Section Types

Section types define what a section does — its semantic purpose and pedagogical role. Each section in a course has both a type (meaning) and a format (presentation). See section_formats.md for formats.

The Enabled flag controls which types are available to the generator. Disabled types remain in the system but must not appear in course outlines or content plans.

Overview

Introduction

Learning_Introduction

Status: ✅ Enabled Placement: In the first "Welcome to the course" topic only (section 1.1.2 — always in video format)

Purpose: Introduces the trainers and learning objectives. Provides a roadmap for what is coming in the first module.

Instructions: The introduction must include:

• Introduction of the trainer in the first person — explain why the viewer can trust them. Remember: a virtual trainer cannot claim non-existent work experience. Focus on training with a large database.
• A powerful hook: a question, challenge, or surprising fact.
• The relevance of the topic for the target learner.
• Key problems the course helps solve.
• Clear learning objectives. Strong formulation: [timeframe] + [learner] + [action verb] + [content] + [context].
• Overview of the course structure.
• Warm words before the course begins.

Trainer_Bio

Status: ✅ Enabled Placement: In the first "Welcome to the course" topic only (section 1.1.1 — always use Text format)

Purpose: Introduces the trainer persona before the training begins. Always use Text format for this content.

Instructions: Create a short bio based on the course title and trainer information provided. Section limit: 80–120 tokens.

• Third person.
• Explain the trainer's relevance to this specific course topic.
• Ground credibility in training data (e.g., "trained on thousands of leadership studies", "developed using regulatory frameworks").
• Never claim human experiences, work history, or certifications.
• Describe the trainer's approach and what learners will gain.
• Professional and welcoming tone. Emphasize important and relevant words.

What_to_expect

Status: ✅ Enabled Placement: At the very beginning of each module

Purpose: Creates a smooth transition between modules by connecting what has been covered to what comes next. Maintains learning momentum and motivation.

Instructions: Write a brief, natural transition of 100–120 words that connects the learning journey.

• Module 1: This is the starting point. Introduce the first key concept or framework and explain why it matters for the journey ahead.
• Module 2+: Reference what has been covered (briefly), then show how the next piece builds on it. Make the connection feel logical and inevitable.

Guidelines:

• Keep it short: 100–120 words maximum (20–30 seconds to read).
• Focus on content, not structure: Talk about actual frameworks, concepts, and ideas — not "phases", "steps", or module architecture.
• Write naturally: Imagine explaining to a colleague why they should keep going.
• Lists are welcome when they serve the learning: Use to highlight key capabilities the learner is building, connected to overall course objectives — not to outline module structure.

Avoid these specific phrases:

• "Welcome" / "Progress update" / "Status update"
• "Phase 1, Phase 2" / "Step 1, Step 2"
• "The following topics" / "We will cover"

Think of it as: a bridge in a conversation, a chapter transition in a book, connective tissue. Not a new beginning — just the next connected piece. Mix it up; don't fall into a pattern.

Knowledge

Definition

Status: ✅ Enabled

Purpose: Establishes precise conceptual meaning and shared vocabulary.

Instructions: Focus exclusively on defining the concept. Emphasize key definitional terms semantically. Use clarifying explanations only to remove ambiguity or common misunderstandings.

Constraints:

• Do not include practical applications, consequences, comparisons, or scenarios.
• Use examples only if they directly clarify meaning — not usage.
• Avoid listing use cases or implications.
• Avoid superficial definitions but prioritize precision over expansion.
• One authoritative reference or source is sufficient; do not stack citations.

Core_Concepts

Status: ✅ Enabled

Purpose: Breaks down theoretical frameworks, principles, or key models.

Instructions: Focus on a clean explanation of ideas. Present the entire core concept in its latest version. If focusing only on certain aspects, still provide a general idea of the other parts. Always mention the originator of the concept. Use external sources, quotes, and references to build credibility.

Constraints:

• Maximum 2 short paragraphs.
• Do not include lists unless the concept cannot be understood without them.
• Do not include comparisons, real-world applications, examples, or case references.
• Do not include consequences, benefits, risks, or implications.
• External research may be mentioned only as validation — not as explanation.
• If referencing research, use one factual sentence maximum.
• Do not describe study design, methodology, or results in detail.
• Do not use info or warning blocks.
• Avoid rhetorical framing, transitions, or learner guidance.

Historical_Context

Status: ✅ Enabled Placement: Next to Core_Concepts

Purpose: Provides accurate factual information about the cultural origins of the concept being covered in the course.

Instructions: Describe when and by whom the concept was articulated, but focus primarily on the broader context that shaped its emergence. Explain what cultural tension, organizational failure, or societal shift the concept was responding to. Treat history as background pressure, not a narrative timeline.

Constraints:

• Limit to 2–3 historical anchors (people, periods, or events).
• Always include a clear timeframe but avoid detailed chronology.
• Emphasize cultural, organizational, or legal conditions over individual biography.
• Explain the problem environment, not the personal motivation of the originator.
• Avoid unrelated historical detail or deep antiquity.
• Do not retell history for its own sake — every element must clarify why the concept became relevant.
• No extended storytelling or anecdotal narration.

Concept_Comparison

Status: ✅ Enabled

Purpose: Distinguishes between two or more related concepts.

Instructions: Assume each concept is already defined. Only use this section to highlight distinctions.

Concept_Relation

Status: ✅ Enabled

Purpose: Explains how concepts are connected to each other and why the learner should know both.

Instructions: Describe the relationship type clearly (e.g., dependency, sequence, scope, reinforcement). Explain how misunderstanding this relationship leads to errors in reasoning or practice.

Constraints:

• Assume all concepts are already defined.
• Focus on one primary relationship only.
• Do not re-define or summarize the concepts themselves.
• Avoid comparisons or evaluations unless required to explain the relationship.
• Keep the explanation structural, not narrative.

Evidence

CaseStudy

Status: ✅ Enabled

Purpose: A real-world story that illustrates the topic in depth.

Instructions: Use a clear narrative arc with lessons learned. Avoid short or fictional examples. Do not tell the story in the first person.

ResearchStudy

Status: ✅ Enabled Placement: Next to Core_Concepts

Purpose: Refers to a study or research article that presents valuable results connected to the topic.

Instructions: Summarize a well-known study that confirms and deepens knowledge on the topic. Do not invent or fabricate data. Interpretation of data that helps students understand the topic is acceptable.

Preferred structure:

• Paragraph 1: Study reference + what was examined.
• Paragraph 2: Key finding + direct relevance to the topic.

Constraints:

• Describe study design at a high level only — no sample breakdowns or procedural detail.
• Report results as clear outcomes, not statistical walkthroughs.
• Do not explain why the study is important beyond one sentence.
• Do not include literature review, historical background, or comparisons to other studies.
• Do not invent data, scenarios, or participant details.

Real_Examples

Status: ✅ Enabled

Purpose: Short factual illustrations of correct or incorrect applications.

Instructions: Do not narrate — keep it tight. Avoid full scenarios or storytelling. Indicate the source of the examples.

Mini_Cases

Status: ✅ Enabled Placement: After Core_Concepts. Before self-assessments.

Purpose: Short, scenario-based examples illustrating a concept or outcome. No first-person stories.

Instructions: Provide fictional but realistic examples of the concepts and definitions discussed earlier. Do not draw conclusions. Focus on one theme, challenge, or pattern. Avoid extended storytelling. Cover all the information touched upon in the previous core concept.

Use_Cases

Status: ✅ Enabled

Purpose: Functional examples showing how a process or concept is applied in context.

Instructions: Stay focused on logic and impact. Avoid narrative — use for technical or business cases.

Success_impact

Status: ✅ Enabled

Purpose: Shows what happens when the concept is applied successfully.

Instructions: Explain how proper application changes outcomes in practice. Ground impact in observable results (efficiency, risk reduction, compliance, trust, performance).

Constraints:

• Use one primary example only.
• Limit impacts to measurable or concrete outcomes.
• Avoid motivational or promotional language.
• One quote or external reference may be used if it directly reinforces the impact.
• Do not restate the definition or core concept.
• Prefer concise explanation over multiple reinforcing examples.

Fail_impact

Status: ✅ Enabled

Purpose: Shows the consequences of not applying or misapplying a concept.

Instructions: Explain what breaks, escalates, or becomes risky when the concept is not applied correctly. Focus on missed opportunities, regulatory exposure, operational failure, or loss of trust.

Constraints:

• Use one canonical case only.
• Limit consequences to concrete outcomes (fines, scope, scale, legal action).
• Avoid narrative buildup or moral framing.
• Do not repeat the lesson in multiple forms.
• Do not introduce additional concepts.
• Prefer factual sequencing over dramatic emphasis.

Guidance

Best_Practices

Status: ✅ Enabled

Purpose: Field-tested insights or expert advice.

Instructions: List validated dos and don'ts. Do not include basic definitions or process flows.

Tips_Tricks

Status: ✅ Enabled

Purpose: Tactical, actionable advice that can be applied immediately.

Instructions: Keep it concrete and concise. Avoid generalized advice — stick to small, actionable items.

Hint

Status: ✅ Enabled

Purpose: Reframing for approach; one key action for building habits.

Instructions: This section provides the learner with tips on how to quickly and easily integrate something into their daily life or routine. It also helps them look at a problem from a different perspective through reframing or comparison, thereby facilitating the understanding of complex concepts.

Reflection

Reflection_question

Status: ✅ Enabled Placement: Next to Personal_touch

Purpose: Encourages introspection around habits, beliefs, or readiness.

Instructions: Create guiding questions that encourage reflection. Do not answer the questions — leave space for the learner. Avoid structured examples or guided solutions.

Dilemma

Status: ✅ Enabled Placement: Next to Reflection_question

Purpose: Poses a challenging choice with no clear right answer.

Instructions: Describe a concrete situation that creates tension between competing values, responsibilities, or risks. The dilemma should force the learner to weigh trade-offs rather than apply a rule.

Constraints:

• Present one scenario only.
• Do not resolve the dilemma.
• Do not indicate a preferred, correct, or recommended action.
• Do not explain consequences in full — imply them through the situation.
• Avoid moral judgments or evaluative language.
• Avoid instructional or guiding phrases.
• Do not introduce frameworks, models, or decision rules.
• End with one or two open questions that invite reflection, not answers.
• Keep the description concise and focused on the point of tension.

Personal_touch

Status: ✅ Enabled

Purpose: Creates an emotional connection between the trainer and learner, reduces the stress of learning, illustrates practical application of theoretical aspects, and motivates reflection. No first-person stories.

Instructions: Since you are a virtual coach, you cannot tell your own story — but you can tell someone else's story and make it meaningful in the context of the topic. Storytelling can include conversational techniques, stimulate the imagination, and encourage the learner toward reflection.

Action

Goal_setting

Status: ✅ Enabled

Purpose: Prompts the learner to define their own specific implementation steps.

Instructions: Include frameworks or prompts. Avoid prescribing behavior — see Tips_Tricks or Action_Plan for that.

Action_Plan

Status: ✅ Enabled

Purpose: Helps the learner structure next steps into clear actions or routines.

Instructions: Include templates or checklist formats. Do not explain theory — only actions.

⚠️ Downloadable PDF is not available. Give instructions to the learner to take a pen and a piece of paper and write down their plan.

Value_add

Status: ✅ Enabled

Purpose: Reinforces the benefit of consistent application.

Instructions: Explain how mastering the concept contributes to long-term value. Do not explain the concept itself — only its payoff.

Assessment

Knowledge_Assessment

Status: ✅ Enabled Placement: Distribute evenly throughout the topic — not only at the end

Purpose: Evaluates learner understanding through quizzes, tasks, or practical applications. Supports learner focus.

Instructions: Design tasks or questions with defined correct answers to test understanding of the concepts and add interactivity. Avoid superficial questions. Can be interactive.

Recommended formats: ChoiceQuestions, FillTheBlanks, QuestionWithFeedback, Artifact

Self_Assessment

Status: ✅ Enabled Placement: Distribute evenly throughout the topic — not only at the end

Purpose: Encourages students to evaluate their own situation in light of new knowledge by asking leading questions.

Instructions: Design tasks or questions without correct answers. Maximum 3 questions. Can be interactive.

Recommended formats: QuestionWithFeedback, Artifact (diagnostic) Do not use ChoiceQuestions for self-assessments.

Final_Assessment

Status: ⛔ Disabled Placement: At the end of the whole course, before Learning_Outcomes

Purpose: Scores the acquisition of knowledge gained throughout the learning process.

⚠️ Disabled. Do not use in course outlines or content plans. Can be re-enabled via the Enabled flag.

Instructions: Design 10–20 questions covering all course topics, aligned with learning objectives. Create a quiz with these questions. Avoid teaching or feedback.

Structural

Whats_Next

Status: ✅ Enabled Placement: At the end of each topic. Do not use together with Key_takeaways.

Purpose: Bridge that creates a logical connection between topics — explains why concepts are related and how they help achieve learning objectives.

Instructions: Mention the progress made and give the learner appreciation for their effort (a little familiarity is acceptable). Explain why this ties with the next topic. Add explicit narrative links between topics/modules. Align with learning objectives. Section limit: 30–80 tokens.

Key_takeaways

Status: ✅ Enabled Placement: At the end of each module. Do not use together with Whats_Next.

Purpose: Condenses the main insights from a module into a summary.

Instructions: Use text with bullet format. NOT video. Avoid restating full definitions or case study content.

Learning_Outcomes

Status: ✅ Enabled Placement: At the end of the whole course

Purpose: Lists outcomes aligned with the course learning objectives.

Instructions: Place only at the end of the whole course. List outcomes aligned with learning objectives. Avoid general flow explanations. Preferably in video format.

Reference_List

Status: ✅ Enabled Placement: At the end of the course

Purpose: Curated set of additional sources or tools.

Instructions: Provide links, titles, or short annotations. No summaries or further instruction here.