Do I Need Slides? Choosing the Right Format for Your Course Content - 13

Do you really need slides to make your online course work—or can you just rock a messy bun and teach from your heart? In this episode of Unlock Course Creation, Cassandra breaks down five of the most common course content formats: video, audio, live sessions, workbooks, and slides. She shares the pros, cons, and best-use scenarios for each so you can stop overthinking and start creating with confidence.

Key Takeaways:

• You don’t need just one format! Most courses benefit from mixing and matching content types.
• Video: Great for visuals and tutorials, but requires more setup.
• Audio: Flexible and easy to produce—perfect for solo topics or mindset lessons.
• Live Sessions: High engagement and real-time feedback—but harder to scale.
• Workbooks: Help reinforce learning, but require clear direction and buy-in.
• Slides: Provide structure for complex topics, but can easily fall flat without thoughtful design.
• Consider your content complexity, your audience’s lifestyle, and your tech comfort level when choosing formats.

Timestamps:

• [01:54] Overview of the five course content formats
• [03:33] Celebrating 600 downloads & April’s 30 Reels challenge! 🎉
• [05:30] Video Content: Face-to-camera vs. screen share
• [09:34] Audio Content: The “white noise” of online learning
• [12:31] Live Sessions: The engagement goldmine (but beware time zones!)
• [17:30] Workbooks & Printables: When to use them, how to keep them relevant
• [20:10] Slide-Based Content: Great for structure, but tricky to get right
• [25:55] Picking the right format: Ask the right questions
• [28:16] Instructional Design in the Real World: A unique group-based learning experience from a cohort course
• [32:52] Final reminders & call to action

Call to Action:

💌 Join the Unlock Course Creation Email List: Get updates when new episodes drop and stay in the loop with new offers and tips → cassandrameszaros.ca/email

📲 Follow Cassandra on Instagram @Cassandra.Meszaros – she’s doing 30 Reels in 30 Days!

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