You've got the expertise. You've got the passion. You've got students waiting to learn from you.
But staring at that blank document? That's where dreams go to die.
You know the feeling. It's 11 PM, you've been trying to outline your course for three hours, and all you have is a half-finished module structure and a cold cup of coffee. Meanwhile, your brain keeps whispering: "There has to be a faster way."
There is. And no, it doesn't mean handing your course over to a robot.
AI Is Your Assistant, Not Your Replacement
Let's address the elephant in the room: AI isn't here to replace you. Your lived experience, your unique teaching style, your ability to connect with students—that's irreplaceable.
What AI can do is handle the heavy lifting. The brainstorming. The first drafts. The repetitive tasks that eat up your creative energy.
Think of it like this: a chef doesn't become less skilled because they use a food processor. They just spend less time chopping and more time creating dishes that wow their guests.
The goal isn't to automate your expertise. It's to amplify it.
When you use AI strategically, you're not cutting corners. You're cutting busywork. And that frees you to do what only you can do: teach, inspire, and transform lives.
Using AI for Course Outline Generation
Let's start with the foundation of any great course: the outline.
Instead of staring at a blank page, give AI the context it needs to generate a starting framework. The key is being specific about your audience, their current level, and the transformation you want to create.
Copy this prompt:
I'm creating an online course about [YOUR TOPIC] for [TARGET AUDIENCE].
My students are currently struggling with [MAIN PAIN POINTS]. By the end of this course, they should be able to [DESIRED OUTCOME/TRANSFORMATION].
The course should be approximately [NUMBER] modules long, with each module containing 3-5 lessons.
Please create a detailed course outline that:
- Follows a logical progression from beginner concepts to advanced applications
- Includes practical exercises or activities for each module
- Builds toward a final project or capstone
Format: Module name, brief description, and lesson titles for each.
Example in action:
I'm creating an online course about watercolor painting for beginners who have never picked up a brush.
My students are currently struggling with feeling intimidated by "real art," wasting money on wrong supplies, and not knowing where to start. By the end of this course, they should be able to complete 5 finished paintings they're proud to frame.
The course should be approximately 6 modules long, with each module containing 3-5 lessons.
Please create a detailed course outline that follows a logical progression, includes practice exercises, and builds toward a final portfolio project.
The AI will generate a comprehensive outline in seconds. But here's the critical part: this is your starting point, not your finish line.
Brainstorming Lesson Topics and Subtopics
Sometimes you know the big picture but get stuck on the details. AI excels at expanding ideas.
Try this prompt:
I'm teaching a lesson called "[LESSON TITLE]" as part of my course on [COURSE TOPIC].
My students need to understand [CORE CONCEPT]. They're [AUDIENCE LEVEL] level.
Generate 10 subtopics I should cover in this lesson, ordered from foundational to advanced. For each subtopic, include:
- A one-sentence description
- One common mistake students make
- One practical tip or example I could share
This gives you raw material to work with. You might use 6 of the 10 suggestions, modify 2, and add your own spin to the rest. That's exactly how it should work.
Creating Lesson Scripts That Sound Like You
Here's where many educators go wrong: they ask AI to "write a script" and get something that sounds like a corporate training video from 2003.
The secret? Feed AI your voice first.
Step 1: Create a voice profile
Analyze my writing style from these samples:
[PASTE 2-3 PARAGRAPHS OF YOUR OWN WRITING - emails, social posts, previous content]
Identify my:
- Sentence structure preferences
- Vocabulary patterns
- Tone and personality markers
- Any unique phrases or expressions I use
Step 2: Use that profile in your script requests
Write a 5-minute lesson script about [TOPIC].
Writing style guidelines:
- Conversational, like I'm talking to a friend over coffee
- Use short sentences and paragraphs
- Include 1-2 personal anecdotes or examples
- Avoid jargon; explain technical terms simply
- Match this voice: [PASTE YOUR VOICE ANALYSIS OR KEY PHRASES]
The lesson should cover: [KEY POINTS]
Start with a hook that addresses [STUDENT PAIN POINT].
End with a clear action step they can implement immediately.
Pro tip: The more specific you are about what you want, the less editing you'll need later.
Generating Quiz Questions and Assessments
Assessment creation is tedious but essential. Let AI handle the first draft.
For knowledge-check quizzes:
Create 10 multiple-choice questions to assess understanding of [LESSON TOPIC].
Requirements:
- Mix of recall, application, and analysis questions
- 4 answer choices each (1 correct, 3 plausible distractors)
- Include brief explanations for why the correct answer is right
- Avoid trick questions or overly complex wording
- Appropriate for [SKILL LEVEL] learners
For reflection prompts and assignments:
Generate 5 reflection questions for students who just completed a lesson on [TOPIC].
These should:
- Encourage personal application of concepts
- Be open-ended (no right/wrong answers)
- Connect the material to their real-world situations
- Take 5-10 minutes to thoughtfully answer
Review every question. AI occasionally generates technically correct but pedagogically weak questions. Your expertise catches what AI misses.
Writing Worksheet Templates
Worksheets and workbooks add massive value to courses. AI can create the structure while you add the substance.
Try this prompt:
Create a fillable worksheet template for [TOPIC/EXERCISE].
The worksheet should help students [SPECIFIC OUTCOME].
Include:
- A brief introduction explaining how to use the worksheet
- [NUMBER] sections with clear headers
- Fill-in-the-blank prompts, reflection questions, or action planning spaces as appropriate
- A summary section at the end
Format with clear visual hierarchy using headers, bullet points, and spacing.
Example: A "Course Pricing Calculator" worksheet might include sections for calculating costs, researching competitor pricing, determining value, and setting your final price with confidence.
Creating Email Sequences
Your course doesn't exist in isolation. You need emails for marketing, onboarding, and student engagement.
For a welcome sequence:
Write a 5-email welcome sequence for students who just enrolled in my course about [TOPIC].
Email 1: Welcome + what to expect (send immediately)
Email 2: Quick win they can achieve before starting (Day 1)
Email 3: Mindset/motivation for the journey ahead (Day 2)
Email 4: How to get the most from the course (Day 3)
Email 5: Community introduction + first lesson reminder (Day 4)
Tone: Warm, encouraging, and action-oriented
Length: 150-250 words each
Include a clear CTA in each email
For re-engagement emails:
Write 3 emails to send to students who haven't logged into my course in 2+ weeks.
Email 1: Gentle check-in (no guilt)
Email 2: Share a quick win or insight from upcoming content
Email 3: Offer support + ask if something's blocking them
Tone: Supportive, not pushy. Acknowledge life happens.
The Human Layer: Adding Your Voice Back
Here's the truth: raw AI output is a B-minus at best. It's competent but generic. Your job is to elevate it to an A+.
After AI generates any content, run through this checklist:
Add your stories. Where can you insert a personal anecdote? A student success story? A memorable failure that taught you something?
Add your opinions. AI plays it safe. You don't have to. What's your actual stance on controversial topics in your field?
Add your humor. Your style of wit, your running jokes, your personality—these can't be replicated.
Add your examples. Generic examples are forgettable. Specific examples from your experience are memorable.
Add your frameworks. Do you have a unique methodology, acronym, or mental model? Weave it in.
The 80/20 rule applies: AI can give you 80% of the work in 20% of the time. But that final 20% of polishing? That's what makes content unmistakably yours.
Editing AI Output: What to Keep, What to Change
Not all AI suggestions are created equal. Here's a quick framework:
Keep:
- Structural suggestions (organization, flow)
- Comprehensive lists you might have forgotten
- Technical accuracy (but always verify)
- Alternative phrasings for repetitive sections
Change:
- Overused phrases ("dive into," "unleash," "game-changer")
- Generic examples (make them specific to your niche)
- Passive voice (AI loves it; readers don't)
- Anything that doesn't sound like you
Delete:
- Filler phrases ("In today's fast-paced world...")
- Obvious statements your audience already knows
- Repetitive explanations
Read it out loud. If you stumble, your students will too. If it doesn't sound like something you'd actually say, rewrite it until it does.
AI Ethics for Educators: Stay Authentic
Let's talk about the elephant in the room: should you tell students you used AI?
Here's our take: transparency builds trust.
You don't need to announce "ChatGPT wrote this script!" in every lesson. But being open about your process—"I use AI tools to help draft content, then personalize everything with my expertise"—actually increases credibility.
Best practices:
- Never present AI-generated content as your original thoughts
- Always fact-check AI claims (it hallucinates sometimes)
- Maintain the same quality standards you'd have for human-created content
- Use AI to enhance your teaching, not replace the thinking behind it
Your students chose you for a reason. AI helps you serve them better and faster. That's a win for everyone.
Tools Beyond ChatGPT
ChatGPT gets all the headlines, but it's not the only option:
Claude (by Anthropic): Often better for longer-form content, nuanced writing, and following complex instructions. Great for scripts and lesson content.
Perplexity: Excellent for research with citations. Use it when you need to verify facts or explore current trends in your field.
Descript: AI-powered video and audio editing. Remove filler words, generate transcripts, and even clone your voice for corrections.
Notion AI: Helpful for organizing course materials, brainstorming, and creating databases of content.
Canva AI: Generate course graphics, social media assets, and presentation slides quickly.
The best approach? Experiment with several tools and find what fits your workflow. Different tasks benefit from different tools.
Your Action Steps
You've got the knowledge. Now let's put it into practice.
This week:
- Choose one AI tool and commit to learning it (ChatGPT or Claude are great starting points)
- Create your voice profile using the prompt above—this will save hours on future content
- Generate one course outline for a module you've been procrastinating on
- Edit the output using the framework we discussed—add stories, opinions, and your unique perspective
- Time yourself. Compare how long it takes with AI assistance versus your previous workflow
Remember: The goal isn't perfection on day one. It's progress. Every piece of content you create with AI assistance teaches you how to use these tools more effectively.
AI won't make you a better educator. But it will give you more time and energy to be the educator your students need.
Next Step
Ready to turn your AI-assisted outline into a course students will love? Read our guide on How to Structure Your Online Course for Maximum Student Engagement to learn the psychology behind course design that keeps learners coming back.
Or if you're ready to stop planning and start building, create your free MineCourse account and launch your first module this week.