Course Companion eBooks
A course companion gives learners something they can return to between lessons. Connect summaries, examples and exercises to the course so the book is easy to navigate when a question comes up.
Start your book, freeWhat is a course companion eBook?
A course companion is a written resource designed to support an existing or planned course. It may summarize lessons, collect reference material and provide practice activities. Its structure should make the relationship to the course clear; a companion does not need to repeat a video transcript word for word.
How should a course companion match its lessons?
A course companion should connect the learning objective, the practice activity and the way understanding is checked. A summary alone may not prepare a learner for a task that requires applying or analyzing the material.
“assessments, learning objectives, and instructional strategies need to be closely aligned”
- Carnegie Mellon’s alignment model links three components: learning objectives, assessments and instructional strategies.
- For an original three-module course example, make three companion entries. Each entry names the module, its objective, a practice activity and a check; this is a mapping example, not a required chapter count.
- If the course asks learners to apply a skill, check that the companion includes application practice instead of only factual recall questions.
Give Bookeen the actual lesson outline and objectives, then review each companion chapter against that map. A complete mapping helps you find omissions; it is not evidence of a particular course-completion percentage.
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When to choose this book type
- Choose a course companion when learners need a reference alongside lessons.
- Use the course outline and learning objectives as the starting material.
- Create a standalone how-to guide if the book must teach the subject without the course.
A practical outline
- Map the course modules and explain how to use the companion.
- Summarize the ideas and vocabulary for each lesson.
- Add examples, practice and questions for review.
- Collect reusable references and a final application task.
A companion for a course on planning a workshop
The course introduces audience research, learning objectives and session design. The companion follows the same module names and offers a planning sheet at each stage. A learner who returns after the course can find a checklist or example without replaying every lesson. If the book is later sold independently, the author adds explanations for ideas previously demonstrated only in video.
How do you plan course companion chapters?
Map the course lessons, objectives and materials before drafting course companion chapters. Some lessons may belong together in a reference chapter; others need their own activity. Preserve recognizable labels so learners can find the matching material.
- Connect each chapter to a course objective.
- Use stable lesson names or numbers.
- Explain any material learners need from elsewhere.
Add value beyond a transcript
A transcript records what was said. A companion helps readers use what they learned. Distill the explanation, show the decision process and include an activity or reference that is useful away from the video.
- Summarize the key ideas in plain language.
- Include a worked example where it helps application.
- Provide a review question or practical next step.
Draft the companion in Bookeen
Bring your outline, lesson notes and approved examples to Bookeen. Develop chapters around the learner journey, then check them against the current course. Review both the book and the course whenever lesson names or processes change.
- Remove duplicated introductions and filler.
- Check that references point to the correct lesson.
- Decide which material needs a printable layout.
Compare book types
How-To Guide eBooks
A how-to guide helps readers complete a specific task. Start with the result, show the steps in a workable order and explain how to tell whether each step succeeded.
Research Report eBooks
A research report earns attention through its evidence. Explain what you investigated, how you investigated it and what the findings can reasonably tell the reader.
Workbook eBooks
A workbook turns reading into practice. Give each exercise a purpose, a clear instruction and enough space for the reader to respond, reflect or make a decision.
Readers, files and next steps
Explore a related writing situation, then choose an edition that suits your readers.
Explore the Bookeen book creatorCourse Companion eBooks: questions answered
Must every lesson have a separate chapter?
No. Use the structure that makes the companion easiest to navigate. Several short lessons may fit in one chapter, while a complex lesson may need multiple reference sections. Keep the mapping visible.
Is a course companion the same as a workbook?
A companion supports a course and may mix summaries, references and exercises. A workbook is primarily activity-driven. Choose the leading purpose, then include other material where it helps the learner.
Can I sell the companion separately?
You can plan a standalone edition, but review it for dependence on the course. Add missing explanations and examples, and remove instructions that only make sense to enrolled learners. Rights and distribution decisions remain with the author.
Will a companion guarantee course completion?
No. A useful reference can support learning, but completion depends on the course, the learner and the context. Review whether learners can find and apply the material instead of promising a numerical improvement.
How should I keep it up to date?
Track which chapters correspond to which lessons. When a lesson changes, review its summary, activities, examples and references together. Include an edition note when it helps readers identify the course version the book supports.