Markdown for Educators: From PowerPoint to CourseFoundry

Author

Mr. John Jennings

Course Cover

Markdown for Educators: From PowerPoint to CourseFoundry

Overview

In this course, you will learn to transform your existing Word documents and PowerPoint presentations into flexible, accessible course content using Markdown and Quarto. You’ll master the essential syntax for creating professional educational materials and discover how CourseFoundry streamlines the content creation process.

What You’ll Build

By the end of this 2-hour tutorial, you’ll have created a complete lesson page with headers, lists, images, tables, and links — all starting from your existing PowerPoint or Word content. You’ll publish this lesson to a live URL that’s accessible, maintainable, and ready for students.

Who This Is For

Educators who currently create course content in PowerPoint and Word, with little to no web development experience. No prior knowledge of Markdown or Quarto required — we’ll guide you through every step.

Estimated time: 2 hours

Course Structure

Prerequisites (10 minutes)

  • Learning Check: Are you ready to transition from PowerPoint/Word?
  • Setup: What you’ll need to get started

Step 1: Why Make the Switch? (15 minutes)

  • Understanding the Markdown advantage over PowerPoint/Word
  • Real examples comparing the same content in both formats
  • Identifying pain points in your current workflow

Step 2: Your First Markdown Document (20 minutes)

  • Headers and text: The foundation
  • Converting PowerPoint title slides to Markdown
  • Mastering paragraph formatting without menus

Step 3: Lists and Emphasis (20 minutes)

  • Bullet points and numbered lists made simple
  • Bold, italic, and highlighting text
  • Converting formatted Word content to Markdown

Step 5: Tables and Organization (25 minutes)

  • Structured data made easy
  • Callout boxes for tips and warnings
  • Professional lesson layout techniques

Step 6: Publishing Your First Lesson (20 minutes)

  • From draft to live course content
  • CourseFoundry’s preview and publishing system
  • Making updates without re-uploading files

Troubleshooting (5 minutes)

  • Common transition issues and solutions
  • Tips for collaborating on Markdown files
  • Handling your existing content library

Ready to make the switch? Let’s begin!