The course catalog is one place where users can view all programs, paths, courses, trainings, files, and tests assigned to them. It eliminates the need for users to click between tabs, lists, or tiles, and it saves administrators time that was wasted on explaining how users can locate selected objects.
Thanks to many filtering and sorting options, attractive presentation and informative labels, it is very easy to find learning content in the course catalog. Read this article to see what this section looks like from the user's perspective.
Watch a short video to learn about the course catalog
Table of contents
- Which objects are displayed in the course catalog?
- Where users can find the course catalog
- Manage the course catalog
- Configure the main page tile
- Other things to keep in mind
Which objects are displayed in the course catalog?
For a program, path, course, training, file or test to be displayed in the course catalog, it must be assigned to a user (it doesn't matter if it is assigned directly, to a group, or via path/program).
Where users can find the course catalog
- main page tile
- menu
Manage the course catalog
Create and add learning categories
What do you need to do?
- Create learning category structure.
- Add learning categories.
- Add objects to learning categories.
Why?
- A well-designed category structure will make it much easier for users to find objects related to a particular topic (learning categories work not only in the course catalog, but also in the search bar).
- Objects that have not been assigned a learning category by the administrator will receive the "Uncategorized" educational category and will be placed at the bottom of the catalog.
How to do it?
- Prepare the category structure, in this article you will find tips on how to do it along with an example structure.
- You can manage learning categories and add objects to them by going to Configuration > Customization > Learning categories.
- You can also add a category from the object editing view.
- You can easily see which objects don't have any learning category added, so you don't miss anything.
You'll find detailed instructions about learning categroies in this article.
Add images to objects
What do you need to do?
- Add an image to the objects that will be displayed in the course catalog.
Why?
- A well-chosen image, matching the theme of the object, will make it more attractive and easier to find it in the course catalog.
- You don't have to add images to all objects at once, start with the most important and popular ones. Objects that don’t have a custom image will be displayed with the default image we have prepared.
How to do it?
- Go to the object editing view and unpublish it (doesn’t apply to programs and paths).
- In the "General data" section, find the "Image for learning materials” option.
- Add an image. The suggested dimensions are 476x200px. The maximum size is 5 MB.
- Save changes and publish the object.
Hint: Choose graphics or photos with a solid, preferably darker background. Avoid flashy colors and patterns as they will reduce the readability of the section. You can use free libraries that do not require a license for commercial use, e.g., https://unsplash.com/.
Configure the main page tile
To change the tile location
- Go to Platform Settings > Configuration > User Interface > Main page.
- Find the "Course catalog" tile on the list and drag it to the desired location.
To change the tile appearance
- Go to Platform Settings > Configuration > User Interface > Main page.
- Find the "Course catalog" tile on the list and click on it.
- Make changes to its size, color or icon.
- Save changes.
To remove the tile
- Go to Platform Settings > Configuration > User Interface > Main page.
- Find the "Course catalog" tile on the list and click on it.
- Make changes to its size, color or icon.
- Save changes.
To add the tile
- Go to Platform Settings > Configuration > User Interface > Main page.
- Click Add in the upper right corner and select "Add “Course catalog”" tile.
- Select what section it should be in, who it should be visible to, and change the appearance.
- Click Add to confirm.
Other things to keep in mind
Mandatory badge
For an object to be displayed with a mandatory badge, you need to set the object as mandatory when assigning it to a group. Here’s how to do it.
Status badges
- Completed—green tag with a check symbol that marks elements that are finished.
- Passed—green tag with a check symbol that marks tests that you passed.
- Failed—red tag with a no-entry symbol that marks tests that you failed.
- Locked—red tag with a no-entry symbol that marks a element you no longer have access to because its deadline already passed.
- No dates—red tag with a calendar symbol that marks a training with no dates available.
- Trainings dates-number of available training dates.
Availability badges
Time restrictions
If you set a time restriction on access to an object, it will be displayed at the bottom of the tile as a badge:
- [Lock symbol] Available in X days—when the start date is set in the future.
- [Lock symbol] Time left: X days—after the start date and before the end date.
- [No-entry symbol] Locked—when the end date has passed.
Soft deadline
If you set a soft deadline for a path or program, it will be displayed on the tile next to a clock icon:
- [Clock symbol] Time left: X days—before the soft deadline passes.
- [Clock symbol] Overdue—when the soft deadline has passed.
Find out more about time restrictions here.
Sort
Sorting can be changed:
- Default—elements are displayed in the following order
- 1st—Overdue and deadline in less than 7 days
- 2nd—In progress (status “Uncompleted”)
- 3rd—New (from newest to oldest assignment date)
- 4th—Completed (from newest to oldest completion date)
- 5th—Locked
- 6th—Uncategorized
- Newest—from most recently added
- Oldest—from latest added elements
- Progress—from the most progress to the least progress. If progress is at the same level, elements with the newest assignment date come first.
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