How to Create Crash Course for Online Learning (Step Guide) . 2024

Creating a crash course for your topic is very similar to creating a typical online course, but the main difference is that a crash course is condensing a huge idea into a short amount of time.

Offering a crash course is like creating a concentrated dose of knowledge bomb that focuses on only the most important part in the topic.

Your sole goal as a course creator is to transform your learners into a expert in the shortest time possible.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

Online crash course should have a maximum of 10 learning moments and is less than 90 minutes.
Knowing what topic to choose, and using the right tools to engage your audience can help you create a crash course that provide massive value to your audience.

Use the “Rule of 7-7-7” for online crash course to keep your audience engage is key to success.

What is an Online Crash Course?

An online crash course is a highly condensed version of a particular topic that aims to deliver value quickly and effectively to your learners in the shortest time possible.

Online crash course often have the following characteristics:

Max of 10 Learning Moments: Each online crash course should be break down into a maximum of 10 learning moments that aim for clarity and immediacy in each segment to maximize impact.
No more than 90 minutes: Each online crash course should be no more than 90 minutes. The average crash course is 60 to 90 minutes.

A good crash course should resonate with the learner’s desire for fast and effective education.

Keep them engaged with a mix of short and dynamic explanations interspersed with actionable insights that leaves a lasting impression.

How to Create Online Crash Course as an Instructor

Crash course are often easy to follow courses that can help learners who want to learn new skills and knowledge to achieve their learning goals at the shortest time possible.

Let’s take a look at how a crash course can be made.

1. Choosing the Right Course Topic for Your Crash Course

Selecting an impactful course topic is the foundation of your crash course.

The subject you choose must resonate with your target audience’s interests and the current market demand to ensure your course’s success.

Identifying Your Target Audience

Before you brainstorm your course idea, it’s essential to know who you’re teaching.

Create your audience persona and identify who is your target audience.

What is the demographic of your audience?
What is their specific interests and needs?

What are their challenges and pain points?

Understanding these elements can guide you toward a course topic that can capture their attention and have a market demand.

Defining Your Objectives For Your Crash Course

After pinpointing who your learners are, define clear and measurable objectives for what your crash course will achieve.

The aim is to choose a course topic that can do the following,

Create a promise to fill a knowledge gap.
Ability to provide a strong benefit.

Your crash course should aim to provide the maximum amount of value in the shortest amount of time.

Whether it’s enhancing job skills or teaching a popular hobby, ensure the information is condensed for the knowledge you’re imparting.

2. Designing Your Course Content

When you set out to design your course content, focusing on clarity and practicality ensures your crash course is not just informative but also engaging.

In just about 90 minutes, you want your participants to walk away with actionable knowledge.

Creating a Course Outline

Begin by sketching a course outline that structures your content in an easy-to-follow sequence.

The key difference between a crash course and a normal online course is that

A crash course should only have a maximum of 10 learning moments.
A crash course should not be longer than 90 minutes.

List each topic as a standalone module, ensuring that each section naturally progresses from the previous one.

When designing a curriculum, starts with basics before advancing to more complex concepts. This ensures that your course makes sense to learners at every stage.

Developing Engaging Content

Your content should capture attention and impart knowledge efficiently. Use mixed media, like short video lessons, infographics, and quizzes, to cater to different learning styles.

Ensure that your scriptwriting for the course resonates with your audience, using relatable examples and a conversational tone.

Incorporating Practical Applications

Enable your students to apply what they’ve learned by including practical exercises.

Use real-life scenarios
Include hands-on tasks

Add interactive simulations

These practical applications help solidify understanding.

Regularly update your course with fresh examples to keep the applications relevant and valuable.

3. Getting Started With The Right Course Creation Tools

Selecting the right tools and setting up your environment are crucial steps in creating a crash course. Making informed choices now can greatly facilitate your course development process.

Selecting the Right Software

The foundation of a successful online course starts with the selection of the appropriate software.

You’ll need a platform that not only allows you to easily create and organize content but also to distribute and sell your courses efficiently.

Consider platforms that offer a range of interactive features such as quizzes and discussion forums to enhance the learning experience.

When choosing software, prioritize those that are tailored to online course creators, such as those included in recommendations for the best online course platforms.

Setting Up Your Recording Environment

Once you have your software, the next step is to establish a conducive recording environment for teaching with video. Ensure you have a quiet space with minimal echoes and good lighting. Here’s a simple checklist for video recording:

Camera: A quality webcam or DSLR camera.
Microphone: A lavalier or condenser mic for clear audio.
Lighting: Softbox or ring lights to eliminate shadows.

Background: A clean, uncluttered backdrop.

Investing in a good recording setup will keep your learners engaged and pave the way for high-quality content creation.

4. Marketing Your Crash Course

To successfully market your crash course and increase enrollment, you need to establish an effective online presence, utilize social media channels wisely, and implement targeted email marketing strategies.

Let’s ensure you’re equipped with the approaches that can help your crash course stand out this school year.

Building an Online Presence

Creating a robust online presence is crucial. You’ll want to start by optimizing your website for search engines with relevant keywords related to your crash course content.

Make sure your site is user-friendly and provides clear information about what students will learn and how to sign up. Here’s a checklist to get you started:

Website Optimization: Incorporate keywords like “intensive online classes” or “complete guide in [subject]“.
Content Creation: Regularly update your blog with posts that offer valuable insights or “things I wish I knew” about your course topic.
Analytics: Monitor your site’s performance and tweak your strategy using tools like Google Analytics.

Leveraging Social Media

Social media platforms can be powerful marketing channels that help you connect directly with potential students.

Think about where your target audience spends their time – whether it’s Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, or LinkedIn – and tailor your content accordingly:

Share engaging posts that highlight aspects of your course and include a call-to-action.

Start meaningful conversations by asking and answering questions related to your field of study.
Run social media ads targeted at individuals who show an interest in similar courses or subjects.

Email Marketing Strategies

An effective email marketing campaign can help you reach potential students where they’re most likely to see your message – in their inbox.

Keep these tips in mind to maximize the impact of your emails:

Craft captivating subject lines to increase open rates.
Utilize segmentation to send personalized content that resonates with different groups.

Offer exclusive content or discounts in your emails to incentivize sign-ups.

Remember, marketing your crash course is about connecting with your audience and offering them real value.

Keep your messages clear, your content rich, and your approach personable to make the most of your marketing efforts.

5. Measuring Success and Gathering Feedback

Creating a crash course can be an exciting endeavor, but your journey doesn’t end at launch.

To ensure your course is effective and engaging, it’s crucial to measure its success and solicit feedback from your learners.

Analyzing Course Performance

Start by examining your course analytics to understand how students are interacting with your content.

Are they completing the course?
Where are the drop-off points?
What demographics are interested in the course?

Utilize metrics like completion rates, quiz scores, and engagement levels to gauge whether your instructional videos are hitting the mark.

This data will direct you to areas that may need more attention or adjustment.

Adapting to Audience Needs

Your course is for your students, so their needs should steer its evolution.

A successful adaptation strategy includes regularly surveying your audience.

If you’re not sure what’s working, gather qualitative data through direct feedback.

Ask for a simple feedback with a feedback form at the end of your course.

Reaching out to each of your students for interviews about their experience with the course.

Pay attention to common trends in the feedback—these are indicators of what changes could create a more robust learning experience.

Planning Future Updates

Finally, use the insights obtained to plan future updates.

If you want to get your course from good to great, periodically review and revise the content based on student feedback.

Whether it’s updating examples to stay current or tweaking modules for clarity, a willingness to adjust is key to maintaining a high-quality crash course that educates quickly and efficiently.

Remember, a course is a living product, and keeping it fresh will benefit both you and your students.

How to Teach and Present in Your Crash Course?

Creating a crash course requires a focus on clarity and efficiency.

Your students should leave each session with a comprehensive understanding of the material, despite the fast pace.

Engaging Your Students

If you are like me who have a short attention time thanks to Tik-Tok and YouTube Short, it’s essential to captivate your students from the start.

Use interactive methods like quizzes or discussions to stimulate involvement.

For instance, provide practical ed tech tools that resonate with real-life scenarios, ensuring students see the relevance of their learning.

Effective Communication Strategies

To communicate effectively as an instructor, align your teaching strategies with the desired outcomes.

Keep it short and concise. Avoid fluff at all cost.

If you’ve been reading my article, you’ve probably notice I’ll try to go straight into the point and avoid rambling about things you are not interested. (Yes, I know it isn’t easy, its a bad habit that will take time to change.)

Here’s what you’ll need to do:

Break down complex concepts into digestible pieces
Be explicit about how each module contributes to reaching the end goal
Mix up the delivery with visuals and storytelling to keep the content vibrant and memorable.

Updating and Improving Your Delivery

Solicit feedback after each course and be prepared to revise your approach.

This might mean tweaking presentation styles or incorporating new ways to enhance learning experiences.

As we are living in a fast pace environment you’ll need to always preform regular updates to keep your course relevant to today’s context.

Updating and improving your delivery of your crash course reflect your commitment to high-quality teaching and learner success.

Adopt The “Rule of 7-7-7” For Online Course Presentation

Crash course is about fast information delivery, and it means you need to deliver each points quickly, jumping from each sections quickly, like a boot camp that cramp everything into a short amount of time.

What is the “Rule of 7-7-7” for Online Course Presentation?

“Rule of 7-7-7” is a rule that guide you in creating, presenting and pacing your lessons that keeps your audience engaged while avoiding overwhelming your audience about the information presented.

No more than 7 point per presentation slides.
No longer than 7 seconds for each of the talking points.
No longer than 7 slides per presentation.

The “Rule of 7-7-7” keep your lessons short enough for easy understanding, and long enough to introduce a new concept to your audience.

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Antony C.

Founder & Financial Writer at Income Buddies | Website | Posts by Author

Antony C. is a dividend investor with over 15+ years of investing experience. He’s also the book author of “Start Small, Dream Big“, certified PMP® holder and founder of IncomeBuddies.com (IB). At IB, he share his personal journey and expertise on growing passive income through dividend investing and building online business. Antony has been featured in global news outlet including Yahoo Finance, Nasdaq and Non Fiction Author Association (NFAA).

How to Create Crash Course for Online Learning (Step Guide)