Course design is the first of the four stages of teaching distance learners. The work in this stage should take into account the other three stages: course delivery, instruction, and learner support.

In designing a course, the following questions should be considered:

• What are the learners' circumstances?
• What is the content?
• What are the learning outcomes, or objectives?
• What is the course structure?
• What kind of interaction will there be?
• How will the course design be evaluated?
• What delivery technologies are available to the learners?
• Which of these technologies is most suitable for each objective?
• What exercises and assignments will the student be given?

Education managers will need to decide whether a course will be designed by a specialist course team (and taught by specialist instructors) or designed by the person who will teach it.