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From Idea to Outline: How to Structure an eLearning Course in Under an Hour


Structure an eLearning Course in Under an Hour

Creating an eLearning course doesn’t have to be a drawn-out, complex process. With the right approach, you can go from a rough idea to a structured outline in less than an hour. The key is to focus on clarity, learner outcomes, and a streamlined planning process.


This guide walks you through the exact steps to map out an eLearning course quickly—without sacrificing quality. Whether you're building a course for corporate training, online teaching, or internal knowledge sharing, this method works.



Why You Need an Outline First

Jumping into course creation without a solid structure is like trying to build a house without blueprints. You might get somewhere, but it won’t be efficient or scalable. A good outline helps you:


  • Stay focused on learning outcomes

  • Avoid unnecessary content

  • Keep the course engaging and organized

  • Make production faster later on


And when you can build that outline in under an hour, you remove a major bottleneck in the course creation process.


Step 1: Define the Core Outcome (5–10 minutes)

Start with the end. What should someone be able to do after completing your course?

This isn’t about what you want to teach—it’s about what the learner should walk away knowing or being able to do. Your course outcome should be:

  • Actionable (e.g., “Create a social media calendar,” not “Understand marketing.”)

  • Measurable (so you can tell if the learner actually achieved it)

  • Specific (avoid vague terms like “learn,” “know,” or “understand”)


Examples:

  • “By the end of this course, you’ll be able to set up and run a Google Ads campaign.”

  • “You’ll be able to manage remote teams using three proven frameworks.”

Write down your outcome in one sentence. Everything else in your course will support this.


Step 2: Brain Dump Everything You Know (10–15 minutes)

Now that you’ve got a target, get everything out of your head that could help someone reach that outcome.

Don’t worry about structure yet—just list every topic, sub-topic, tool, concept, and common mistake related to your course. Think about:

  • Questions people usually ask

  • Mistakes learners tend to make

  • Tools or techniques involved

  • Background knowledge that’s required

  • Real-world applications


If you’re working in a team or with a subject matter expert, use this step to extract their insights fast. Voice notes, bullet points, or sticky notes work. Just get it all out.


Step 3: Group Your Ideas into Modules (10 minutes)

Look over your brain dump and start grouping related items. Think of these groups as modules—the major sections of your course.

Each module should:

  • Support the main outcome

  • Have a logical flow (e.g., start with basics before advanced topics)

  • Focus on one major theme or skill


For example, if your course is about running Google Ads, your modules might be:

  1. Introduction to Paid Search

  2. Setting Up Your First Campaign

  3. Keyword Research and Targeting

  4. Writing Effective Ad Copy

  5. Budgeting and Optimization

  6. Tracking Performance and ROI

Keep it simple. Most short eLearning courses work best with 3–6 modules.


Step 4: Break Modules into Lessons (10–15 minutes)

Now take each module and break it down into lessons. These are the bite-sized chunks that learners will consume one at a time.

Each lesson should cover one idea, tool, or process. Keep lessons tight—think in 5–10 minute learning segments.

Let’s break down a module:


Module: Setting Up Your First Campaign

Lessons:

  • Creating a Google Ads Account

  • Navigating the Google Ads Dashboard

  • Choosing Your Campaign Objective

  • Setting Budget and Bidding

  • Defining Your Audience

Write these out for each module. Don’t overthink it—you're building a framework, not a script.


Step 5: Add Objectives and Formats to Each Lesson (10 minutes)

Now add two things to each lesson:

  1. A learning objective

  2. A content format


Learning Objectives

These are micro-outcomes. They help you keep lessons focused. Use action verbs like:

  • Define

  • Demonstrate

  • Apply

  • Compare

  • Build

Example: Lesson: Creating a Google Ads AccountObjective: Learner can create and verify a Google Ads account from scratch.


Content Formats

Pick how you’ll teach the lesson:

  • Video demo

  • Text + screenshots

  • Interactive activity

  • Downloadable guide

  • Quiz or challenge

The key is to match the format to the objective. Don’t default to video for everything. If it’s better taught with a checklist, use that.


Step 6: Map Assessments or Practice Activities (5–10 minutes)

Once you have modules and lessons, figure out how to check that learning is actually happening.

You don’t need a final exam—but you do need moments of application.

Ideas:

  • Quizzes after each module

  • Drag-and-drop exercises

  • Scenario-based questions

  • A final project or checklist

  • Peer review (if you're using a learning community)

Make sure assessments are aligned with your course outcome. If the goal is to build something, have them build something—not just take a quiz.


Step 7: Sanity Check the Flow (5 minutes)

Step back and look at the full outline:

  • Do modules follow a logical order?

  • Do lessons build progressively?

  • Is the outcome still clearly supported?

  • Did you include moments of practice or reflection?

  • Are you covering too much?

Trim where needed. Remember, focus wins. Learners want clarity, not overload.


The Fast Outline Template (Recap)

Here’s a quick format you can follow every time:


1. Course Outcome:

One clear, actionable sentence.


2. Modules:

3–6 major sections, each with a title.


3. Lessons:

3–5 per module. Keep it tight and targeted.


4. For Each Lesson:

  • Objective

  • Format (video, text, activity, etc.)


5. Practice / Assessment:

Per module or end-of-course. Make it meaningful.


6. Flow Check:

Final review for logic, scope, and alignment.


Final Tips to Stay Under an Hour

  • Use a timer. Seriously—give yourself 5–10 minutes per step and move on. You can refine later.

  • Don’t get stuck on slides or visuals. That’s for later. Focus on structure.

  • Think MVP. Minimum viable product. You can always expand once the course is live.

  • Start with what you know. If you’re not an expert, get one on a call and run through this exact process.

  • Template it. Once you’ve done this a few times, turn it into a reusable doc or worksheet.


Wrapping Up

Structuring an eLearning course in under an hour isn’t just doable—it’s often better than spending days in planning limbo. This approach forces clarity, cuts fluff, and puts the learner first. With a solid outline in place, your actual content production will be smoother, faster, and more focused.


The best part? You’re no longer stuck in “someday I’ll build a course” mode. You’ve got the blueprint. Now all that’s left is to build it.


About LMS Portals

At LMS Portals, we provide our clients and partners with a mobile-responsive, SaaS-based, multi-tenant learning management system that allows you to launch a dedicated training environment (a portal) for each of your unique audiences.


The system includes built-in, SCORM-compliant rapid course development software that provides a drag and drop engine to enable most anyone to build engaging courses quickly and easily. 


We also offer a complete library of ready-made courses, covering most every aspect of corporate training and employee development.


If you choose to, you can create Learning Paths to deliver courses in a logical progression and add structure to your training program.  The system also supports Virtual Instructor-Led Training (VILT) and provides tools for social learning.


Together, these features make LMS Portals the ideal SaaS-based eLearning platform for our clients and our Reseller partners.


Contact us today to get started or visit our Partner Program pages

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