Figuring out what to say

Okay, now that you’ve figured out who you’re going to teach, it’s time to decide what you’re going to say. This is one of my favorite parts! I have a simple two-step process for this: expand and contract.

The first step is the expansion phase, which is all about research and gathering ideas. The second step is the contraction phase, where we refine, organize, and structure your content. Both steps are low-pressure and designed to keep you moving forward.

The expansion phase: gathering ideas

During this phase, your goal is to gather as much relevant information as possible. Depending on your subject and experience, your research might look different.

Example 1: Teaching what you know

When I created my accounting course, I had already spent three years tutoring the subject. My research was done! I simply took the syllabus and taught the material I knew inside and out.

You might find yourself in a similar position. If you’ve been working in a field for years, your knowledge is your research. All you have to do is get it organized.

Example 2: Learning to teach

On the other hand, when I created my database courses (SQL, SQLite, and PostgreSQL), I knew I needed to deepen my knowledge. I bought books, printed out documentation, and read countless blog posts.

While reading, I approached the material from the perspective of my audience. Every time something made me think, "Huh, that’s interesting," I highlighted it or added a sticky note. Your attention is a great indicator of what will resonate with your audience.

Tips for effective research

• Stay low-pressure. Don’t worry about how or where this information will fit in your course.
• Highlight freely. Mark anything that grabs your attention or seems important.
• Think like your audience. Read with their mindset in mind.

The contraction phase: refining your content

Once you’ve gathered your material, it’s time to refine and organize it. This phase is about turning your research into a clear structure.

Step 1: Transfer to a document

Create a large text document and write down everything that stood out during your research. These might be half-formed thoughts, questions, or interesting facts.

Step 2: Group similar ideas

Read through your document and look for connections. When two or more ideas seem related, move them closer together. This will naturally form clusters that can turn into individual lessons or videos.

Step 3: Arrange in logical order

Next, determine the most logical sequence. If you’re teaching something complex, ensure foundational concepts come first. Move more advanced topics further down.

Discovering your course structure

Often, a clear structure will emerge from this process. For example, while developing this course, it became obvious that I needed to cover editing only after I covered recording, and recording only after we figured out what to say.

You might also decide to include practical application sections. In my database course, I ended with real-world application videos, where I could reference lessons we had already covered.

Final Thoughts

The expansion and contraction phases are designed to give you confidence in your content. By the end of this process, you’ll have a clear outline and a solid understanding of what you’re going to teach.

Next up, we’ll dive into breaking your course into videos and modules. But for now, celebrate the progress you’ve made!