How do I structure an online course?
Think about the outcome you want for your students when you organize your course. Then deconstruct the end goals into small skills that students can master. Organize these skills in a logical order where students progress from theory to application. Group similar lessons into sections or units. Give every lesson a singular objective, and include practice or an assessment. Your course must also be intuitive to navigate from start to finish.
How to structure an online course
First, identify the end goal that you want your learners to reach. Then write out what information they will need to get there and arrange it in a logical sequence. For example, your students might need to understand basic terminology and get their systems set up first before being ready for more complex assignments.
Group related lessons into modules
Use modules to group big topics. Each module should have a clear purpose, answering a question, or completing a step in the process. A class could have modules for preparation, foundational skills, scaffolding, doing it on your own, and a final wrap up.
Give every lesson one purpose
A lesson should have only a single objective, not several disconnected ones. Clearly indicate the objective early in the lesson, and make sure that your exposition, activity, and evaluation all reinforce it. If you find yourself creating a lesson that has become too long, break it up into shorter lessons with descriptive titles so learners know what to expect.
Include practice with the explanation
Lectures and handouts don't cut it. Incorporate demonstrations, examples, checklists, exercises, short quizzes or projects to enable participants to practice and determine if they can actually apply the content.
Follow a familiar lesson pattern
Having a consistent structure helps people find their way through your course. One good structure might be learning goal, explanation, demonstration, practice, review, and next steps. You don't need all of these parts for each lesson, but learners should at least know roughly what to expect.
Check the full learner journey
Read through your outline from start to finish. Make sure each lesson is set up to help students learn the next lesson, and make sure the last lesson fulfills the objectives you listed at the start. Eliminate any redundant lessons, fill in any prerequisite lessons that are missing, and name each lesson in a way that makes sense.