If you teach or create learning content (courseware) at some point you will need to produce more than just a course outline.
You'll need to document your course in the form of a textbook, workbook, or manual.
From a writers view there is little difference between the three.
Manuals being the occasional exception to the rule.
However there is a difference in writing based on three other classifications of course books: 1.
Books which parallel a course.
These are generally (but not always) textbooks which have been developed independently of a course.
In fact, quite frequently the course is developed to follow the book rather than both being independently developed.
They are selected based on their suitability to the material of the course.
However, they are written using the same process as an executive how to book.
That is the standard plan, design, write, edit, and publish system used for how-to books.
2.
Books which provide additional information to a course.
When developing a course, the learning creator may determine that certain information needs to be provided.
However, the author did not agree.
Or the learning creator may have determined that alternative viewpoints were appropriate.
Or there may not have been a single textbook which contained the information that the learning creator identified as appropriate to include.
In this case, information is compiled usually along with a reading list.
While the course is developed using the plan, design, write, edit, and publish system, the reading list is actually identified during the research task.
As the course is designed, the backup materials are organized.
3.
Books which document a course.
These follow the courseware itself.
Student and trainer manuals are good examples of this type of book.
Again the largest part of the planning and design are done during the course design.
Frequently, in fact, these books are written after the course has been written using the course as the primary input.
How you write your book for the academic world depends on which of these three you are writing.
Each has a different process and timing.