This article explains what Courses are in Big Think+ and how to use them for structured, in-depth learning.
Courses are in-depth learning experiences that go beyond watching video lessons. They combine expert insights with guided exercises — called missions and reflections — to help you apply new ideas in real life. Each Course is organized into a series of Classes that follow a clear theme and build your skills over time.
What will I see on a Course page?
Each Course includes:
A welcome video to set the tone and introduce the main themes
A breakdown of included content (e.g., number of lessons, missions, reflections, discussions, and readings)
A progress bar so you can track how far you’ve gone
A list of Classes, each focused on a distinct subtopic
A Continue Course button to pick up where you left off
Options to add the course to a curation or share a direct link to the full path
What are missions and reflections?
Each lesson in a Course is followed by a guided exercise — either a mission or a reflection — to help you apply the ideas in context:
Missions prompt you to take action. You might be asked to:
Have a conversation with a teammate
Try out a leadership move
Set up a new habit or team process
Reflections help you think deeply. You might be asked to:
Reflect on a past decision
Self-assess a skill like confidence or risk-taking
Set intentions before trying a mission
How can I make the most of a Course?
Follow the Class order: lessons and exercises build on each other
Do the exercises: they’re not optional add-ons; they’re where the learning sticks
Use the language from lessons when completing your missions or reflections
Join the discussion at the end of each Class to learn from others
Finish at your own pace: you’ll always be able to resume where you left off
When should I use a Course?
Courses are best when you want to:
Make a meaningful change in your behavior or mindset
Practice skills in real-world settings, not just learn about them
Engage with learning over time, instead of all at once
Apply expert insights in your own voice and context