Create engaging interactive video courses in 160+ languages.
Creating an online course doesn’t have to be complicated or time-consuming.
With the right tools, you can turn a simple prompt or existing course materials into polished video lessons in a fraction of the time.
In this guide, I’ll walk you step by step through how to create and launch your course using Synthesia Courses.
Step 1: Create a course
From the home page, click Create a Course to open the course building assistant.
Step 2: Describe your course to the assistant
To improve the assistant's output, it's best to ensure you specify a course topic, target audience, and the core learning objectives you want learners to achieve.
You can upload existing course materials by clicking the File button, or click URL and paste a course webpage. You can also select a template and specify course length.
When you're ready, click Create course.
Step 3: Adjust the structure of your course
Assistant will now create your course. You can structure your course into modules, and then add lessons under each module.
Step 4: Generate lesson content
Once you're happy with the structure of your course, click Create video to get Copilot to draft the lesson outlines and scripts.
You can also click Open to open the Synthesia video editor. This allows you to make direct edits to each video lesson, in case you want to tweak anything the assistant didn't get quite to your liking.
Step 5: Add interactive quizzes and branching paths
While in the Synthesia editor you can click Component at the top of your screen to add quizzes, branching paths, and calls to action to lessons.
Once you have a video lesson ready, you can generate it and then move onto the next lesson.
Step 6: Review with stakeholders
Click the play button in the top right of the course editor to preview the course. You can also share your course for comments and approvals and iterate with version history tracked by clicking on the Invite button.
Step 7: Publish and share
When you're ready, you can share your couse via link, embed, or export as SCORM for your LMS.
Step 8: Measure and improve
Check course analytics to see drop-off, completion, and outcomes, then refine lessons.
What makes an online course work?
At its core, a course is a structured learning experience. It organizes lessons around a clear outcome. Each lesson serves a purpose and connects with what comes before and after. Videos explain individual ideas. Courses guide learners over time.
Good structure helps learners stay oriented and makes courses easier to update as needs change.
Research on online course design shows that clear, consistent organization helps learners focus on learning rather than figuring out where to go next.
When learners know where they are and why it matters, they can focus on understanding and applying what they’re learning.
Start with structure
Before writing scripts or recording lessons, it helps to define the shape of the course.
Imagine a course designed to help people confidently use a new tool or approach they’ll rely on in their work or studies. The examples below show how structure shows up at each stage.
1. Define the outcome
Every course should support a specific outcome. That outcome describes what learners should be able to do differently by the end.
Example: By the end of this course, learners can complete common tasks using the tool without guidance.
2. Map the path toward that outcome
Once the outcome is clear, outline the journey toward it.
Most courses benefit from being divided into a small number of modules. Each module should represent a meaningful step forward rather than a collection of related content.
Example: One module introduces the tool and its purpose. Another covers everyday tasks. A final module focuses on edge cases and next steps.
3. Design lessons with a single purpose
Within each module, lessons work best when they focus on one idea at a time.
Example: A lesson shows how to complete one task from start to finish, rather than walking through multiple features at once.
4. Use structure to replace live guidance
In live courses, instructors provide direction in the moment. In self-paced courses, structure has to do that work instead.
Example: Clear lesson titles, consistent layouts, and visible progress help learners know where they are and what to do next, even when learning independently.
Design lessons that carry one idea at a time
Each lesson should have a single job to do: explaining a concept, demonstrating a task, or preparing learners for what comes next. The checklist below helps you confirm that focus before you publish.
✅ The lesson has a single purpose.
Learners should be able to point to one clear outcome by the end.
✅ The main idea appears early.
Learners quickly understand what this lesson covers and why it matters.
✅ Only one concept is introduced.
If multiple ideas need full explanation, they likely belong in separate lessons.
✅ The lesson stands on its own.
Learners can pause here and return later without needing extra context.
✅ The lesson fits into the course flow.
It connects naturally to what came before and sets up what comes next.
✅ The lesson can be updated independently.
Changes to examples or tools would only require revising this lesson.
Test this out
One way to pressure-test whether a lesson really carries a single idea is to start from the script or outline and see how it breaks into scenes.
Synthesia offers a tool that turns a written script into a structured video layout, with each idea mapped to a scene. It’s a simple way to check pacing, focus, and flow before committing to production.
👉 You can try this approach with our free script-to-video tool and see how a single-idea lesson translates into a clear sequence.
Help learners see progress
Progress is what turns a sequence of lessons into a course. This matters most in self-paced courses, where there is no instructor present to provide cues in real time.
Simple signals often do the most work.
- Clear module boundaries show when a meaningful step is complete.
- Lesson titles that describe outcomes help learners anticipate value.
- Consistent patterns reduce the effort required to get started each time.
These signals create momentum for learners.
Be intentional about engagement
Engagement is often treated as a question of activity. More clicks, more prompts, more interaction.
In practice, engagement is about attention. Learners are engaged when they understand why something matters, can relate it to what they already know, and have a moment to think before moving on.
That means engagement comes from doing a few things at the right time. For example:
- a short pause that invites learners to consider how an idea applies to their own work
- a quick check to make sure a key point landed
- a simple choice that reflects a decision they might face in the real world
These moments work best when they’re used with care. Too many interruptions can break the flow of a lesson. Well-placed prompts do the opposite. They help learners stay oriented, build confidence, and keep moving forward.
Build courses that hold up over time
Courses that last are designed with change in mind. They earn trust because they stay relevant.
Design for evolution
Assume the course will change. Tools evolve, examples age, and expectations shift. When lessons are focused and modular, updates feel like small improvements rather than disruptive rewrites.
Make updates easy
Clear structure lets you revise individual lessons without reshaping the entire course. Learners benefit from content that reflects current practice, and creators avoid unnecessary rework.
Watch how learners move through the course
You don’t need complex analytics to spot issues. Replays, drop-offs, skipped sections, and repeated questions often point to where clarity or structure needs attention.
Measure understanding, not just completion
Finishing a course is a signal, but it’s not the goal. Strong courses help learners move forward with confidence and apply what they’ve learned in real situations.
Connect learning to impact
Courses that hold up over time reduce confusion, speed up onboarding, and build capability at scale. That impact compounds as the same course is reused across teams, roles, or audiences.
Courses built this way become resources people return to and recommend.
About the author
Strategic Advisor
Kevin Alster
Kevin Alster is a Strategic Advisor at Synthesia, where he helps global enterprises apply generative AI to improve learning, communication, and organizational performance. His work focuses on translating emerging technology into practical business solutions that scale.He brings over a decade of experience in education, learning design, and media innovation, having developed enterprise programs for organizations such as General Assembly, The School of The New York Times, and Sotheby’s Institute of Art. Kevin combines creative thinking with structured problem-solving to help companies build the capabilities they need to adapt and grow.
Frequently asked questions
What’s the difference between a video and an online course?
A video explains a single idea. An online course guides learners through a sequence of ideas with a clear goal, structure, and sense of progress. Courses use chapters, lessons, and checkpoints to help learners understand where they are, why it matters, and what comes next.
Do I need multiple videos to create an online course?
Most courses include multiple short lessons rather than one long video. Breaking content into focused lessons helps learners stay engaged, makes updates easier, and allows the course structure to guide learning over time.
How long should an online course be?
There’s no ideal length. Effective courses focus on outcomes, not duration. Many successful courses use short, focused lessons grouped into modules, allowing learners to progress at their own pace without overload.
Can online courses work for both education and workplace training?
Yes. Universities, creators, and organizations all rely on the same core principle: structured learning. The context may differ, but clear goals, logical sequencing, and visible progress are what make courses effective everywhere.
What makes an online course scalable?
Scalable courses are modular, easy to update, and designed for self-paced learning. Structure matters more than production value — when lessons are clearly organized, courses can be reused, refreshed, and shared across audiences without starting from scratch.
