Setting the Compass: How to Write Clear Goals for Your Online Course

Starting an online course is a big step. You’ve found your topic, researched the market, and are ready to dive into creating valuable content for your future learners. But then you hit a wall: What is the overarching goal of this course? This question can stifle your progress before you even get started. The good news is that you’re not alone—many course creators struggle with defining their course objectives or simply put, course goals.

When building your course, think of the transformation you want your learners to experience. This is not just about passing a test or completing a project; it’s about the real, lasting change your course will facilitate. To figure out your course’s objective, start with a simple question: “What should participants be able to do once they’ve completed my course?”

A clear course objective helps to guide your course design, ensuring every module, lesson, and activity moves participants toward a common goal. It’s the guiding star for your course’s journey. A well-defined objective has four key attributes: clarity, specificity, measurability, and achievability. Let’s break them down!

Clarity means everyone involved in your course understands the end goal. Whether it’s your participants, instructors, or marketing team, the objective should be easily understandable. If you can’t explain it in a simple sentence or two, it’s time to refine it. For example, “At the end of this course, participants will be able to build a basic website” is clearer than “Participants will understand web design.”

Specificity takes your objective to the next level. A specific objective tells learners exactly what they’re working towards and keeps them focused. Instead of saying, “Participants will learn to code,” you might say, “Participants will learn to build a basic website using HTML and CSS.” Specificity also helps you organize your course content more effectively.

Measurability is critical. Your course objective must be something you can measure to determine if learners have achieved it. This could be through assessments, projects, or other tangible outputs. For example, “Participants will create a personal portfolio website” provides a clear outcome that can be evaluated.

Achievability ensures your objective is realistic given your course’s scope and your learners’ abilities. If the goal is too ambitious, learners may become discouraged. Think about what’s reasonable for the duration and level of your course. An achievable objective might be, “Participants will build a basic e-commerce site,” while an unrealistic one could be, “Participants will create a complex, multi-page e-commerce platform with full back-end integration.”

When you create a course objective that is clear, specific, measurable, and achievable, you set your participants up for success. By focusing on the transformation you expect them to achieve, you can create a compelling course that delivers real value. It’s not just about what they learn; it’s about who they become by the end of your course. So take some time to think about your course’s objective and craft it with intention. It will be the foundation for everything that follows.