5 tips for creating better Course Outlines with the AI assistant

The Course Outline Generator works best when your input is clear, intentional, and aligned with how the course will be used. These best practices apply to all course types, from short optional learning to advanced mandatory training.

1. Be explicit about the course intent

Start by clearly stating what the course is trying to achieve. A strong prompt answers at least one of these questions:

What problem does this course solve?
What should learners know or be able to do by the end?
Why does this course exist?

If the course is mandatory, compliance-driven, or skill-critical, say so. This signals the AI to structure the content more rigorously and progressively.

Instead of: “Introduction to cybersecurity”

Try: “Provide employees with the awareness needed to recognize common cybersecurity threats and follow basic security practices at work.”

2. Describe outcomes, not just topics

Listing topics is useful, but describing outcomes leads to better results. Instead of only naming subject areas, explain what learners should gain from them. For example:

Understanding key concepts
Being able to apply a process
Recognizing risks or common mistakes
Making informed decisions in real scenarios

This helps the AI generate lesson descriptions with clear learning objectives rather than shallow topic lists.

Instead of: “Covers GDPR, data privacy, and internal policies”

Try: “Enable employees to understand GDPR principles, identify personal data, and apply internal data-handling policies correctly.”

3. Use the audience field deliberately

The audience definition has a strong impact on the generated outline.

Specify:

Experience level: beginner, intermediate, advanced or mixed
Role or function: blue-collar, manager, specialist...
Context of use: onboarding, continuous learning, certification, refresh training

If no audience is provided, the AI assumes beginner-level content. This can lead to overly basic outlines for professional or expert learners.

Instead of: “For all employees”

Try: “Non-technical office employees with no prior knowledge of data protection, working primarily on desktop.”

4. Provide structure when you have it

If you already have source material, uploading it significantly improves the result. Documents such as slide decks, manuals or guidelines help the AI:

Preserve logical flow
Reflect existing terminology
Group related concepts correctly

When a structure is provided, the AI prioritizes it and adapts it to fit the selected course duration. This is especially useful for advanced or regulated content where structure matters.

If the source material is incomplete or rough, you can combine document upload with free-text instructions to guide interpretation.

5. Align time with depth, not just length

The time setting directly influences the number of lessons and the depth of coverage.

Use shorter durations for:

Awareness or overview courses
Optional learning
Narrow, focused topics

Use longer durations for:

Mandatory training
Skill development
Complex or multi-step processes

If the time is too short for the topic, the AI will compress content aggressively. If it is too long, the outline may feel stretched or overly granular.

As a rule, decide the depth first, then select the time accordingly.

Think of the outline as a foundation

The Course Outline Generator is designed to create structure, not finished learning content. Its value lies in helping you move past the blank page, establish a clear learning flow and define meaningful objectives for each lesson.

If you are unsure how to frame your inputs or want to get more value from the AI assistant, reach to your CSM. They will help you refine your approach and tailor it your learning goals.