Checklist to Create Online Course: Development Guide
To create an online course that works, you need to follow a planning of what needs to be done.
It is common for beginner instructors to get lost during the development phases, which is why we created this checklist to serve as a guide during the process.
Create online course: development checklist
With the distance learning market in full expansion, the number of professionals interested in creating online course increases every day.
After all, this is not just the chance to get extra income, but it is also an opportunity to have your own business.
With the advancement of technology new forms of work have been emerging, and many people are looking for options that generate greater autonomy and satisfaction.
– How to set up an online business
Nowadays it is difficult to find someone who does not have a computer with internet access at home and, with only this, anyone can teach what they know best, transmitting it in a simple and interesting way, be it by means of video, audio or text.
At the same time, people of all ages and who work in the most diverse areas seek knowledge, either to learn something new or to increase their specialization.
Therefore, creating online course is not only fashionable, but remains the future. A future that promises good fruit to those who dedicate themselves to it.
Here in Coursify.me we have several success cases that prove everything that was said and, with our own expertise in the matter, we’ve prepared this checklist, which provides a roadmap for the planning and development of a quality online course.
– Step by Step to Create Online Courses
Our intention is that this document serves as a guide for the professional who is starting their course, helping you to successfully complete all the steps that are part of the process.
Then, study the step by step to follow, answer every question and get to work!
1 – Information about the online course
- What is the theme of the course?
- Who is your target audience?
Characteristics of your potential customers, such as age, profile, tastes, etc.
- Who is the teacher / instructor?
Tell who will be the teacher responsible for the course, his/her curriculum, experiences and, preferably, upload a photo, this gives the student greater confidence. If there is more than one teacher, give the same information about all of them.
- What is the course goal?
Summarize what will be covered and what the student will learn.
- How long is the course?
Minimum and maximum time indicated for the student to complete the learning.
- What is the value of the course?
Although this is essential information about the course, it is likely that you will only be able to price it at the end of development, when you have a clear idea of costs.
– 3 Ways to Validate Your Idea Before Creating Online Courses
2 – How the online course will work
- How the information will be made available to the student?
Videos, PowerPoint presentations, text documents, live classes, etc.
- How will the information be organized?
Modules, independent courses, etc.
- Can the student take more than one module at a time?
Specify whether to take a step-by-step approach, whether the student can take more than one module at a time, or whether he can choose which one to begin with.
- Do course materials receive updates?
Specify whether teaching materials will all be delivered at the beginning of the online course or whether there will be updates and new materials in the long time.
- How will students interact with the teacher / instructor?
Inform all the means that you make available for this interaction, such as chats, forums, social networks, e-mail, video conferencing, telephone, etc.
- How often will interaction be made between the students and the teacher / instructor?
If there are specific times when the instructor will be available for live chats with the students or if there are other means by which the student can contact the teacher, specify the times and days indicated for this interaction.
- What are the prerequisites for the course?
Inform if there are any prerequisites for the student to be able to take the online course.
- What are the evaluation methods?
Tests, quizzes, reports, etc.
- Will there be a certificate delivery?
– How to create a certificate for online courses
3 – Duration and development of the online course
- How much daily / weekly study time is required for students to complete the course phases?
Important to leave this information clear in the course description.
- How much time should the student take to complete each module of the course?
If the online course is divided into stages, specify the minimum and maximum time (if any) for each phase to be complete.
- When will each module be available?
If the course is divided into modules, specify whether students will have access to all at once, or they will need to complete one first to gain access to the next, and so on.
- How flexible the course will be?
Will it be available 24 hours a day during the week? Will the live lesson material be available for consultation to anyone who can not participate?
- Will the course be available to the student indefinitely?
4 – Cost of creation of the online course
- How much costs to produce the online course: content and template?
Make detailed cost planning to produce each course material, such as videos, handouts, presentations, support material, assessments, etc. Do not forget to include the amount of your work time.
- What are the design costs?
Specify what expenses you will have with the design of your website, blog, handouts, presentations, etc.
- What are the costs to create or hire a hosting platform for the course?
Study the pros and cons of each option and choose which one is best for you.
- What are the costs of teachers and tutors?
If there is more than one teacher, specify how much he/she will earn to get the job done.
– Everything you need to know about eLearning platform (LMS)
5 – Online course price
- What is the total value of the online course?
- What is the value of each module? Is it possible to buy separately?
- What is the cost of the support material?
Specify if there is any supporting material that the student can purchase a part.
- Is there an admission fee?
- Is there a discount for those who purchase more than one course?
If you have more than one online course produced.
- Is there a discount for someone who tells someone else to take the course and this person make the purchase?
Loyalty Marketing Strategy to be considered.
– What is and why to invest in a Customer Loyalty Program
6 – Technical requirements
- What kind of resources or tools will be needed to create the course?
- What types of equipment will the student need to use?
Specify what resources the student will need to be available to participate in the course, such as headphones, microphone, some specific software installed, etc.
- How will each student enroll and register?
- Will there be any tutorial that will explain to the student how the course will work and how will it have access to teaching material?
- Who is technically responsible for the course environment?
Determine who is responsible for the support and maintenance of the platform on which your online course is available. It could be the development team you hired to create your website or, if it’s an online platform ready like Coursify.me, these services will already be included in your monthly subscription.
- How will I be charged and paid? What means of payment are available?
7 – Evaluation of the online course
- How other professionals and specialists in the area evaluated this course?
It is important to submit the online course for the evaluation of a professional who works in the same area to receive feedback as to its effectiveness. Second opinions are always welcome when it comes to crafting the best material possible.
- How does this course meet the needs of the students?
The online course should be designed to offer the best solution to the student, otherwise he will not go back to a next step and will not even refer it to a friend. Plan your course to be as effective and attractive as possible.
- How does this course differ from face-to-face and online courses on the same subject?
Important to make this assessment to see how you can improve your online course and make it stand out amid the competition. This observation may also help to make a list of advantages that serve as an argument for sales.
Hosting platform for online course
Course ready and price set, it’s time to put it online and for this you will need a eLearning platform, also called Learning Management System.
– Whats is a Learning Management System
A LMS, as its name implies, is basically a SaaS (software as a service) that functions as an online classroom.
Through this platform, instructors can make their courses and classes available online.
In addition, a LMS has several features that your business will need, such as integration with other content platforms and ways to get paid online.
– Learn how to sell online courses
More comprehensive learning software, such as Coursify.me, also offers more advanced features such as:
- 100% Cloud Web System
- Hosting your school and courses with redundancy and backup
- Responsive system with support for desktop, tablets and mobile
- System in English, Portuguese and Spanish
- Easy customization of the visual identity of the school and online courses
- Custom domain, for example: myschool.coursify.me
- Allow creating courses with videos, audios, images, texts and files
- Integration with Dropbox, YouTube, Vimeo and Paypal
- Online payment receipt
- Student discussion forum
- Real-time tracking dashboard of each course
- Support the most popular browsers in the market, such as Google Chrome, Safari, Firefox and Internet Explorer
- School and courses optimized for SEO (Search Engine Optimization)
- Sharing in social networks like Facebook, Twitter and other
- Payment in US Dollars or Real
Present in more than 60 countries, Coursify.me is the perfect solution for you to start your own business without having to invest anything for it.
To learn more, visit our website, test the platform and understand why we are the best option for your online course.
