Explanation Master Course
Make clear, understandable communication your competitive advantage
1 Minute Intro Video
"I've known Lee LeFever and Common Craft for years. No one is more qualified to teach explanation."
- Chris Savage, CEO, Wistia
Why This Course Matters
You can make your ideas happen through clear explanations.
Whether you're a professional who is:
• Introducing a new project
• Presenting research to a group
• Changing a company policy
• Making your case for funding
• Training colleagues or customers
• Demonstrating a product
• Or even requesting a new position
Carefully crafted explanations will help you make the most of these opportunities. Your ability to build support, respect and attention depends on others understanding your ideas.
Your Instructor
Lee LeFever has been a professional explainer for over 10 years.
Lee is the co-founder of Common Craft, an international keynote speaker and author of The Art of Explanation (Wiley, 2012). He is also credited with inspiring the online "explainer" video industry. In his work, he's helped companies such as Google, Intel, LEGO and Ford to explain their products. His explainer videos have been viewed over 50 million times and licensed to professionals and organizations in over 50 countries.

"The Explainer Academy taught me real, tangible skills that make me a better collaborator and leader."
- Kalpita Kothary, Co-owner & Engineer, Minky
How Will I Learn?
The Explanation Master Course is a packed multi-media experience. You'll learn and practice explanation skills with a variety of media and tools:

Grasp concepts via explanations, stories and anecdotes in friendly, readable writing.

Understand useful ideas quickly via 40+ short, animated explainer videos. No video is over three minutes long.

Find engaging original hand-drawn visuals throughout the course.

Test and evaluate your progress with quizzes and exercises designed to make it productive and fun.

Download multiple guides and templates to take with you.

Create your own explanations! Our exercises guide you through each step of planning and crafting your own explanation throughout the course.
"The Explainer Academy couldn't have done a better job of creating 'just right' size pieces to give me a sense of accomplishment and lots to process. Great explaining!
- Bob Rosen
What Will I Learn?
The Master Course builds important strategies in four levels, each with easy-to-follow chapters. These levels focus on:
Explanation Foundations - Diagnose why some explanations succeed and why some fail, so you can avoid missteps from the beginning.
Explanation Checklist - Discover the four key assessments that ensure every one of your explanations hits the mark.
Explanation Strategies - Learn to repackage your ideas into crystal clear explanations with four can’t-miss strategies using context, story models, analogies and more.
Talking Points - Develop tailored explanations designed to make your audience fall in love with your ideas.


"I'm constantly trying to explain new pieces of technology, business models, or both, to everyone from customers to investors. The Explainer Academy gave me great techniques to match the right explanation with the right audience."
- Boris Mann, Founder, SCALE
Course Curriculum
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StartChecklist: Intro and Prep
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StartChecklist 1: What Will You Explain?
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StartChecklist 2: Focus on Your Understanding
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StartBonus Chapter: Test Your Language Skill with UpGoer Five
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StartChecklist 3: Considering Your Audience
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StartChecklist 4: Assessing the Situation
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StartChecklist Wrap-up and Documents

"Everyone should take these courses! They provide a common ground - including new tools and vocabulary - to help you teach, learn, and be a better communicator overall."
- Anastasia Fuller, Content Strategist, Juxtaprose
Frequently Asked Questions
"Excellent. Invaluable. The Explainer Academy was just what I was looking for."
- Bonny Hart, ESL Teacher, NYC
Other Courses We Offer:
Learn to produce animated videos using common and affordable tools. This course will turn you into an explainer video producer. Learn more.
Save 15% by purchasing the Explanation Master Course and the Media Maker Course as a bundle. Learn more.