How To Script An Online Course

It’s now time to write the script for your modules. In this lesson, I’ll show you how to develop a script for each module aligned to the learning objectives that we set previously.

How To Script An Online Course

This is where the content meets the learning objectives.

It’s a good time to apply the creative process to less by getting all the information down, then add to gaps, remove what is not needed, and reorder to make it flow.

As far as the flow goes, keep it simple with a beginning, middle and end.

In the beginning, you can introduce the module outcome or give some context. You could even have hook like a problem statement that get’s your students thinking from the start.

The middle is about leading them on a journey to the outcome and this will usually involve logically stepping through the content.

Then the end is an opportunity to recap the key points, summarizing the objective or reward them with the solution.

From there, it’s not just about sharing the correct information, as you’ll also want to connect with your students and their minds.

How to Write a Script That Connects With the Audience

You can achieve an audience connection by sharing your own personal stories, especially if you can demonstrate that you understand where they are at right now on their journey.

Also you could add analogies and metaphors to stick something new to something your students may already be familiar with.

You’ll want your script to feel natural to deliver – a bit like you are having a conversation with your students.

For some of you this will just be dot points, for others you might write every single word. The balance will come with experience, where you can write a loose script for a more free flowing delivery.

Either way, the point of writing a script is to ensure you prepare a nice succinct flow of content.

To help assist with the delivery make sure to add some markers and breakers. You may like to mark words that need “emphasis” with quotes or actions with brackets.

It is very difficult to deliver a whole module in just one take ,so break down the script into natural
parts with breakpoints. It’s only those parts that you’ll need to get right, all in one go.

Also mark out where there are shift changes in the video. This might be going from a talking head video to a screen recording or to a secondary video footage called B roll.

To ensure the learning objective, content and action is aligned on the same path. It’s a good idea to add the learning objective at the top of your script so you can refer to it as you are refining.

At the bottom include the action that you’ll ask of your students. You may even like to include a note on any other information that is needed such as support material.