How to Create an Online Course with AI: Structure, Content and Launch

Before creating the first module, it’s worth spending 15 minutes validating your idea with AI to make sure it’s properly focused and has real demand.

1. Open Claude (claude.ai) or ChatGPT (chatgpt.com) and enter this prompt:

I want to create an online course about [your topic]. My ideal audience is [describe who it's aimed at]. Help me: (1) assess whether the topic has demand, (2) identify the specific problems it solves, (3) suggest a differentiating angle compared to similar courses.

2. The AI will give you an initial analysis. If the topic is too broad, ask it to focus: “The topic is too general. How would you narrow it down to make it more specific and marketable?”

3. Define the main outcome of your course: what will the student be able to do when they finish? That outcome is your course title and promise.

Validation example:

• Original topic: “Digital marketing” (too broad)
• With AI, you can arrive at: “How to get your first 100 clients with Instagram without an advertising budget”

If you already have reference documents on your topic (notes, books, articles), you can attach them to the chat. AI will use them to make the validation more precise.

With the idea validated, the next step is creating the full course outline: how many modules it has, what lessons each includes, and in what order they go.

1. Use this prompt in Claude or ChatGPT:

I'm going to create an online course titled "[your course title]". The audience is [ideal student description] and the promised outcome is [what they'll achieve upon completion].

Create the complete course structure with:
- Between 4 and 6 modules
- Between 3 and 5 lessons per module
- A practical exercise or deliverable at the end of each module
- An introductory lesson and a closing lesson for the full course

For each lesson, include the title and one sentence about what the student will learn.

2. Review the result and adjust: cut what’s unnecessary, add what’s missing, reorder if the flow isn’t logical.

3. Ask the AI to also suggest 3 attractive course titles and subtitles.

The structure is the hardest part to create from scratch. With AI you can have a solid draft in 5 minutes; you refine it with your real expertise on the topic.

With the structure ready, you can now ask AI to write the script for each lesson: the text you’ll read during video recording or use as reference in a live class.

1. For each lesson, use this prompt:

Write the complete script for the lesson "[lesson title]" in module "[module title]".

The student already knows [what they learned earlier in the course]. In this lesson they will learn [what they'll learn].

The script should:
- Have a 2 to 3 sentence hook introduction
- Explain the content in clear steps or points
- Include at least one concrete example or real case
- Close with a 2-sentence summary and a transition to the next lesson
- Be written to be spoken, not read silently (use short sentences)

Estimated video length: [5 to 10] minutes.

2. Review the script and add your own voice and personal examples. AI gives the structure; you give it authenticity.

3. For technical lessons, attach your reference material as context before requesting the script. AI will use it to be more accurate.

Want your lessons to also have visual slides? Check out How to create professional presentations with AI.

A good course is more than video: it includes exercises to practice, quizzes to reinforce learning and downloadable materials. AI creates all of these in minutes.

Assessment quizzes:

Create 5 multiple-choice questions to assess what was learned in lesson "[lesson title]". For each question, include 4 options, mark the correct one and explain in one sentence why it's the correct answer.

Practical exercises:

Create a practical exercise for module "[module title]" that the student can complete in 20 to 30 minutes. It should apply what they learned to a real situation. Include clear instructions and criteria for knowing whether they did it correctly.

Downloadable materials (summary PDF, checklist):

Create a one-page summary of the key points from lesson "[title]". Format: title, 5 to 7 key points with one sentence each, one tip for applying it immediately.

AI voice narration for the video:

If you’re going to create an AI avatar narrated video or audio-only content, you already have the script from the previous step. To convert that text to voice with AI, check out How to convert text to speech with AI.

With the content ready, the last step is choosing where to publish and sell your course. The most popular options to get started:

Platform	Free plan	Transaction fee	Best for
Thinkific	Yes (limited)	No fee on paid plans	Scaling without paying commission
Teachable	No (free trial)	7.5% on cheapest plan	Design and marketing tools
Gumroad	Yes	10% on free plan	Simple PDF or video courses
Hotmart	Yes	Varies by plan	Spanish-speaking market

Prices and terms for these platforms change frequently. Confirm current plans on their official page before deciding.

Steps to publish on Thinkific (the most accessible option to start):

1. Create an account at https://thinkific.com.
2. In the admin panel, click “Create new product” and choose “Course”.
3. Add the course name and upload the cover image.
4. In “Curriculum”, create the modules and lessons, and upload the videos or files for each.
5. In “Pricing”, set whether the course is free or paid and its price.
6. Click “Publish” to publish it.

Use AI for your sales copy too:

Help me write the sales copy for my course "[title]". The audience is [description]. The promised outcome is [what they'll achieve]. I need: (1) main headline, (2) subheading, (3) list of 5 concrete benefits, (4) 100-word description for the sales page.

Problem	Fix
AI generates very generic content	Add more context: include your exact audience, your experience with the topic and industry examples in the prompt
The script sounds artificial or robotic	Ask the AI: “Rewrite this with a more conversational tone, as if you were explaining it to a friend”
The structure has too many modules	Ask it to condense: “Merge overlapping modules and reduce to a maximum of 5 essential modules”
I don’t know what price to set for the course	Ask AI for help: “What price do similar courses about [topic] for [audience] usually have? Give me three options: basic, fair and premium with their justification”
The videos are too long	Split each lesson into two parts or ask AI: “Cut this script in half keeping only the essential points”