Article

How to know if your course is well-designed

Bad online courses are everywhere. They’re overwhelming, clunky, and forgettable. A great course feels different—it pulls you in, keeps you moving, and makes learning stick.

So, how do you know if your course is actually good? Run it through these three tests:

 

1. Build the Beat

Structure your course well. A course without rhythm is just noise.

If your lessons are all over the place, learners lose the beat—they slow down, get overwhelmed, or drop off completely. A well-structured course has a steady rhythm that makes progress feel natural.

 

How to Know if Your Course Has a Good Beat

❏ Does each lesson focus on one clear idea?
❏ Are the Steps inside each lesson small enough to digest?
❏ Does every lesson follow a natural flow (no random jumps)?
❏ Can a learner skim your outline and instantly see what they’ll learn?
❏ Does each lesson and Step have a clear “why” behind it, or do some feel like filler?
❏ Could someone drop into the course at any point and still understand the overall flow?
❏ Are there natural stopping points where learners can pause without feeling lost?

 

Fix It If It’s Broken

✅ Keep lessons roughly the same size so learners know what to expect.
✅ Each Step should do one thing well (not three things badly).
✅ Use a mix of Watch, Read, Discuss, Do to keep the momentum going.
✅ If a lesson feels bloated, chop it up and spread it out.

 

2. Set the Pace

Balance speed and reflection. Learning should feel fast, but not rushed.

The best courses push learners just enough—fast enough to stay exciting, slow enough to absorb. Too slow? They get bored. Too fast? They burn out. Your job is to find the right tension between action and reflection.

 

How to Know if Your Course Has Good Pace

❏ Does it mix fast learning (new ideas) with slow learning (reflection)?
❏ Do learners have space to pause, practice, or apply before moving on?
❏ Is the rhythm aggressive enough to keep them engaged?
❏ Do you revisit key ideas instead of moving on too quickly?
❏ Are learners challenged at the right moments, or do they feel stuck too soon?
❏ Does the course offer ways for learners to check their understanding at key points?
❏ Do learners have enough “small wins” along the way to keep them motivated?

 

Fix It If It’s Broken

✅ Add “pause moments”—short reflections, mini-reviews, or quick check-ins.
✅ If something feels slow, turn it into an action (a challenge, discussion, or practice).
✅ If a lesson is dragging, trim the fat and jump into application sooner.
✅ Avoid info-dumps—spread learning out instead of front-loading.

 

3. Make It Sticky

Connect ideas, people and stories. Good courses don’t just inform. They pull you in.

We remember what feels meaningful. That’s why the best courses don’t just present information—they create connections between ideas, learners, and real-world experience.

 

How to Know if Your Course Feels Connected

❏ Do ideas build on each other instead of feeling random?
❏ Are learners talking to each other (or just passively consuming)?
❏ Does the course feel human (not just a pile of content)?
❏ Is there storytelling—examples, case studies, or real-world stakes?
❏ Does the course make learners feel like they’re part of something bigger?
❏ Is there a sense of progress or transformation, not just information transfer?
❏ Do learners have a way to reflect on how the course connects to their own experiences?

 

Fix It If It’s Broken

✅ Use recurring themes or questions to tie lessons together.
✅ Build in discussions, peer reviews, or shared reflections so learners connect.
✅ Be present—add instructor videos, voice messages, or responses.
✅ Make the content real—use analogies, stories, or case studies learners care about.

 

Final Gut Check

Before you ship your course, ask yourself:

  🔥 Does it have a steady beat? (Segmented, clear, and easy to follow.)
🚀 Does it keep learners moving? (Fast enough to excite, slow enough to retain.)
🧠 Does it make learning stick? (Connected ideas, human interactions, great stories.)

If the answer is "yes," you’re on the right track. If not—tweak, simplify, and make it better.

Enjoyed this guide? I'd love to hear your thoughts. I'm passionate about crafting engaging and effective learning experiences. Reach out if you want to chat about Pathwright or Learning Experience Design. I'm always happy to connect and share insights! You don’t have to go it alone. 

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