How to Write a Course Outline

Creating curriculum online is a great way to share information with others, market your website business, or establish yourself as an expert in your field. The first step to creating great curriculum is to write a course outline. These steps will give you what you need to write a great course outline for your new course.

Difficulty: Moderately Challenging

Instructions

1. Determine the objectives and outcomes you want participants to have when they take your course. This will give you the focus for your course outline.

2. Develop the major topics and subtopics of your course. A good length for an online course is three to seven major topic areas with two to four subtopics in each area.

3. Put the major topics of the course outline in logical step by step order. Fill in each major topic area with two to three subtopics. Determine the timing for each topic and subtopic so people will know what to expect when they review your course outline.

4. Keep the topic and subtopics focused on the main course objectives and outcomes and don’t put too much information and material into each section of the course so participants won't get overwhelmed.

Tips & Warnings

• A strong course outline keeps your course focused and interesting
• Don't include too much information in the outline

Resources

• Teach an online course