The Ultimate Guide to AI Tools for Creating Online Courses (2024 Edition)
Did you know that those course creators who use AI tools save an average of 60% of their development time and are in the survey of creators who increase student engagement by 45%. Artificial intelligence is no longer a luxury, but a necessity to develop online courses that are relevant in the saturated market today. Here, we will discuss the most useful AI tools to create online classes based on the experience of our team testing more than 30 different platforms and our experience of 50 successful online courses.
Alex Johnson
The instructor designer is Alex who has more than 8 years of experience in the development of online learning. He himself tested and applied dozens of AI tools to 50+ successful online courses in total, where he employed over 100,000 students.
Why AI Tools Are Revolutionizing Course Creation
During our experimentation, we have discovered that AI tools do not save time alone, but completely change the possibilities of online education. Conventional course development can take weeks of planning of content, writing of scripts, videos and making of assessments. AI automates all these elements and introduces new functionality to individual creators or small teams, which was previously unlikely to be available.
Pro Tip: The best course creators work in collaboration with AI and not as a time-saving tool. The combination of human skills and efficacy of AI is the actual strength.
A 2024 study conducted by the Online Learning Consortium found that courses designed with the help of AI have 32% higher completion rates and are rated 28% higher on student satisfaction. It is not merely the question of working faster it is about developing better learning experiences.
Key Benefits of Using AI for Course Creation
Content generation on a scale: AI can assist you in creating course outlines, lesson script, and exercise and even assessment questions basing it on your main ideas. This reduces content development time by 40-70 in our case.
Individualized Learning Plans: Advanced AI software will be able to analyze student performance and offer certain lessons or other resources that are recommended to fill knowledge gaps – something that is almost impossible to accomplish manually on a large scale.
Multimodal Content Creation: Multimodal content creation means that with AI, you can recycle text-based material, transforming it into a video, audio lesson, infographic, and an interactive activity, which can serve the needs of different learners.
Caution: AI can create content fast; however, it is essential to have human control. Always screen and edit the outputs of AI-generated materials to make sure you are correct in your content, writing the right tone, and in tandem with your philosophy of teaching.
Comprehensive AI Tool Guide for Online Courses
After testing over 30 platforms, we’ve categorized the best AI tools to create online courses based on specific use cases and creator needs. The following comparison table highlights our top recommendations across different categories:
| Tool | Best For | AI Features | Pricing | Our Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CourseAI | Complete course creation from idea to launch | Curriculum generation, content creation, marketing materials | $49/month | 9.5/10 |
| Teachable | All-in-one platform with AI enhancements | Student engagement analytics, content suggestions | $39-$299/month | 8.5/10 |
| Kajabi | Course creators who also need website and marketing | Content repurposing, email campaign automation | $119-$319/month | 8/10 |
| Thinkific | Beginners needing guidance | Course outline generation, assessment creation | $0-$499/month | 8/10 |
| LearnWorlds | Interactive and engaging courses | Interactive video creation, AI assessments | $24-$249/month | 8.5/10 |
| Podia | Simple, all-in-one solution | Content suggestions, marketing copy | $39-$199/month | 7.5/10 |
Specialized AI Tools for Specific Course Creation Tasks
Beyond all-in-one platforms, specialized AI tools can supercharge specific aspects of your course creation process:
Creation of the Content and Scripting: Jasper, copy.ai, and ChatGPT can be used to create lesson outlines, script videos, make exercises, and reach assessment questions. We have tested those tools and combined with your expertise, they are the most effective.
Video Production: AI video editors have enabled you to make high-quality video content without using a camera, microphone, or video editing software. Synthesia, Elai.io, and Pictory are examples of AI video editors. They are especially useful when it comes to scaling the content production or developing multilingual courses.
Assessment/Quizzing: You can create quizzes using your content, different types of questions, and even have different levels of difficulty based on the performance of different students using platforms such as Quizgecko and ClassPoint AI.
Success Story: One of our customers used AI tools to redesign their 8-week, in-person workshop into an in-depth online course within 3 weeks. The course has brought in 42,000 dollars during the initial 3 months and the completion rate is 94%.
5-Step Process to Create Your First AI-Powered Course
Based on our experience developing dozens of successful courses, we’ve refined a 5-step process that leverages AI at each stage while maintaining quality and authenticity.
Step 1: Ideation and Market Research
It is possible to use AI tools such as ChatGPT, MarketMuse, or AnswerThePublic to find high-demand and low-competition course topics. Enter your field of interest and request course ideas, which will be confirmed by using key word research tools. This method in our tests finds good niches 3 times quicker than a manual study.
Step 2: The Development of a Curriculum and an outline.
Input your course topic into such tools as CourseAI or curriculum generators of Thinkific and Kajabi. These will establish detailed plans in modules, lessons and learning objectives. Keep in mind that these outlines need to be refined according to your knowledge, AI only gives you the building, and you give it the details.
Step 3: Content Development
This is where AI truly shines. Consider Jasper as an example of the tools used in lesson scripts, Synthesia to create videos, and Midjourney to create visuals. The workflow that has been identified by our team to be the most effective is developing a content factory, in which AI produces the first drafts that are subsequently polished by you, without adding any quality to the content.
Step 4: Interactional Element Implementation.
Integrate interactive features such as adapting quizzes, student AI tutors and interactive video. Systems such as LearnWorlds and Adaptemy are fine in this regard. These aspects make a big impact in terms of engagement and completion.
Step 5: Launch and Marketing
Write strong sales pages, email series, and social media posts using AI copywriting software. Marketing tools such as Jasper and Copy.ai can create marketing content and applications such as analytics can optimize the launch process.
Free Resource: AI Course Creation Checklist
Download our step-by-step checklist that walks you through creating your first AI-powered online course, including tool recommendations for each stage and time-saving tips from our team.
Best Free Tools to Create Online Courses
There is no need to have a huge budget to begin developing online courses with AI. There are numerous tools that are free or in terms of trial and offer significant value:
Thinkific Free Plan: Provides an opportunity to create a full course and have an unlimited number of students. Although the free version has limited features of AI, it is a great place to begin with.
ChatGPT (Free Tier): Surprisingly the platform is capable of creating course outlines, lesson content, and even quiz questions. We have been using it especially well with brainstorming and preliminary content generation.
Canva: Canva is not an AI tool but has AI aspects such as Magic Write and AI generated images, which can be used to create impressive course visuals and presentations without spending money.
Google Classroom: It is a fully free system that has recently gained the use of AI to build assignments and provide grading support. It is perfect in academic or professional development courses.
Tricks: You can begin with free tools to test your course idea and to establish the following before spending money on the advanced platforms. There are numerous successful creators who introduce their first course on absolutely free tools.
Advanced AI Techniques for Experienced Creators
In case you already have already developed courses, and are interested in using AI in more advanced ways, you might want to consider the following methods that have been successfully implemented by us:
Individual Learning Plans: AI-based tools can be used to analyze the student performance and suggest the exact lessons or resources or practice activities. It works well with such platforms as Area9 Lyceum and Smart Sparrow.
AI Teaching Assistants: Introduce AI chatbots and have them respond to student requests 24/7 and provide immediate assistance and relieve you of the repetitive requests. We have found that it can cut instructor work by 40 percent.
Content Adaptation: Adapt the course material to fit various learning styles, language or culture using AI. This comes in handy especially when you are reaching international markets.
Predictive Analytics: deploy AI systems that allow identifying students at risk of dropping out and initiate interventions. This has boosted completion in our courses by up to 27.
7 Common Mistakes to Avoid When Using AI for Course Creation
Based on our experience and analysis of hundreds of AI-assisted courses, these are the most common pitfalls:
1. Oversight: You should not over-rely on AI Content: AI must not supplant your professional knowledge. Always check and modify AI generated material to make sure that it is accurate and it suits your style of teaching.
2. Neglect to Check Platform Compatibility: Not every AI tool is compatible with course platforms. Compatibility of the tests prior to a commitment to a tool.
3. Failure to appreciate the Learning Curve: The most user-friendly AI tools have a learning curve to handle. Consider this in developing your course.
4. Omission: Student Data Privacy: Make sure that the AI-tools you are using do not violate the data protection laws such as GDPR and FERPA.
5. Pure Concentration on Content-Creation: The most successful courses involve the use of AI across the entire student journey (marketing to onboarding to support).
6. Too Many Tools Are Making Workflow Inefficient: Tool sprawl may also cause workflow inefficiency. The integration of tools should be narrowed down to a few tools instead of utilizing all the tools available.
7. Making Unrealistic Expectations: AI is not magic, but powerful. It is faster and more efficient in terms of course development but does not exclude the involvement of pedagogical skills.
Course Builder Software Free: Start Creating Your Courses Today
The Future of AI in Online Education
Based on current developments and our industry analysis, here’s what we expect to see in the near future:
Hyper-Personalization: AI will make an experience of learning genuinely individual, wherein nobody in a course will take the exact level of path through the course.
Immersive Learning Environments: AI and VR/AR will allow the simulation of environments where learners can develop practical skills, especially within such sectors as healthcare, engineering, and trades.
Automation of course updates: The AI will be capable of constantly updating course materials in response to new knowledge, changes in the industry and student response.
Emotion-Aware Systems: AI that is capable of identifying frustration levels of students, confusion levels, or engagement levels and changing the content delivery approach.
Caution: Due to the fast development of AI, the tools and capabilities are dynamic. Keep up with the new trends but instead of following the next big thing, learn to use a set of tools and master them.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best AI tool to create online courses for beginners?
Thinkific or Teachable is our recommendation, however, to beginners. Both have easy-to-use interfaces, detailed instructions, and artificial intelligence that makes creating a course user-friendly and does not overwhelm a new user. They are also affordable to the beginners with their free or low-cost entry plans.
Is it possible to design a free online course with the help of AI?
Yes, absolutely. ChatGPT can be used to create content, Canva can be used to create images, and a platform, such as Thinkific or Google Classroom, can be used to host it, all at no cost. Though advanced features are provided in more sophisticated tools, it is not impossible to build and release a course of the professional quality without spending a penny.
What is the amount of time that AI will save in developing online courses?
According to our statistics, AI tools may take 40-70 minutes to develop a course depending on the complexity of the course and your experience in using the tools. Content creation, assessment development, and the development of marketing material is often the largest area of time saved.
Am I supposed to be a technical person to work with AI tools creating courses?
The majority of the contemporary AI tools in course development are targeted at non-technical users. They have easy to use interfaces, templates and workflow assistance. Most platforms can be used with basic computer literacy, but some more complex features might require a more significant learning curve.
What do I do to make my AI developed course more personal?
You can use AI to write structure and first drafts, but never forget to add your personal stories, examples, and insights. Film your own videos (though you might use AI avatars on certain content), interact with the students, and tailor AI-generated content to your personal vision and approach to the teaching profession.
What is the least considered AI feature to create a course?
The potential of AI-based analytics and personalisation is not fully exercised. The tools can spot struggling students automatically, suggest certain resources, and change the content delivery, and have a remarkable impact on the completion rates and learning outcomes with minimum effort on the part of the instructor.
Are You Prepared to Design Your AI-Driven Course?
Get a free strategy session with our team and find the most ideal AI tools to apply them in a specific course concept and audience. We will assist you in making a tailored implementation plan depending on your goals, budget and level of technical comfort.
Alex Johnson
As the team leader of instructional design at CourseCraft Pro, Alex has been a speaker at eLearning Industry, TechCrunch, and The eLearning Guild due to his creative method when dealing with online education. Add him as a contact on LinkedIn to learn more about AI in the course making business.
