Design Backwards: The Secret to Better Online Course Flow

26.06.25 09:17 AM - By The Stella Way

Most course creators plan like they are writing a book.

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

But a course isn’t a book.

Your learners aren’t interested in your outline. They’re interested in getting results.

And often, courses packed with great content still leave learners wondering: “Where is this taking me?”

If that sounds familiar, there’s a better way.

It’s called backwards design and it will completely change how your course flows.

Prefer to watch rather than read? Watch the above video instead.

What Is Backwards Design?

Backwards design flips the process.

Instead of starting with content, you start with the outcome; the transformation your learner will walk away with.

Then, you build the course backwards, so every lesson, every activity and every moment leads them to that goal.

Let’s walk through an example to show you how it works.

Step 1: Start With the Transformation

What will your learner be able to do by the end of the course that they can’t do now?

Let’s say you’re building a course on meal planning for busy parents.

Your transformation might be:

“By the end of this course, my learner will be able to create a week-long meal plan of family meals in under 30 minutes.”

That’s clear, tangible and high value.

💡 Try this:
Use the sentence: “By the end of this course, my learners will be able to [verb] [goal].”

Step 2: Break It Down Into Learner Actions

Now ask: What does my learner need to know or practice to reach that result?

For our example, those actions might include:

Identify what meals their family enjoys

Build a list of go-to recipes

Learn to reuse leftovers

Create a shopping list

Use a planning template

These are the actions that will get them to the finish line.

Just as important: what don’t they need?

Not every interesting topic belongs in the course.

Skip:

Nutritional science

Budgeting spreadsheets

Step-by-step cooking tutorials

If it doesn’t move your learner closer to the goal, leave it out.

Step 3: Map Actions to Lessons

Now you are ready to design lessons that align directly with those actions.

For example:

Lesson 1 → “Choose 10 Go-To Meals”

Lesson 2 → “Build Your Master Ingredient List”

Lesson 3 → “Batch Cooking Basics”

Lesson 4 → “Set Up Your Weekly Planning Template”

Lesson 5 → “Plan Your First Week in 30 Minutes”

Each lesson is a stepping stone toward your learner’s transformation.

No filler.

No guessing what to include next.
Just a clear path from A to B.

What Happens When You Design This Way?

When you design backwards, everything shifts.

Suddenly, your course has direction, each lesson builds momentum rather than just filling space.

Your learners feel that clarity too. They understand why they’re learning something and how it fits into the bigger picture.

Instead of dragging themselves through another module, they are moving forward with purpose.

And you? You stop second-guessing what to add next, because every decision is anchored in the result your course promises to deliver.

Final Thoughts

If your course feels disjointed, overwhelming, or like it’s missing direction, this might be the shift you need.

Design backwards.
Map content to action.
Keep your learner’s transformation at the centre.

And suddenly, everything falls into place.

Need Help with Course Creation?

If you try even one of these tips, I’d love to hear how it goes.

And if you’re building your first course and feeling stuck, you’re not alone.

Schedule Free Strategy Call

You don’t need to figure it out alone either. Let’s talk.