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! ⭐ Leave a Review: Reviews help more creators find the podcast and start building transformational courses. 🧠 Need guidance? Book a discovery call or schedule an Ask an Instructional Designer Anything session for 1:1 support.