# The 9 lesson types — and when to use each

> Video, audio, reading, PDF, document, embed, quiz, live, and recording. Nine ways to put content in a lesson — here's the plain-English guide to picking the right one.

Last updated 2026-05-31 · Source: https://prolaud.com/help/lesson-types

When you add a lesson, the first thing you choose is its type. The type decides how students experience that lesson — a player, a reader, a quiz, or a join button. You can mix every type freely inside one module.

*The nine lesson types. Pick per lesson — a single module can mix all of them.*

## Content you upload or link

- Video — your main teaching format. Paste a video link; you can add a transcript.
- Audio — lecture-style audio for podcasts, language drills, or music.
- Reading (text) — a rich-text article written right in the editor. Good for notes, summaries, and step-by-steps.
- PDF — a PDF file students open inside the lesson.
- Document — a Word doc, slide deck, or spreadsheet shown inline.
- Embed — drop in something you built elsewhere: Canva, Gamma, Google Slides, Notion, Figma, or Loom.

## Interactive + live

- Quiz — a graded check with four question types (see 'Quizzes that aren't easy to cheat').
- Live — a lesson that links to a scheduled live class; students get a join button at class time.
- Recording — a saved past class students can rewatch, with transcript and chapters.

> **Note:** There's no single 'right' mix. A common pattern: one video to teach, one reading to summarize, one quiz to check understanding — repeated per module.

## Related

- [Course anatomy: courses, modules & lessons](https://prolaud.com/help/course-anatomy)
- [“Aren't online quizzes easy to cheat on?”](https://prolaud.com/help/course-faq-quiz-cheating)
- [“I only teach live — do I have to record videos?”](https://prolaud.com/help/course-faq-live-only)