Course Authoring in eLearning: Guide, Process, Features, Types

Course authoring in eLearning is the process of planning, structuring, and building digital learning experiences using dedicated authoring tools, then packaging them for delivery through a learning platform such as an LMS or web-based academy.

In practice, course authoring brings together four moving parts:

A clear learning goal (for example, reduce new-hire onboarding time by 30% within 90 days).
A learning design that sequences content, practice, and assessment.
A delivery environment such as an LMS, customer academy, or web portal.
A course authoring tool that turns ideas and assets into interactive, trackable content.

Instructional design focuses on what learners need to know and do. Course authoring focuses on how that design becomes a usable, trackable course, ready for SCORM/xAPI export and LMS publishing.

What Does Course Authoring Mean in eLearning?

In eLearning, course authoring means translating learning objectives into structured, interactive digital content that learners can access on any device and that organisations can track reliably.

Good course authoring connects three layers:

Learning goals – the business outcomes and behavior changes you target.
Learning design – the flow of modules, lessons, activities, and assessments.
Delivery via LMS or web – the platform where learners enroll, complete activities, and generate data.

When teams author a course, they typically:

Break big topics into short, focused modules.
Choose content formats (text, video, scenarios, simulations) that fit the goal.
Add interactions and feedback to keep learners engaged.
Align everything to measurable metrics such as completion rate, quiz scores, product adoption, or compliance outcomes.

The authoring tool becomes the place where design decisions, media assets, interactivity, and tracking standards (SCORM, xAPI) come together.

How Does the Course Authoring Process Work From Idea to Launch?

A robust course authoring process usually follows seven stages. These stages stay the same whether you work with a desktop tool, a cloud platform like Compozer, or a mixed stack.

1. Define the problem and success metrics

Every course exists to solve a problem. Start by documenting:

Business problem – churn, low product adoption, inconsistent onboarding, compliance risk.
Audience – roles, prior knowledge, constraints (time, device, bandwidth, language).
Success metrics – what you track: time to proficiency, support tickets, error rate, policy violations, NPS, or feature usage.

A concrete problem statement and a small set of metrics guide every authoring decision.

2. Turn goals into learning objectives

Translate business outcomes into observable learner behaviors. For example:

Describe the three most important benefits of your platform to a new customer.
Configure a new workspace following the standard checklist without errors.
Apply the escalation procedure correctly in a realistic scenario.

Use action verbs that match cognitive level (describe, apply, troubleshoot, analyze) and tie each objective to an assessment or performance signal.

3. Structure the course into modules and lessons

Next, outline the course structure:

Group objectives into modules (orientation, core concepts, workflows, scenarios, assessment).
Break modules into short lessons that cover one main idea.
Map where you place knowledge checks, guided practice, and graded assessments.

A typical structure for a product or skills course looks like:

Orientation and value
Core concepts and terminology
Guided workflows
Scenarios and practice
Assessment and next steps

4. Gather and shape source content

Most teams start with existing assets:

Slide decks, webinar recordings, SOPs, help center articles, and product docs.
SME interviews, support call excerpts, sales demos.

During authoring, these raw materials become learning-ready content:

Long documents turn into short explanations and visuals.
Feature lists become tasks, checklists, and scenarios.
Policies become practical decision guides and branching situations.

5. Build the course inside an authoring tool

Once your content is shaped, you assemble it in a course authoring environment.

Typical build activities:

Lay out pages using templates for consistency.
Embed media (video, audio, screenshots, animations).
Add interactivity – accordions, tabs, hotspots, drag-and-drops, branching scenarios.
Configure quizzes and assessments – multiple-choice, matching, simulations, scenario-based questions.
Apply branding – colors, typography, logo, and voice.

Modern authoring tools (including web authoring platforms like Compozer) let you reuse components, block types, and templates across multiple courses, so changes roll out quickly.

6. Test with real learners

Before launch, run at least one pilot:

Check the experience on desktop, tablet, and mobile.
Test in the target LMS to confirm tracking (SCORM/xAPI events, completion logic, score reporting).
Ask a small learner group for qualitative feedback on clarity, pacing, and usefulness.

Use this data to refine confusing sections, fix technical glitches, and tighten assessments.

7. Launch, measure, and iterate

After launch, course authoring becomes an optimisation loop:

Monitor key metrics in the LMS or analytics layer.
Look for drop-off points and low-scoring topics.
Update content, add practice, or adjust assessments based on real behavior.

Continuous iteration turns course authoring into a long-term capability rather than a one-off project.

What Are the Main Types of Course Authoring Tools?

Most eLearning authoring tools fall into a few broad categories. Each type suits different use cases, team skills, and delivery environments.

1. Slide-based authoring tools

Slide-based tools feel similar to presentation software:

Linear slides with animations and transitions.
Basic quizzes and branching.
SCORM packaging for LMS upload.

They work well for rapid conversions of classroom decks into short eLearning modules, but can feel limiting for complex, highly interactive experiences.

2. Video-centric authoring tools

These tools focus on interactive video:

Add hotspots and overlays to videos.
Insert checkpoints, questions, and branching paths.
Integrate with video hosting or LMS.

They shine when video is the primary medium and you want more than passive viewing.

3. Simulation and scenario tools

Simulation platforms emphasize realistic practice:

Branching conversations and decision trees.
Software simulations and guided walkthroughs.
Performance scoring based on choices.

They are ideal for sales conversations, customer support scenarios, and systems training where realism matters.

4. Microlearning and game-based tools

Microlearning platforms specialize in short, focused learning bursts:

Mobile-first experiences.
Streaks, points, badges, and leaderboards.
Lightweight authoring focused on quick updates.

They are useful for reinforcement, just-in-time learning, and habit-building.

5. Web-native authoring platforms (like Compozer)

Web-native authoring tools treat courses as rich, responsive web experiences:

Cloud-based editors with drag-and-drop blocks.
Responsive layouts that adapt to any screen.
Strong support for SCORM/xAPI plus non-LMS publishing.

This category is especially powerful for modern academies, customer education, and product training where content needs to feel like part of your brand and website.

What Core Features Matter Most in eLearning Authoring Tools?

When you evaluate course authoring platforms, it helps to group features into a few core clusters.

Authoring experience

Look for features that make creation faster and more reliable:

Drag-and-drop editor with intuitive layout controls.
Templates and patterns for consistent page structures and interactions.
Reusable components such as blocks, sections, or lesson templates.
Media management that keeps images, audio, and video organised.

These capabilities reduce build time and keep your catalog visually consistent.

Learning experience

Your learners feel the impact of these features directly:

Responsive design so content works well on desktop, tablet, and mobile.
Rich multimedia support – images, audio, video, animations.
Interactivity – quizzes, knowledge checks, hotspots, tabs, carousels, and scenarios.
Accessibility features such as keyboard navigation, color contrast, alt text, and transcripts.

A strong learning experience keeps learners engaged and reduces friction.

Standards and integration

For many organisations, standards are non-negotiable:

SCORM support for compatibility with existing LMS deployments.
xAPI support for richer, event-level tracking across systems.
LMS publishing options (direct publish vs. SCORM package download).
Open export formats (for example HTML export when you want to host content yourself).

Standards alignment protects your investment and avoids vendor lock-in.

Collaboration and governance

Course authoring often involves multiple contributors:

Multi-author workflows with clear roles and permissions.
Review and comment flows for SMEs, designers, and stakeholders.
Version control so you can track changes and roll back when needed.

Good governance prevents accidental overwrites and keeps content quality high.

Analytics and optimisation

Finally, look at how the tool helps you improve over time:

Engagement tracking (time on page, completion, quiz performance).
Activity data via xAPI for deeper behavioral analysis.
Simple reporting views that surface what to fix next.

Together, these features turn course authoring into a continuous improvement loop.

How Does Compozer Fit Into Course Authoring?

Compozer is a cloud-based eLearning authoring platform that sits squarely in the web-native category. It is designed for teams that want responsive, standards-based courses without heavyweight desktop tools.

At a high level, Compozer helps course authors:

Build modern, web-like course experiences using blocks and templates.
Maintain brand consistency with reusable design systems.
Export to SCORM and xAPI for LMS delivery, or publish via HTML when needed.
Collaborate in real time across instructional designers, SMEs, and reviewers.

Because it is cloud-native, Compozer supports distributed teams and continuous iteration without install or update headaches.

What Are Compozer’s Key Features and How Do They Help?

While your exact configuration and plan may vary, the following feature clusters capture how Compozer supports course authoring.

Blocks and templates

A rich library of blocks for text, media, and interaction.
Customizable templates for common lesson types and layouts.
Reusable patterns that standardize navigation, assessment placement, and call-to-action sections.

These features reduce build time and make it easier to roll out multiple courses with a consistent learner experience.

Content development tools

Built-in knowledge checks and quizzes for formative and summative assessment.
Media management for images, audio, and video assets.
Support for downloadable resources such as checklists and job aids.

Together, they give instructional designers a complete toolkit for building rich, practice-oriented courses.

Collaboration and workflows

Multi-author editing so teams can work in parallel.
Permission controls to separate authors, reviewers, and viewers.
Structured review workflows with comments and approvals.

This helps L&D teams and SMEs iterate quickly without losing track of who changed what.

Branding and design customization

Brand kits for colors, typography, and logos.
Reusable style presets for headings, buttons, and components.
Layout controls that keep courses on-brand without heavy design effort.

Learners experience your courses as part of a coherent brand, not a generic template.

Accessibility support

Features to help you meet WCAG-aligned accessibility practices.
Support for alt text, captions, and transcripts.
Structures that encourage keyboard navigation and screen reader compatibility.

Accessibility is both a compliance requirement and a learner experience advantage.

Publishing and distribution

SCORM export for LMS compatibility.
xAPI export for richer learning data.
HTML export and secure sharing options when you want to host or share content outside an LMS.

These options give you flexibility across internal training, customer academies, and partner enablement.

How Do SCORM, xAPI, and LMSs Fit Into Course Authoring?

Three concepts come up repeatedly in course authoring discussions: SCORM, xAPI, and LMSs.

SCORM (Sharable Content Object Reference Model) defines how eLearning content packages communicate basic data to an LMS: launch, completion, score, and time.
xAPI (Experience API) tracks more granular learning experiences, often beyond a single LMS: practice sessions, simulations, app usage, and more.
An LMS (Learning Management System) is the platform that hosts courses, enrolls learners, and aggregates reports.

A modern course authoring tool like Compozer connects to this ecosystem by:

Packaging courses as SCORM or xAPI-compliant exports.
Ensuring the right data is sent when learners complete modules or answer questions.
Allowing teams to publish to one or more LMSs without rebuilding content from scratch.

What Pricing Plans Does Compozer Offer?

Exact pricing will depend on your current Compozer configuration and offers, but a typical plan structure might look like this:

Free or trial tier – a small number of courses and basic storage, ideal for testing workflows.
Starter or Lite tier – more courses, additional storage, and core collaboration for freelancers and very small teams.
Growth tier – higher course and storage limits plus stronger collaboration, suited to L&D teams rolling out multiple programs.
Pro or Enterprise tier – advanced governance, higher limits, and potentially custom integrations for larger organisations.

Plan	Price	Courses	Brand Kits	Storage	Best For
Freemium	Free	1	1	200 MB	Trial use and solo testing
Lite	A$19/mo	10	2	2 GB	Freelancers and solo creators
Grow	A$49/mo + A$10/user	35	8	8 GB	Small L&D and product teams
Pro	A$99/mo + A$15/user	100	25	25 GB	Larger teams and academies
Enterprise	Custom	Unlimited	Unlimited	Unlimited	Enterprises with complex needs

Always refer to the latest Compozer pricing page for current details and regional currencies.

What Questions Should Teams Ask Before Choosing a Course Authoring Tool?

To wrap up, it helps to have a short decision checklist.

Strategy and outcomes

What business problems will this tool help us solve?
How will we measure success beyond course completion?

Team and workflow

Who will actually author content – designers, SMEs, or both?
Do we need real-time collaboration and review workflows?

Technology and standards

Which LMSs or platforms do we need to support?
Is SCORM enough, or do we need xAPI-level tracking?

Learner experience

How important is mobile consumption for our audience?
Do we have accessibility requirements we must meet?

Scalability and governance

How many courses will we manage over the next 12–24 months?
What controls do we need around permissions, versions, and brand consistency?

If you can answer these questions clearly, you are in a strong position to evaluate tools like Compozer and design a course authoring stack that will scale with your learning strategy.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Do I need coding skills to use an eLearning authoring tool?

No. Modern authoring tools such as Compozer use visual, drag‑and‑drop editors and templates. Technical skills help with advanced integrations, but they are not required to create and publish standard courses.

Can Compozer publish SCORM and xAPI packages?

Yes. Compozer supports SCORM export for LMS compatibility and xAPI export for richer learning analytics. This allows you to deliver the same content across multiple LMSs and data stacks.

How does team collaboration work in Compozer?

Teams organise projects into nested folders and manage access through permissions and roles. Multiple authors can contribute to courses, while reviewers leave comments and approve changes before publishing.

Is Compozer suitable for enterprises?

Yes. The Enterprise plan supports unlimited courses, brand kits, and storage, combined with standards support that large organisations expect.

Does Compozer support multilingual content?

Authors can design courses that support multiple languages by duplicating and localising modules while keeping layouts, branding, and interactions consistent through shared templates and blocks.

How does accessibility work in Compozer?

Compozer aligns course structures with WCAG‑informed patterns, letting authors add alt text, captions, and transcripts while preserving semantic structure. This makes it easier to build courses that work for more learners and satisfy accessibility requirements.