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LESSON.md

v1.6

LESSON.md is an open format created by Slate eLearning for writing eLearning content in Markdown. Like README.md or AGENTS.md, it defines a convention that any tool can read and write. Author in any text editor or AI tool, then import the file directly into Slate.

The specification, templates, and import are freely available on all Slate plans.

What you can build

Section titled “What you can build”

The LESSON.md format covers three things, all plain Markdown and all importable into Slate:

A single lesson One .md file is one lesson. Drop it into any section of a course.
A scored assessment An ASSESSMENT.md file is a graded quiz with an attempt limit and a passing score.
A full course A zip of .md files becomes a whole course, with folders as sections.

Why LESSON.md

Section titled “Why LESSON.md”

eLearning content is typically locked inside proprietary authoring tools. LESSON.md is a plain-text alternative:

  • Any AI tool can write it - Give the format to Claude, ChatGPT, or any LLM and get back a fully structured lesson
  • Any editor can open it - VS Code, Obsidian, Notion, Google Docs, or a plain text editor
  • Human-readable by default - Markdown is easy to review, diff, and version control

Quick start

Section titled “Quick start”

The fastest path is a single lesson dropped into an existing course:

  1. Download the LESSON.md template from the import dialog in Slate (Course Overview → LESSON.md → Download LESSON.md)
  2. Open the file in your preferred AI tool or text editor
  3. Fill in the title and add blocks using the ::: fence syntax
  4. In Slate, open a course and click LESSON.md on any section
  5. Drop your file and click Import Lesson

The LESSON.md format reference covers the frontmatter, fence syntax, and every supported block type.

Authoring with AI

Section titled “Authoring with AI”

LESSON.md was designed to be written by AI tools. You can paste the format reference into any assistant, or install the lesson-md skill - a packaged skill for Claude and other AI agents that builds lessons, assessments, and full courses with the format knowledge and validation built in.

Where to go next

Section titled “Where to go next”
  • LESSON.md - the full format reference: frontmatter, fences, and all 19 block types
  • ASSESSMENT.md - the scored assessment format
  • LESSON.md Bundles - turn a zip of lessons into a complete course
  • lesson-md Skill - author whole courses with Claude and other AI tools
  • lesson.md - the format’s home on the web, with samples and a converter