Working Smarter While Creating A Course

How To Work Smarter While Building an Online Course

1. Plan, Plan, Plan

Planning is just a matter of allocating and tracking tasks like you would with anything else. You can use productivity apps or a spreadsheet to do this.

Break down the creative process into logical stages for each module. I like to structure my plan inline with the ADDIE instructional design model which includes the phases Analyse, Design, Develop, Implement and Evaluate.

For each of these phases you’ll have tasks to tick off such as writing your script, refining your script, filming, editing etc.

I’ve included a spreadsheet that you can use to help you through this. The linked spreadsheet is “Read Only” so make sure that you make a copy for yourself so that you can modify it as we go.

2. Testing and Evaluate

Working smart is not just about planning, you will also need to test…particularly up front. This could be testing your audio or your workflow or even testing a module on your audience.

Testing is about avoiding mistakes that cascade, so that you save time in the long run.

Testing can also save you money, for example if you plan on using paid advertising for your course you many want to test a lower ad spend and only bump it up if it works.

Testing then leads us to templating. If you test something and it works then lock it in.

For example you may want to focus on creating one module first to iron out the workflow of lighting, audio, editing and designs… then you can lock that in to rinse and repeat across your other modules.

Testing and templating then loops back into planning by indicating how long a particular task can take so you can then multiply this out in your plan.

3. Outsourcing Your Creative Process

Another way to work smart can be to outsource part of your creative process. This will come at a financial cost and if not managed well will come with it’s own share of headaches.

A good example of how to do this would be to film during the day and outsource the editing process to the other side of the world overnight so it is ready when you wake up.

Or maybe you only need a logo and you don’t want to spend days learning how to make one. It’d be far better to just pay a small fee to get someone else to do it and move forward.

I suggest reading Outsourcing 101: How To Outsource [Step-By-Step] and paying special attention to the following lessons:

• How To [Easily] Identify What To Outsource
• The Best Countries To Outsource To
• Finding & Vetting Outsourced Partners
• Building A Succesful Outsourcing Relationship

4. Overcoming Mental Blocks

Putting a system in place to work smart will also counteract some of your potential mental blocks.

Creating a course is a massive job and can feel overwhelming. However, by breaking it down, you can tackle it bit by bit and before you know it, it will be done.

The other blocker is chasing perfection. Your goal is however is to help people, so in order to do that you need ship your course.

Consider what your students will accept as a minimum and draw that line and plan out your tasks accordingly. This will allow you to spend the time where it matters most to your students.

Simplifying The Creative Process Of Your Course

Creating a course is like being a sculptor. The information you want to share is like a big block of clay that you’ll need to take from and add to until it looks like a piece of art.

To do this you may need to dump out everything that you know related to the learning objectives. Then you can add to gaps, remove what is not needed, and reorder to make it flow.

When you do this you’ll want to focus on the details but see the big picture at the same time.

Now just like a half completed sculpture your course will look “messy in the middle”, so don’t worry about this as it’s a normal part of the creative process.

At times you’ll need to walk away and come back with fresh eye so you can see it for what it actually is and what needs to be done to shape it. As you refine it will start looking like a piece of art.

Refining is the process of “only” including what meets the learning objectives, so your students can stay on the shortest path to their learning destination.

This does not mean removing content to dumb it down or to dilute it. It also doesn’t mean that you can’t have repetition for continuity or reinforcement. The intent is more about doing the job with less.

This might for example involve replacing a whole bunch of text with a graphic or choosing your
wording carefully so that you can say the same thing in a sentence rather than a paragraph.

It will take you more time to create less, and still meet the learning objectives but this will mean your students need to spend less time to get more. There is real value in that.

And although it may take more time for you upfront, refining early will actually save you time as you go through the creative process. For example if you take the time to refine your script, it will save you time in filming and editing.

Action For You

Set your self up for success by working smart to save yourself time and ship your course to your students as soon as possible.

Set your self up with the tools you need to work smart.