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Modifying an Existing Course

Learn how to create a new version of an existing course for a different audience or focus, so the work you already did reaches more people.

Platform access level: Org Admins, Managers, and Writers (anyone who builds courses).

Modifying an existing course creates a new, tailored version of a course you already have, so the same lesson can reach a different audience without starting over.

the Build a course modal with Modify an existing course circled

1. Start a new version

From the Content page, choose Create new, then Modify an existing course.

the top of the Content page: the circled Create new button beside Content library, the All content, Recent, Favorites, and Archived tabs, and the search and Filters row

A short two-step wizard opens (Describe your course, then Generate course).

the Modify courses with AI wizard: Select course to modify, then the audience and target behavior questions

Pick the course you want to adapt under Select course to modify; Modify creates a new version, so your original course stays exactly as it is.

Tip: Modifying works well for reinforcing a course (presenting the same idea again, later) or for adapting one course to a second audience that needs the same knowledge in a different context.

2. Describe the new audience

The more clearly you define the new audience and the learning goal, the better the result. Fill in these fields:

Field

Fill in this template

Example

Audience

LEVEL + ROLE at COMPANY NAME, responsible for 1-2 RELEVANT TASKS. They need READING LEVEL OR LANGUAGE CONSIDERATIONS. Their knowledge is WHAT THEY ALREADY KNOW. Their challenge is SPECIFIC CHALLENGE. They're motivated by 1-2 MOTIVATORS.

"Individual contributors at Company Y, responsible for coaching conversations with their managers. They need clear, straightforward language since teams include non-native English speakers. Their knowledge is limited to basic feedback conversations. Their challenge is feeling unprepared for coaching conversations. They're motivated by professional growth."

Target behavior

By the end, AUDIENCE will be able to ACTION VERB + SPECIFIC KNOWLEDGE OR SKILL for PURPOSE.

"By the end, individual contributors can prepare for, engage in, and follow through on coaching conversations to drive their own development."

New focus

This version should focus on MAIN TOPIC/SKILL from the perspective of TARGET AUDIENCE'S ROLE. It should cover 2-3 KEY AREAS OF EMPHASIS. The tone should be DESIRED TONE, accommodating ANY SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS.

"This version should focus on effective coaching conversations from the perspective of the person being coached. It should cover preparing for sessions, active participation, and following through on plans. The tone should be encouraging and empowering."

Note: Reuse the audience formula from Building a Course with Creator as your starting point; the audience field here adds the reading-level and task-responsibility detail on top.

3. What Modify rewrites, and what it carries over

Modify is built to take a course you already have and rewrite it for a new audience or a new focus. The new version keeps the shape of the original and rewrites what sits inside it.

  • Rewritten for the new audience: Modify rewrites the wording of every lesson, the examples and terminology, the reading level and tone, the existing questions and their difficulty, the success and failure responses, and the course name and description.

  • Carried over as they are: Your images and videos come across untouched, along with the reference sources attached to the original. Every language the original course was translated into is translated again on the new version. Each translated language appears as Needs review in the Course languages panel until you turn it on for learners. See Managing Course Languages.

  • Same structure as the original: The new version has the same lessons, in the same order, with the same blocks in each one. Lessons that already fit the audience you described come through unchanged.

On a course with more than one language, if a language contains text the default language does not, the Some content won't carry over window appears before the new version generates. You can fill in the default-language version first, or select Generate anyway to continue without that language's text.

To add a lesson or an extra question to a course you already have, use the content editor. Add block gives you a new question or media block, which AI can then fill in for you, and Add content gives you a new lesson. See Using the Content Editor for both.

Tip: If the new audience needs more practice than the original course offers, generate the new version first, then open it in the content editor and add the questions you want. That way the rewrite and the additions each do the part they are best at.

4. Generate and review

Generate the new version, then review it the same way you would any new course. It opens in the content editor, where you read every lesson, check the questions fit the new audience, and adjust before you schedule it. See Using the Content Editor for the editing surface and Using Question Types and AI Assessment for choosing question types and setting up AI assessment.

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Note: Need help at any point? Reach out to your Arist Customer Success contact, or email [email protected].

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