How to make an online course with confidence: a Learning Design roadmap

Q: What happens in Steps 4-6?

Design: This is the creative heart of the Learning Design process. Consider how your learners will experience your content. Ask yourself: 'What's the best way to teach this concept?' Develop: Start creating your content using a storyboard—a central LD tool. Your storyboard will reflect how the course will appear in your LMS or platform. Publish: It's go time! Upload your assets, run your quality checks, and conduct user acceptance testing (UAT).

January 18, 2025

Bianca Raby

Online CourseLearning DesignCourse CreationInstructional DesigneLearning

So you're wondering how to make an online course—either to sell, to showcase your skills, or to expand your impact? Amazing! But before you dive in, let me walk you through the six essential steps based on a Learning Design methodology my team at Oppida and I use every day to build standout digital learning experiences.

Hi, I'm Bianca Raby—former teacher, now CEO of Oppida, a digital education agency dedicated to raising the bar in online course creation through solid, thoughtful Learning Design.

How to make an online course: the six Learning Design steps for high-impact

We've seen the online course space explode—especially thanks to solopreneurs. But too often, we see passion-led courses fall flat due to lack of structure or real Learning Design principles. So, here's our simplified yet powerful six-step process for building your next course:

Step 1: Discover

This is where your Learning Design journey begins. Clarify your audience and deeply understand your learners' needs. Who's buying the course vs. who's taking it? The better you define this, the more successful your online course will be.

Step 2: Blueprint

Now, draft your course blueprint. It's the backbone of every successful online course. Write your course rationale, map out the learning outcomes, define assessments, and sketch the module structure. A strong blueprint = strong foundations.

Step 3: Plan

Here's where you set the course up for success with good old-fashioned project management. This step ensures your Learning Design process doesn't derail halfway through. Build a timeline, clarify roles, and prep your assets. Trust me—it saves headaches later.

Step 4: Design

This is the creative heart of the Learning Design process. Consider how your learners will experience your content. Ask yourself: "What's the best way to teach this concept?" and "What would I enjoy in an online course?" From passive to active learning, this is where transformation begins.

Step 5: Develop

Start creating your content using a storyboard—a central LD tool. Your storyboard will reflect how the course will appear in your LMS or platform, including visuals, calls to action, and interactivity instructions. A good storyboard makes developing your online course far smoother.

Step 6: Publish

It's go time! Upload your assets, run your quality checks, and conduct user acceptance testing (UAT). Then publish with pride. A well-executed Learning Design process will make this final stage feel like a victory lap.

Creating an online course is no small feat. With this Learning Design process, you can stop wondering how to make an online course, and bring your vision to life with strategic, learner-centred, and high-quality content.