Course Authoring 101: A Step-by-Step Guide From Concept to Completion

As e-learning continues to grow, the demand for effective course creation has never been higher. But where do you start? This guide walks you through the complete course authoring process, from initial concept to published course.

What is Course Authoring?

Course authoring is the process of creating educational content for delivery through a learning management system or other digital platform. It encompasses:

• Content design — Structuring information for learning
• Media creation — Developing videos, graphics, and interactive elements
• Assessment building — Creating quizzes and knowledge checks
• Technical assembly — Packaging content for delivery

Unlike traditional classroom training, course authoring requires thinking about how learners will interact with content independently.

The Course Authoring Process

Phase 1: Analysis and Planning

Before creating any content, understand your context.

Define Learning Objectives

Start with what learners should be able to do after completing the course:

Poor objective: "Understand customer service"

Better objective: "Handle customer complaints following
the 4-step resolution process with 90% satisfaction"

Best objectives are:
- Specific and measurable
- Action-oriented (do, not know)
- Relevant to job performance
- Achievable within the course scope

Analyze Your Audience

Consider:

• Current knowledge level
• Technical comfort
• Available time for learning
• Preferred learning styles
• Access devices (desktop, mobile, both)

Assess Constraints

Be realistic about:

• Available development time
• Budget for tools and media
• Technical infrastructure
• Subject matter expert availability
• Maintenance requirements

Phase 2: Design

With analysis complete, design your learning experience.

Create a Course Outline

Structure your content logically:

Module 1: Introduction (5 min)
├── Welcome and objectives
├── Course navigation
└── Pre-assessment

Module 2: Core Concepts (20 min)
├── Lesson 2.1: Fundamentals
├── Lesson 2.2: Key principles
├── Knowledge check
└── Practice scenario

Module 3: Application (25 min)
├── Lesson 3.1: Real-world examples
├── Lesson 3.2: Common challenges
├── Interactive simulation
└── Assessment

Module 4: Summary (5 min)
├── Key takeaways
├── Resources
└── Next steps

Choose Your Instructional Approach

Match methodology to content type:

Plan Interactions

Passive content doesn't work. Plan interactions every 3-5 minutes:

• Knowledge checks
• Click-to-reveal elements
• Drag-and-drop activities
• Branching scenarios
• Reflection prompts

Phase 3: Storyboarding

Before building, visualize each screen.

Create Storyboards

A storyboard documents:

• On-screen text
• Narration script (if applicable)
• Visual descriptions
• Interaction instructions
• Navigation notes

Example Storyboard Template:

Screen 3.2.1: Handling Difficult Customers
━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━

[VISUAL]
Split screen: Video of angry customer (left)
Three response options (right)

[ON-SCREEN TEXT]
"The customer is upset about a delayed shipment.
Which response would you choose?"

[INTERACTION]
Learner clicks one of three options:
A) "I understand your frustration..." → Correct path
B) "That's not my department..." → Feedback + retry
C) "Let me check the system..." → Partial credit

[NARRATION]
None - learner reads and interacts

[NOTES]
Track selection for analytics
Provide specific feedback for each choice

Phase 4: Development

Now build your course.

Gather or Create Assets

Asset types you'll need:

• Text — Clear, concise, scannable
• Images — Screenshots, diagrams, photos
• Video — Demonstrations, talking heads, animations
• Audio — Narration, sound effects, music
• Documents — PDFs, job aids, reference materials

Development Best Practices

For text:

• Use short paragraphs (3-4 sentences max)
• Include headers for scanning
• Bold key terms
• Use bullet points for lists

For visuals:

• Ensure accessibility (alt text, contrast)
• Keep file sizes optimized
• Maintain consistent style
• Use professional quality only

For video:

• Keep segments under 5 minutes
• Include captions
• Use high-quality audio
• Provide transcripts

For interactions:

• Give clear instructions
• Provide meaningful feedback
• Allow retries on assessments
• Track completion status

Phase 5: Assembly

Bring everything together in your authoring tool.

Build the Course Structure

1. Create the module/lesson hierarchy
2. Upload and organize assets
3. Build individual screens
4. Add interactions and assessments
5. Configure navigation
6. Set completion criteria

Add Assessments

Effective assessments:

• Test objectives, not trivia
• Use realistic scenarios
• Provide immediate feedback
• Allow appropriate attempts
• Track results for reporting

Configure Settings

• Completion requirements
• Passing scores
• Time limits (if any)
• Bookmarking behavior
• Certificate generation

Phase 6: Review and Testing

Never publish without thorough review.

Content Review

• Subject matter expert verification
• Accuracy of information
• Currency of procedures
• Alignment with objectives

Instructional Review

• Clarity of explanations
• Effectiveness of interactions
• Assessment validity
• Flow and pacing

Technical Testing

• All links function
• Media plays correctly
• Interactions work as designed
• Scoring calculates accurately
• Progress saves properly

User Testing

Test with actual learners:

• Can they navigate easily?
• Do they understand instructions?
• Are interactions intuitive?
• Is the difficulty appropriate?

Phase 7: Deployment

Publish your course.

Export for Your LMS

Common formats:

LMS Configuration

• Upload course package
• Set enrollment rules
• Configure notifications
• Test in LMS environment
• Verify reporting works

Launch Communication

Inform learners:

• What the course covers
• Why it matters
• How long it takes
• When it's due (if applicable)
• Where to get help

Phase 8: Evaluation and Maintenance

The work doesn't end at launch.

Monitor Performance

Track:

• Completion rates
• Assessment scores
• Time spent
• Drop-off points
• Learner feedback

Analyze and Improve

If completion rates are low:

• Check for technical issues
• Review difficult sections
• Simplify navigation
• Shorten content

If assessment scores are low:

• Review question clarity
• Check content alignment
• Adjust difficulty
• Provide better feedback

Maintain Currency

Schedule regular reviews:

• Quarterly for fast-changing content
• Annually for stable content
• Immediately when processes change

Common Course Authoring Mistakes

Mistake 1: Information Overload

Problem: Trying to include everything you know about the topic.

Solution: Focus on what learners need to do, not everything they could possibly know.

Mistake 2: Passive Content

Problem: Long stretches of text or video without interaction.

Solution: Add interactions every 3-5 minutes. Make learners think and respond.

Mistake 3: Unclear Navigation

Problem: Learners don't know where they are or how to proceed.

Solution: Use consistent layouts, clear progress indicators, and obvious navigation buttons.

Mistake 4: Testing Trivia

Problem: Assessments that test memory rather than application.

Solution: Use scenario-based questions that mirror real job situations.

Mistake 5: Skipping Review

Problem: Publishing without adequate testing.

Solution: Budget time for multiple review rounds and user testing.

Tools of the Trade

Course authoring tools range from simple to complex:

Entry Level

• PowerPoint with iSpring
• Google Slides with add-ons
• Canva for visual content

Professional

• Articulate Storyline/Rise
• Adobe Captivate
• Lectora

AI-Powered

• Konstantly
• Synthesia (video)
• Various AI writing tools

Specialized

• Camtasia (video)
• Vyond (animation)
• H5P (interactions)

Time Estimates

Realistic development times:

Simple course (mostly text, basic interactions):
1 hour of learning = 20-40 hours development

Standard course (video, custom graphics, scenarios):
1 hour of learning = 80-120 hours development

Complex course (simulations, branching, custom media):
1 hour of learning = 150-200+ hours development

AI-assisted course creation:
1 hour of learning = 5-20 hours development

Getting Started

If you're new to course authoring:

1. Start small — Create a 10-minute module, not a 10-hour program
2. Use templates — Don't design from scratch
3. Focus on one topic — Master the process before scaling
4. Get feedback early — Share drafts before completion
5. Iterate — Your first course won't be perfect, and that's okay

Ready to Create Your First Course?

Course authoring is both an art and a science. The fundamentals in this guide apply regardless of which tools you use. Start with clear objectives, design for engagement, and always test before launch.

See how Konstantly makes course creation faster →