Progressive Learning is when learners gain access to new learning material based on completing other learning material. Learners progress linearly from one piece of content to the next, with each step configured by the Admin. This allows Admins to achieve unparalleled control over what training is available to a learner at a specific time.
This article outlines the following Key Concepts for configuring Progressive Learning:
The article continues by detailing how to permission the following types of Learning Content that integrate with Progressive Learning:
- Courses
- Course Categories
- Events
- Event Categories
- Checklists
- Media Items
- Learning Paths (Private Access Feature)
The article finishes with an example Use Case to describe how Admins can use Progressive Learning to its greatest advantage.
Key Concepts
User Group permissions and Award requirements and actions are the Admin tools needed to configure Gated Course Progression. When configured properly, these tools enable a synergy that creates a cascading chain of new content.
User Groups
User Groups are the primary tool for categorizing users and permissioning content. To configure Progressive Learning, Admins must create unique User Groups for each item or group of content along the progression.
Milestones (Awards)
When a user completes content, Awards are used to trigger the user being moved from one User Group to another, unlocking the new content.
While any Award type can be used, the Milestone type is invisible to learners so the learning progression happens behind the scenes. Certificates should be used when a physical award accompanies the progress and Badges when validation on the user’s dashboard is desired.
In the Requirements tab of the Award edit view, Admins configure what content must be completed to earn the Milestone.
The award can be triggered by a variety of learner activities:
- Access Level - when a Learner is assigned a particular Access Level
- Category - when a Learner completes all Courses of a Course Category
- Checklist - when a Learner completes all items in a Checklist
- Course - when a Learner completes a Course
- Event - when a Learner registers or checks in to an Event
- Lesson - when a Learner completes a Lesson
- Quiz - when a Learner passes a Quiz
- User Group - when a Learner is assigned a particular User Group
In the Award Actions tab, set how User Groups change when the award is earned. Set to which groups the earner is Added and/or Removed.
Learning Content
Content throughout the LMS can be permissioned to specific User Groups. This allows Admins to cater content to their Learners based on knowledge, skill, or role specialties.
Courses
In the Permissions tab of the Course editor, set which User Groups can purchase or register for the Course.
Course Categories
In the Permissions tab of the Course Category editor, Admins can also allow access to an entire group of courses.
Events
In the Basic Information tab of the Events editor, set which User Groups can register for this Event.
Event Categories
Permissions for an entire group of Events can also be set in the General tab of the Event Category editor.
Checklists
In the Assign User Groups tab of the Checklist editor, assign the checklist to specific User Groups.
Media Items
In the Permissions tab of the Media Item editor, set which User Groups can access and view the media item.
Learning Paths (Private Access)
In the Permissions tab of the Learning Path editor, set which User Groups can access and view the path.
Keep in mind that Learning Path permissions control access to the Learning Path itself and not to the Courses contained within. Ensure that the permissions of the Course and Categories match the Learning Path permissions so that users can properly access the material.
General Use Case
The following outlines a possible Progressive Learning use case. The use case can be customized to meet a variety of content and group combinations.
An Admin has three levels of content: beginner, intermediate, and advanced; and wants to ensure that learners must complete all of one category before moving on to the next.
Beginner content includes Course A (basic concepts) and Event A (introductory event).
Intermediate content includes Checklist B (lessons, videos, and custom links that fortify the basic concepts).
Advanced content includes Learning Path C (various specialty courses) and Media Item C (diagram of all learned concepts).
An Admin creates three User Groups: A, B, and C.
User Group A has access to Course A and Event A.
User Group B has access to Checklist B.
User Group C has access to Learning Path C and Media Item C.
The Admin creates two Milestones.
Earning the Intro Milestone requires a user to complete Course A and check in to Event A. The Milestone Action removes a user from User Group A and adds them to User Group B.
Earning the Intermediate Milestone requires a user to complete all items in Checklist B. The Milestone Action removes a user from User Group B and adds them to User Group C
Completing the content contained in User Group C could then be configured to award a Certificate to the user and move them to a new User Group with new content. The process can be repeated as many times as needed.
Users who begin as members of User Group A and complete the necessary learning material are seamlessly moved along using Progressive Learning, receiving new User Groups, unlocking new learning material, and mastering the concepts.