12Create Example Content

The example content creation is the most extensive task during the preparation phase and a task that shouldn't be rushed. At the same time this is one of the most exciting tasks because it offers the opportunity to become creative and use your own ideas.

The aim of example content

The example content is the first thing people see when you show them around your subject. It represents what you are doing and is therefore extremely important for making other people interested in your project.

The aim of all content on Serlo is to be motivating for pupils to learn. It therefore has to be easy to understand, fun to read and interactive, giving pupils the opportunity to learn self-reliant and to have fun doing so. You can read more about this at the bottom of the page.

Example content lays the foundation for all future content on your subject.

The Golden Rule of content creation

Example content should visualize your mission statement. Your mission statement answers what impact you want to have. Your example content answers how you want to achieve the intended impact.

When creating content, always ask yourself whether your content follows the Golden Rule.

Creating example content

Create content together

Sprints are perfect opportunities for creating example content. Get together and create content in an iterative development process. This means writing content simultaneously for a set amount of time and then reviewing, discussing and giving feedback on each other's content.

Chose an interesting and comprehensive topic

The topic you choose should interest you in the first place, because your own interest will determine how interesting you can make the content for others. You could choose a topic that pupils generally have troubles understanding to show that it can be taught understandably.

Create a course and use articles, exercises and videos to support it

Show the range of different types of content to approach everyone regardless of their mindset or mood with the content that is best for them. If you feel active, you want to work on an exercise and if you feel less so, you would rather lay back and watch a video. So make one educational, extensive course and support it with articles, exercises and videos to cover up the topic you chose completely.

Your content should be

• Easy to understand

Think about your audience. You are generally addressing pupils with different kinds of strengths and weeknesses, so make the language accessible to everyone.

• Interactive

Interactivity means creating Spoilers, links and applets. Things people can interact with to make learning more fun.

• Fun to read

A text that is fun to read is always nicer than a dull text. Pictures are always nice, but also diverse sentence structure and vocabulary can help.

Interdisciplinary Guidelines for Learning Content

Here are some links for general guidelines for content on Serlo and we recommend looking through them.

• Target Group and Pedagogy (Translations: German)

• Overview of content formats (Translations: German)

• Articles - Structure (Translations: German)

• Courses - Structure (Translations: German)

• Articles and courses - Formating (Translations: German)

• Exercise task (Translations: German)

• Exercise solutions (Translations: German)

• Embed Learning Videos (Translations: German)

• Create Learning Videos (Translations: German)

• Graphics and applets (Translations: German)

• References and licensing (Translations: German)

• Related content: relevant links under "related content" and how they are sorted (Translations: German)

• Horizon: Which content is allowed in the horizon secture below the learning content? (Translations: German)

Collect feedback

• from your target group

• from teachers

• from other Serlo members