of online courses. This understanding can help Academic Advisors better advise students on selecting courses that align with their learning styles and goals. Knowing what goes into creating a quality online course, Academic Advisors can make more informed recommendations. Although not a primary skill for their role, familiarity with course design principles can enhance their ability to support students in their academic pursuits.
Educational Consultant
An Educational Consultant provides expert advice on educational practices and strategies. The course may offer valuable insights into the creation of effective online courses. This knowledge allows them to better advise institutions on developing and implementing successful online learning programs. Understanding the principles of rapid course outline creation and student-centric design can enhance their ability to provide informed recommendations to clients. The bonus lectures, particularly those on story telling, can improve the overall quality of the consultant's recommendations.
Technical Writer
A Technical Writer creates documentation for various products and services. While this career may not seem related, understanding course structure could be beneficial. Some Technical Writers are responsible for creating training materials for software or hardware. This course may help them structure those instructional materials in a clear and logical way. The step by step method may be useful, and the bonus lectures may offer tools to write about technical processes.
Project Manager
A Project Manager oversees projects from initiation to completion. For those working on e-learning initiatives, it can be useful to understand the process of course development. This course may provide Project Managers with a better understanding of the steps involved in creating an online course, from outlining the content to structuring the lectures. The improved understanding can help Project managers assist their team members more successfully.
Marketing Specialist
A Marketing Specialist promotes products and services to target audiences. If working for an online education platform, this course may provide insights into how courses are created. This insight can help them better understand the courses they are marketing, allowing them to develop more effective marketing campaigns. It is valuable to understand where course creators might be coming from, and this skill may benefit the marketing specialist.
Sales Representative
A Sales Representative sells products or services to customers. A Sales Representative who sells online courses or educational platforms may find this course useful. Understanding how online courses are designed and structured can help them better understand the product they are selling and answer customer questions more effectively. This could provide them with a valuable sales edge.
Social Media Manager
A Social Media Manager is responsible for creating and managing a company's social media presence. Although seemingly unrelated, this course may be useful for Social Media Managers promoting online learning platforms. Understanding the process of course creation helps you better market it. Course creation also involves a lot of steps, and the lessons on analogies and story telling may come in handy when creating content for social media.

Reading list

We've selected two 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 a Course Outline Fast - For Online Instructors.
Provides a framework for designing courses and units with the end in mind. It emphasizes backward design, starting with desired results and then planning curriculum and instruction. Understanding by Design useful reference tool for instructors who want to create engaging and effective learning experiences. It adds depth to the course by providing a more detailed exploration of backward design principles.
Offers practical advice and strategies for designing and delivering effective online courses. It covers topics such as course planning, assessment, and student engagement. The Online Teaching Survival Guide is more valuable as additional reading than it is as a current reference. It adds breadth to the course by providing a comprehensive overview of online teaching best practices.

Share

Help others find this course page by sharing it with your friends and followers:

Similar courses

Similar courses are unavailable at this time. Please try again later.
Our mission

OpenCourser helps millions of learners each year. People visit us to learn workspace skills, ace their exams, and nurture their curiosity.

Our extensive catalog contains over 50,000 courses and twice as many books. Browse by search, by topic, or even by career interests. We'll match you to the right resources quickly.

Find this site helpful? Tell a friend about us.

Affiliate disclosure

We're supported by our community of learners. When you purchase or subscribe to courses and programs or purchase books, we may earn a commission from our partners.

Your purchases help us maintain our catalog and keep our servers humming without ads.

Thank you for supporting OpenCourser.

© 2016 - 2025 OpenCourser