Introduction
Creating a digital course on your own is a challenge. Doing it in partnership with another creator adds layers of complexity—but also opportunity. Co-producing a course allows you to combine expertise, reach broader audiences, and offer students a richer learning experience. Yet without the right structure, even the most promising collaborations can result in an unorganized, disjointed course that confuses learners.
A well-structured co-produced digital course is clear, engaging, and balanced. It reflects both creators’ strengths without sacrificing coherence. In this guide, we’ll walk through how to plan, organize, and deliver a co-produced course that delivers real transformation and stands out in the crowded world of online education.
1. Start with a Unified Course Vision
Before you touch a single slide or script, you and your co-producer must get crystal clear on the course’s vision.
Ask yourselves:
- What problem does this course solve?
- Who is the ideal student?
- What transformation should they achieve?
- How will we measure success?
Create a shared document that outlines:
- Your student avatar
- Your course’s primary promise (transformation)
- Your tone and style
- Your values and teaching philosophy
This is your north star. All decisions—from structure to marketing—should align with it.
2. Break the Course Into Logical Sections
Divide the course into sections or modules, each covering a key concept or milestone. Each module should move the student closer to the course’s ultimate goal.
For example, a digital marketing course might be structured like:
- Foundations of Online Marketing
- Building a Website
- Email Marketing
- Paid Ads
- Launch Strategies
In co-produced courses, this division is also useful for assigning work. Each instructor can take ownership of specific sections based on their expertise.
3. Define Who Teaches What—and Why
Co-production doesn’t mean splitting everything 50/50. It means playing to your strengths.
- Is one of you a better speaker? Let them take the video-heavy modules.
- Is the other stronger with systems and workflows? Let them lead technical or step-by-step tutorials.
- Do you both have strong perspectives on a topic? Consider co-teaching a module.
Define these teaching responsibilities in a shared document. Clearly assign:
- Who writes which scripts
- Who records which videos
- Who creates slides or visuals
- Who edits or reviews
This avoids overlap and ensures accountability.
4. Create a Consistent Learning Experience
Even with multiple instructors, the course should feel seamless to the student. This requires consistency in:
- Slide design: Use one template, one font family, one color palette.
- Lesson structure: Keep videos similar in length and format (e.g., intro > teaching > summary > call to action).
- Terminology: Agree on how you’ll refer to key concepts.
- Tone and language: Will you be casual and conversational? Or more formal?
A good practice is to create a shared style guide for your course. This ensures every piece of content matches the tone, pace, and visual identity of the whole course.
5. Use Clear Progression and Flow
Students should feel a logical journey from start to finish. Your structure should:
- Build knowledge progressively (start simple, add complexity)
- Group related lessons together
- Introduce new tools or concepts only when necessary
Use learning outcomes to guide structure. Each module should have:
- 1–3 learning goals
- A clear outcome or skill gained
- A mini-project or reflection point (if applicable)
This helps students—and you—stay focused on value.
6. Incorporate Multiple Formats of Learning
Different students learn in different ways. A great co-produced course includes:
- Video lessons (screencasts, slides, talking head)
- Text summaries or transcripts
- Downloadables (PDF guides, checklists)
- Quizzes or knowledge checks
- Practical assignments or exercises
Split the work based on your strengths. For example:
- Instructor A records talking-head videos
- Instructor B creates support materials and interactive exercises
This adds depth while keeping the workflow efficient.
7. Balance Instructor Presence
If one instructor dominates most lessons, students may feel unbalanced. Unless agreed otherwise, aim to distribute teaching moments across both instructors.
Here are a few strategies:
- Alternate modules or sections
- Have joint videos for intro and conclusion
- Host live Q&A sessions together
- Use both voices in guided exercises or case studies
You don’t have to appear equally—but students should feel that both creators are present and engaged throughout the course.
8. Build in Student Interaction Points
Learning is more effective when it’s interactive. Add elements that promote engagement, such as:
- Prompts or reflections after each lesson
- Discussion forums
- Weekly challenges or tasks
- Live sessions (Zoom, webinars, AMAs)
- Private student groups (Facebook, Circle, Slack)
Clarify who will be responsible for:
- Moderating comments or discussions
- Hosting live calls
- Responding to questions
This ensures students get support while keeping workload manageable.
9. Use Feedback to Refine Structure
Once you’ve launched the first version of your course, collect structured feedback from students:
- Which modules felt too long or short?
- Were the transitions between instructors clear?
- Did students get stuck anywhere?
Then meet with your co-producer to:
- Review what worked
- Discuss where structure felt confusing
- Plan future edits
Structure is not static. Great courses evolve based on real learner experience.
10. Use Milestones and Progress Indicators
Motivation drops when students can’t see progress. Use visual markers to show them how far they’ve come.
Include:
- Module completion checklists
- Progress bars
- End-of-section reflections
- Achievement badges (if supported by your platform)
This builds momentum and boosts course completion rates.
11. Include a Strong Intro and Exit Strategy
Your first module and your final module are critical.
Intro module should:
- Welcome students warmly
- Introduce both instructors
- Explain how the course is structured
- Offer tips for success
- Share how to get support
Final module should:
- Celebrate student progress
- Summarize key takeaways
- Offer next steps (advanced course, community, certification)
- Request a testimonial or review
These bookend moments add polish and enhance student satisfaction.
12. Document Your Course Structure
Keep your structure accessible in a master document or planning tool.
Include:
- Module outlines
- Learning objectives
- Video/script status
- Assigned roles
- Timeline and deadlines
Use Notion, Trello, Airtable, or Google Docs to keep everything updated and synced between partners.
13. Match Structure to Course Length and Depth
Not all co-produced courses need 10+ hours of content. Focus on transformation, not just time.
Ask:
- How long does the average student need to master this?
- Are we overwhelming them with information?
- Can this be broken into a series or tiered structure?
If your course has multiple paths or outcomes, consider branching structure—different lessons for beginner vs. advanced learners, for example.
14. Plan for Scaling and Updates
A good structure supports long-term evolution. Think ahead:
- Can you add bonus modules later without confusion?
- Could you swap in a new instructor without disrupting the flow?
- Can you duplicate this structure for a series of related courses?
Design modularly so your course can grow with your business.
15. Create a Cohesive Student Journey
Your course isn’t just a collection of lessons—it’s a journey.
Tie lessons together with:
- Storytelling and metaphors
- Recaps at the start of each module
- References to earlier content
- Callbacks and reminders
- A clear, empowering final transformation
Students should feel like they’ve been led, not just taught.
Conclusion
Structure is the secret weapon of any great digital course—and it’s even more crucial when two minds are working together. With a clear vision, strong planning, and open communication, you and your co-producer can build a course that flows smoothly, educates effectively, and scales with your audience.
Start by aligning your vision, divide responsibilities based on strength, and build consistency through templates, milestones, and feedback. With thoughtful structure, your co-produced course won’t just be good—it’ll be transformational.