A well-structured course outline is the difference between a transformative learning experience and a forgettable collection of videos. Yet most course creators spend weeks on curriculum design - or rush through it and regret it later.
This framework helps you prompt AI to create comprehensive course outlines that guide learners from point A to point B with clarity and purpose. Whether you are building a self-paced online course, a cohort-based program, or a corporate training curriculum, these templates give you a solid foundation.
Create a course outline for learning Python.
Create a comprehensive course outline using the LEARN framework: CONTEXT: - Topic: Python Programming for Data Analysis - Target audience: Business analysts with Excel experience, no prior coding - Course length: 8 weeks, 3-4 hours per week - Format: Self-paced online with weekly live Q&A sessions LEARNER PROFILE: - Current state: Can manipulate data in Excel, wants to automate workflows - Pain points: Manual repetitive tasks, limited by Excel's capabilities - Goals: Automate reports, analyze larger datasets, build dashboards TRANSFORMATION: By the end of this course, students will be able to: 1. Write Python scripts to automate data cleaning tasks 2. Use pandas to analyze datasets too large for Excel 3. Create visualizations with matplotlib and seaborn 4. Build a complete data analysis project from scratch OUTPUT FORMAT: - Module overview with learning objectives - Lesson breakdown with time estimates - Hands-on projects for each module - Assessment strategy - Prerequisites and recommended resources
The LEARN Framework
LEARN gives AI the context it needs to create a curriculum that actually works: Learner analysis, End goals, Activities, Resources, and Navigation.
Learner Analysis
End Goals
Activities
Resources
Navigation & Sequencing
Learner Analysis
The foundation of effective course design is understanding who you are teaching. Vague learner profiles lead to generic content that resonates with no one.
Help me define the ideal student for my course: COURSE TOPIC: [Your course topic] QUESTIONS TO ANSWER: Demographics: - What is their profession or role? - What is their experience level with this topic? - What tools or technologies do they currently use? Current State: - What can they already do related to this topic? - What are they struggling with right now? - What have they tried before that did not work? Goals and Motivations: - Why do they want to learn this? - What will they be able to do after completing the course? - What is their ultimate career or personal goal? Learning Context: - How much time can they dedicate weekly? - Do they prefer video, reading, or hands-on practice? - Will they learn alone or with others? Constraints: - What might prevent them from completing the course? - What technical limitations might they have? - What budget or time constraints exist? OUTPUT: A detailed learner persona I can reference when creating course content.
Pro Tip
End Goals
Clear learning objectives drive every other decision. Use action verbs and be specific about what students will demonstrate.
Vague Objectives
- “Understand machine learning”
- “Know how to use Figma”
- “Learn about marketing”
Clear Objectives
- “Build and train a classification model”
- “Design a mobile app prototype in Figma”
- “Create a content marketing strategy”
Create learning objectives for my course: COURSE: [Course title] TARGET AUDIENCE: [Brief description] COURSE LENGTH: [Duration] For each module, create: 1. One TERMINAL objective (what they can do at the end) 2. 3-5 ENABLING objectives (skills needed to reach the terminal objective) Use this format: "By the end of [module/course], students will be able to [action verb] + [specific task] + [context/conditions]" CONSTRAINTS: - Use measurable action verbs (create, analyze, build, implement) - Avoid vague verbs (understand, know, learn, appreciate) - Each objective should be assessable - Objectives should build progressively OUTPUT: A complete set of learning objectives organized by module.
Activities
Passive content consumption rarely leads to lasting learning. Plan activities that require students to apply what they are learning.
Knowledge Acquisition (30%)
Videos, readings, lectures. Introduce concepts and provide context.
Guided Practice (40%)
Tutorials, code-alongs, worksheets. Practice with scaffolding and feedback.
Independent Application (30%)
Projects, challenges, assessments. Apply learning to new situations.
Insight
Resources
Great courses provide more than video content. Think about what students need at each stage of learning.
Core Content:
Video lessons, written guides, slide decks, audio content
Practice Materials:
Worksheets, templates, checklists, swipe files, code repositories
Supplementary:
Recommended books, tools, external courses, research papers
Community:
Discussion forums, peer review groups, office hours, mentorship
Assessment:
Quizzes, rubrics, self-assessment tools, certificates
Course Structure Hierarchy
Understanding the levels of course organization helps you prompt AI for the right level of detail.
Program
Course
Module
Lesson
Activity
Pro Tip
Prompt Templates
Use these templates at different stages of course development.
Create a comprehensive course outline: COURSE DETAILS: - Title: [Course name] - Target audience: [Who this is for] - Duration: [Total weeks/hours] - Format: [Self-paced, cohort-based, hybrid] LEARNING OUTCOMES: By the end of this course, students will be able to: 1. [Outcome 1] 2. [Outcome 2] 3. [Outcome 3] FOR EACH MODULE INCLUDE: - Module title and description - Learning objectives (2-3 per module) - Lesson breakdown with topics - Estimated time for each lesson - Hands-on activities or exercises - Assessment method - Resources needed ALSO PROVIDE: - Prerequisite knowledge or skills - Recommended weekly study schedule - Capstone project description - Suggested tools and materials
Design a detailed module for my course: CONTEXT: - Course: [Course name] - Module: [Module number and title] - Place in sequence: [What comes before/after] - Duration: [Hours or days] MODULE OBJECTIVES: Students will be able to: 1. [Specific objective] 2. [Specific objective] CREATE: 1. Module introduction (hook + overview) 2. Lesson breakdown (4-6 lessons typical) - Lesson title - Key concepts covered - Activity or exercise - Duration estimate 3. Module project or assignment 4. Knowledge check questions (5-10) 5. Summary and bridge to next module CONSTRAINTS: - Balance theory and practice - Include at least one hands-on activity per lesson - Build complexity progressively within module
Develop detailed lesson content: LESSON DETAILS: - Course: [Course name] - Module: [Module name] - Lesson: [Lesson number and title] - Duration: [Minutes] LESSON OBJECTIVE: By the end of this lesson, students will be able to [specific action]. CREATE: 1. HOOK (2-3 min) - Attention grabber - Why this matters - Connection to prior learning 2. CONTENT (main body) - Key concepts to explain - Examples to demonstrate - Common misconceptions to address 3. PRACTICE - Guided exercise with steps - Independent practice prompt - Discussion or reflection question 4. SUMMARY - Key takeaways (3 bullet points) - Preview of next lesson - Additional resources FORMAT: Ready to use as video script or written lesson.
Design assessments for my course: COURSE: [Course name] MODULE: [Module being assessed] LEARNING OBJECTIVES BEING ASSESSED: 1. [Objective 1] 2. [Objective 2] CREATE MULTIPLE ASSESSMENT TYPES: 1. KNOWLEDGE CHECK (formative) - 5 multiple choice questions - Cover key concepts - Include plausible distractors - Provide answer explanations 2. SKILL APPLICATION (formative) - Practical exercise description - Clear success criteria - Self-check rubric 3. SUMMATIVE ASSESSMENT - Project or assignment description - Detailed requirements - Grading rubric with criteria and levels - Common pitfalls to avoid CONSTRAINTS: - Align directly with stated objectives - Vary question types and difficulty - Include both recall and application
Generate learning objectives using Bloom's Taxonomy: TOPIC: [Specific topic or skill] AUDIENCE: [Who is learning this] LEVEL: [Beginner/Intermediate/Advanced] Create objectives at multiple cognitive levels: REMEMBER (recall facts): "Students will be able to [list/define/identify] ..." UNDERSTAND (explain concepts): "Students will be able to [explain/describe/summarize] ..." APPLY (use in new situations): "Students will be able to [implement/use/demonstrate] ..." ANALYZE (examine and break down): "Students will be able to [compare/contrast/analyze] ..." EVALUATE (make judgments): "Students will be able to [assess/critique/evaluate] ..." CREATE (produce new work): "Students will be able to [design/build/create] ..." OUTPUT: - 2 objectives per level appropriate for [LEVEL] learners - Suggested assessment method for each objective
Platform Considerations
Your delivery format affects course design. Here is how to adapt your outline for different platforms.
Self-Paced Online
- Short video lessons (5-15 minutes max)
- Clear progress indicators and milestones
- Automated quizzes with immediate feedback
- Downloadable resources for offline reference
- Community forum or comments for peer support
- Flexible deadlines with suggested pacing
Cohort-Based
- Fixed schedule with clear deadlines
- Live sessions for instruction and Q&A
- Peer learning activities and group projects
- Accountability through cohort community
- Personalized feedback from instructor
- Networking opportunities with peers
Hybrid Model
- Self-paced content for knowledge acquisition
- Scheduled live sessions for discussion and practice
- Optional office hours for personalized support
- Mix of async and sync assessments
- Flexible but with recommended pacing
- Best of both worlds for diverse learners
Warning
Engagement & Completion Strategies
The average online course completion rate is around 15%. Here is how to design for better outcomes.
Early Wins
Place an achievable quick win in the first module. Success breeds motivation.
Manageable Chunks
Break content into 10-15 minute segments. Completion feels attainable.
Progress Visibility
Show clear progress indicators. Celebrate milestones along the way.
Community Connection
Learners who engage with peers complete at 5x the rate of solo learners.
Real-World Application
Connect every lesson to practical use. “Why does this matter?” should be obvious.
Strategic Review
Build in review points. Spaced repetition cements learning.
- First module delivers a tangible win within 30 minutes
- No video longer than 15 minutes
- Each module has a clear deliverable or milestone
- Progress is visible and celebrated
- Peer interaction is built into the curriculum
- Learners know why each topic matters to their goals
- Assessments provide immediate, actionable feedback
- Multiple content formats accommodate different preferences
- Clear expectations set from day one
- Support resources easily accessible when stuck
Next Steps
You now have the LEARN framework and templates to create comprehensive course outlines. The next step is applying these to your specific course idea. AskSmarter.ai guides you through each step with questions tailored to your topic, audience, and goals.
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