AI-Assisted Course Creation: From Markdown to Interactive Learning in 3 Hours

How do you transform a plain Markdown document into an engaging, interactive learning experience complete with animations, quizzes, AI-generated imagery, and video narration—all within a three-hour workshop? This is the story of our “Buchstabensuppe” (Alphabet Soup) tutorial, where we demonstrated the full potential of combining LiaScript with modern AI tools.

The Challenge: Interactive Learning Without Barriers

On Friday, August 29th, 2025, we hosted an online workshop for SODa (Collections, Objects, Data Competencies) with an ambitious goal: show educators and researchers how to create accessible, collaborative, and sustainable learning materials without requiring deep technical expertise.

Our starting point was simple: a basic Markdown document about “Buchstabensuppe”—a playful metaphor for understanding LiaScript’s building blocks. Our mission: transform it into a fully interactive course that showcases LiaScript’s advanced features while teaching participants the process.

The AI-Powered Workflow

What made this workshop unique was our systematic use of AI tools throughout the entire creative process. Here’s how we orchestrated the transformation:

1. Content Development with VS Code + Copilot

We began in Visual Studio Code with GitHub Copilot as our co-author. Rather than writing every line manually, we:

• Drafted the course structure and learning objectives
• Let Copilot suggest interactive elements and quiz questions
• Refined the Markdown syntax with AI assistance
• Rapidly prototyped complex LiaScript features

The result? A comprehensive course framework built in a fraction of the traditional time, allowing us to focus on pedagogical quality rather than syntax.

2. Consistent Visual Identity with AI-Generated Imagery

Visual consistency is crucial for learning materials, but creating a cohesive design often requires graphic design skills or expensive stock photos. Our solution:

• Defined a clear visual style prompt for the “Buchstabensuppe” theme
• Used ChatGPT to generate image prompts with consistent parameters
• Created all course imagery with AI image generators using the same design template
• Maintained visual coherence across dozens of illustrations

Every image—from concept illustrations to decorative elements—shared the same artistic style, creating a professional, unified learning experience.

3. Human-Like Narration with HeyGen

To make the course truly accessible and engaging, we added video narration using HeyGen’s AI presenter technology:

• Generated natural-sounding voice-overs synchronized with course content
• Created virtual presenter videos that guide learners through complex topics
• Integrated multimedia comments directly into the LiaScript course

The AI presenters didn’t just read text—they delivered content with appropriate pacing and visual engagement, mimicking the experience of a live instructor.

What Participants Learned

The workshop covered essential skills for modern course creation:

• Collaborative Content Development - Using Git and GitHub to co-create and share educational resources
• Accessibility First - Implementing text-to-speech and multilingual support for inclusive learning
• Interactive Elements - Integrating quizzes, surveys, and animations to boost engagement
• Extension Ecosystem - Leveraging existing LiaScript extensions and creating custom ones
• Classroom Features - Deploying real-time collaborative learning environments

Behind the Scenes: The Creation Process

For those interested in the technical workflow, we documented the entire process:

The Workshop Recording

Watch the resulting course:

Key focus areas:

• Animation sequences and narrator integration
• Quiz design and interactive assessments
• Multimedia content embedding
• Programming features and macro development
• Classroom and collaborative learning tools

The Speedrun Version

Want to see the creation process condensed? Watch our rapid development speedrun:

This accelerated version shows the AI-assisted workflow in action—from Copilot suggestions to HeyGen video generation—demonstrating just how efficiently modern tools can support educational content creation.

The Complete Learning Resource

The final course and all workshop materials are openly available on GitHub:

The repository contains:

• The finished interactive LiaScript course
• Step-by-step tutorial documentation
• All source materials for remixing and adaptation

Try It Yourself

Ready to create your own AI-enhanced interactive course? Start with:

1. Pick a simple Markdown document (lecture notes, tutorial, guide)
2. Use Copilot to enhance it with LiaScript features
3. Generate consistent imagery with AI image tools
4. Add narration with HeyGen or browser TTS
5. Share it openly on GitHub