AI Video Course Creator

# AI Video Course Creator – Implementation Instructions

1Overview

This workflow transforms course concepts into complete, professionally produced video lessons in days instead of weeks. You'll use AI to generate scripts, create presenter videos with synthetic avatars, design thumbnails, and manage distribution—reducing hands-on production time by 20–30 hours per month. This pack is ideal for instructors, corporate trainers, and content creators who need to scale video production without a full production team.

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2What's in This Pack

1. ChatGPT

What it does: ChatGPT is a large language model (LLM)—a type of AI trained on vast amounts of text data—that generates human-like written content based on your prompts. You can ask it to write, edit, brainstorm, or transform text in any format, and it responds conversationally in seconds.

Role in this workflow: Generates detailed video scripts from course outlines, learning objectives, and key talking points.

Documentation: ChatGPT Documentation

• Scripts generated by ChatGPT require human review and editing to match your teaching style and course branding.
• Longer, more detailed prompts (including course context, tone, and target audience) produce higher-quality scripts on the first attempt.

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2. DALL-E 3

What it does: DALL-E 3 is an image generation AI that creates original images from text descriptions. You describe what you want to see, and it generates a unique image in seconds—no design skills required.

Role in this workflow: Generates professional, branded video thumbnails based on lesson topics and your design specifications.

Documentation: DALL-E 3 Documentation

• Generated images may require light editing (cropping, text overlay) in a tool like Canva to add titles or branding.
• DALL-E 3 does not allow generation of images of real public figures; for course thumbnails featuring real people, use reference photos of your instructors instead.

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3. Synthesia

What it does: Synthesia is a video generation platform that converts written text into professional video presentations using AI-powered virtual presenters (avatars). You provide a script, select an avatar and voice, and it generates a polished video ready to share.

Role in this workflow: Transforms scripts into video lessons featuring a consistent, professional AI presenter avatar.

Documentation: Synthesia Documentation

• Video generation takes 5–15 minutes per lesson depending on script length; plan for processing time between script completion and video delivery.
• Avatar consistency across lessons reinforces brand identity; select one primary avatar and voice at the start and stick with it throughout your course.

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4. Loom

What it does: Loom is a screen recording and video messaging tool for Windows and macOS (plus a Chrome extension) that lets you capture your screen, camera, or both, then share videos instantly via link. It's designed for quick, asynchronous communication and video documentation.

Role in this workflow: Records supplementary screen-share lessons, edits and organizes final videos, and provides shareable links for course distribution and student access.

Documentation: Loom Documentation

• Loom integrates tightly with learning management systems (LMS) like Canvas and Blackboard, making it easy to embed videos directly in course platforms.
• Free tier videos expire after 365 days; upgrade to Standard or Business if you need permanent storage.

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3Prerequisites

Before you begin, gather the following:

• Paid accounts: ChatGPT Plus ($20/month), DALL-E 3 ($20/month), and Synthesia Standard ($25/month). These paid tiers are non-negotiable for production-quality output.
• Loom account: Either free ($0/month) or Standard ($12/month), depending on your recording and branding needs.
• Laptop or desktop computer: Required to download and install the Loom Chrome extension or desktop app. Most modern machines (Windows 10+, macOS 10.14+) will work.
• API (Application Programming Interface) keys: You will not need API keys for this workflow if you use the web interfaces. If you later integrate with Make (a visual automation tool), you will need the Synthesia API token, which you can generate in your Synthesia account settings.
• Course content prepared: Gather your course outline, learning objectives, lesson topics, and any existing notes or materials you want the AI tools to reference.
• Brand guidelines document (optional but helpful): Compile your brand colors, fonts, tone, and visual style to reference when generating thumbnails and scripts.

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4Setup & Integration Guide

5. Setting Up ChatGPT

1. Go to https://chat.openai.com and sign up for a new account using your email or Google/Microsoft credentials.
2. After signup, navigate to Settings > Billing > Upgrade to Plus and enter your payment information.
3. Confirm your subscription: You should see "ChatGPT Plus" in the top-left corner of the chat interface.
4. Create a folder or document to store your custom prompt templates. We recommend saving a standardized prompt like the following:

> "You are an expert course instructor. Write a video script for a [COURSE LEVEL] course on [TOPIC]. The script should be [DURATION] long, teach the following concepts: [LIST], and adopt a [TONE] tone. Include an engaging opening, clear explanations, and a strong closing call-to-action."

Save this template and customize the bracketed sections for each lesson.

1. Test the tool: Paste one of your course outlines into ChatGPT and request a script. Review the output for quality before moving forward.

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6. Setting Up DALL-E 3

1. If you have a ChatGPT Plus account, DALL-E 3 is already available. Navigate to https://chat.openai.com and log in.
2. In the chat interface, look for the image icon at the bottom of the input field. Click it to open the image generation prompt.
3. Alternatively, visit https://openai.com/dall-e-3 and click Start creating to access DALL-E 3 directly.
4. Create a thumbnail prompt template and save it in your brand guidelines document. Example:

> "Create a YouTube video thumbnail (1280x720 pixels) for a lesson titled '[LESSON NAME]'. Use [YOUR BRAND COLOR] as the primary color, include the lesson title in bold white text, and add a [RELEVANT ICON/IMAGE]. Avoid text smaller than 40 pixels. Professional, modern style."

1. Generate your first thumbnail: Paste one of your lesson titles into the thumbnail prompt template and submit it to DALL-E 3. Review the output.

1. Download the generated image: Right-click the generated image and select Save image as to download it as a PNG (Portable Network Graphic) file.

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7. Setting Up Synthesia

1. Go to https://synthesia.io and click Sign up.
2. Create an account using your email and set a password.
3. On the dashboard, navigate to Subscription > Plans and upgrade to the Standard plan at $25/month. Confirm your payment method.
4. After upgrade, navigate to Dashboard > Create new video.
5. Select a presenter avatar:

• Click Choose presenter and review available avatars.
• Select one avatar that matches your course's professional tone (e.g., a business-attire avatar for corporate training).
• Do not change avatars between lessons; consistency builds brand recognition.

1. Select a voice:

• Click Choose voice and listen to sample voices.
• Select one voice (e.g., US English - Female 1) and stick with it for all lessons.
• Ensure the voice matches your avatar's profile (gender, accent, tone).

1. Create a test video:

• In the script field, paste a short test script (3–4 sentences).
• Click Generate video.
• Wait 10–15 minutes for processing.
• Review the output for quality (avatar appearance, voice clarity, pacing).

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8. Setting Up Loom

1. Go to https://loom.com and click Sign up free (or upgrade to Standard for $12/month if needed).
2. Create an account using your email or Google credentials.
3. Download the Loom desktop app or Chrome extension:

• For Chrome: Visit https://chrome.google.com/webstore, search for "Loom," and click Add to Chrome.
• For macOS/Windows: Visit https://loom.com/download and download the installer. Run it and follow the on-screen setup.

1. After installation, a Loom icon will appear in your browser toolbar (Chrome) or in your Applications folder (macOS/Windows).
2. Create a folder for your course videos:

• Log in to https://loom.com on the web.
• Click Folders in the left sidebar.
• Click New folder and name it after your course (e.g., "Advanced Python - 2024").

1. Configure sharing settings (if using Standard plan):

• Click Settings > Sharing.
• Choose your default sharing permissions (e.g., "Accessible by link" or "Private").
• This ensures all course videos have consistent access control.

1. Test the tool:

• Open a blank tab in your browser and click the Loom icon.
• Click Start recording, record 10 seconds of your screen, then Stop.
• Review the recording and confirm it was saved to your course folder.

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5Step-by-Step Workflow

9. Step 1: Prepare Your Course Content & Create ChatGPT Prompts

Tool: ChatGPT

Action: Open ChatGPT Plus and create a detailed course outline. For each lesson, note the topic, learning objectives, key concepts, and desired script length (typically 2–5 minutes of speaking time, which translates to 400–800 words). Format this as a bulleted list. Then, craft a detailed prompt for ChatGPT that includes:

• The lesson topic
• The target audience (e.g., "absolute beginners," "intermediate professionals")
• The tone (e.g., "conversational and encouraging," "formal and technical")
• Key talking points or concepts to include
• The desired script length

Example: "Write a 500-word video script for a beginner Python course on list comprehensions. Use a conversational, encouraging tone. Include a real-world example and a common beginner mistake to avoid."

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10. Step 2: Generate Video Scripts with ChatGPT

Tool: ChatGPT

Action: Open ChatGPT Plus. For each lesson, paste your customized prompt (from Step 1) into the chat. Wait for the AI to generate a script. Once received, read through the script and make the following edits:

• Add or remove content to match your expertise and voice
• Correct any factual errors
• Adjust the tone to match your personal teaching style
• Add specific examples or case studies relevant to your audience
• Ensure transitions between sections are smooth

Save the final edited script in a text file named after the lesson (e.g., "Lesson_01_Introduction.txt").

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11. Step 3: Generate Video Lessons with Synthesia

Tool: Synthesia

Action: Log in to Synthesia and click Create new video. In the script field, paste the edited script from Step 2. Confirm that your previously selected avatar and voice are active. Do not change these settings; consistency is critical. Click Generate video and wait 10–15 minutes for processing. Once complete, review the video in the Synthesia player:

• Watch for any pronunciation errors (especially in technical terms or proper nouns).
• Check that the avatar's mouth movements sync with the audio.
• Verify that the pacing feels natural and not rushed.

If errors are present, edit the script (correct spelling, break long sentences into shorter ones) and regenerate. If the video is acceptable, proceed to download.

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12. Step 4: Create Thumbnails with DALL-E 3

Tool: DALL-E 3

Action: Open ChatGPT Plus (DALL-E 3 is integrated). Click the image generation icon at the bottom of the input field. Paste your customized thumbnail prompt (from Setup step 4) and substitute the lesson title and topic. Wait for DALL-E 3 to generate the image. Review the generated thumbnail:

• Does it clearly communicate the lesson topic?
• Are text elements large and readable?
• Does it match your brand colors and style?
• Does it stand out visually in a YouTube playlist or course page?

If the thumbnail is unsatisfactory, regenerate by modifying your prompt (e.g., "Make the text larger," "Use brighter colors," "Add more visual interest to the background").

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13. Step 5: Organize & Share Videos with Loom

Tool: Loom

Action: Log in to Loom at https://loom.com. Navigate to the course folder you created in Setup (e.g., "Advanced Python - 2024"). Click Upload video. Select the MP4 file from Step 3 (e.g., "Lesson_01_Introduction.mp4"). Wait for the upload to complete (typically 2–5 minutes). Once uploaded:

• The video title will auto-populate; edit it to match your lesson title (e.g., "Lesson 1: Introduction to Loops").
• Click the Edit video button (pencil icon) and add a description. Include the learning objectives, key topics, and any resources or links students should access.
• Upload the thumbnail image from Step 4: Click Change thumbnail, select Upload image, and choose your PNG file (e.g., "Thumbnail_Lesson_01.png").
• Confirm sharing settings: Ensure the video is set to Accessible by link (or your preferred sharing mode).
• Click Save.

Repeat this process for all lessons in your course.

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6Integration Map

The data flow through this workflow is sequential and mostly manual:

1. ChatGPT → (Text script, exported as .txt) → Step 1–2: You review and edit the script locally.
2. Edited script → (Copy-paste as plain text) → Synthesia → (Step 3): Synthesia generates the video.
3. Synthesia → (MP4 video file, downloaded) → Loom → (Step 5): You upload the MP4 to Loom.
4. DALL-E 3 → (PNG image file, downloaded) → Loom → (Step 5): You upload the PNG as the video thumbnail.
5. Loom → (Shareable links and embedded players) → Your course platform or website: You distribute videos to students.

14. What Can Be Automated

• If you use Make (a visual automation platform), you can create a workflow that automatically triggers Synthesia video generation when a new ChatGPT script is saved to Google Drive. However, this requires the Synthesia API and is beyond the scope of this beginner-friendly pack. For now, script generation and video creation are manual steps.

15. What Requires Manual Copy-Paste and Why

• ChatGPT to Synthesia: You must manually copy the edited script and paste it into Synthesia because ChatGPT does not have a direct integration with Synthesia. This step ensures you review the script for quality and accuracy before video generation.
• Synthesia to Loom: You must download the MP4 file from Synthesia and upload it to Loom because Synthesia does not push videos directly to Loom. This step gives you control over video organization and metadata (title, description, thumbnail).
• DALL-E 3 to Loom: Similarly, you download the PNG thumbnail and manually upload it to Loom to ensure it matches the video.

Why manual steps are beneficial: These manual handoffs allow you to review quality at each stage, make corrections, and maintain creative control. Automation can be added later if you scale production and are confident in the output quality.

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7Troubleshooting