Configuring a Learning path course and making it accessible

FELIX 10-006

What you need to know

This Helpcard explains how to make settings in the learning path and how to insert course elements.

Tip: Try out the "Learning path" course type from the participant's point of view:
"External link opens in a new window:Aktiv gegen Aufschieberitis" (Log-in necessary)

The learning progress is calculated in percent by "completing" mandatory course elements according to previously defined completion criteria. By default, all course elements are weighted equally.

By default, a course is considered "passed" when the learning progress is 100%.

By default, a learning path is initially a "sequential" learning path that must be worked through in a linear fashion. A sequential learning path has a control function in that it is possible to specify the order in which course elements and their contents are to be worked through.
It is also possible to create a learning path "without sequence" so that "jumping" is allowed as in a conventional course.

The usual tabs "Visibility" and "Access" are replaced by the tab "Learning path". In this tab it can be decided whether inserted course elements should be mandatory or voluntarily editable.
Voluntary elements can be skipped and are not included in the learning progress.
Mandatory elements are included in the learning progress.
In addition, a release date can be stored and completion criteria can be set. With these, the progress within the learning path can be controlled in such a way that this is only possible if certain modules have been called up, completed or passed.

By means of the function "excluded" course elements can be excluded from the learning path (and thus made invisible). In addition, exceptions from the learning path can be configured for particular groups/persons.

What you have to do

  1. Create a learning path course (see Helpcard 10-005).

  2. If required, weight "Calculation of learning progress" differently.
    By default, the learning progress is calculated "based on the number of completed course elements". If new elements are added or deleted in the current course, this will be taken into account in the total and the previous percentage value of learners will be adjusted accordingly. We recommend keeping this default setting.
    Only follow the explanation if you want to assign a different weighting to the course elements.

    • Under Administration, open Settings in the Execution tab.

    • In the "Access course elements" section, select "According to the estimated duration of the mandatory course elements".

    • Progress is calculated on the basis of the "completed" course elements and the stored processing time.

    • Please note: after selecting the "According to the estimated duration of the mandatory course elements" option you have to set a processing time. This will be configured as default for all existing, mandatory course elements. This processing time cannot be reset or overwritten centrally.
      In order to weight the course elements differently, you will have to manually adjust or delete the editing time for each existing mandatory course element.
      For newly added mandatory course elements, no processing times will be taken over. You must enter them manually.
      However, the actual time a participant needs for a course element is not recorded.

    • If new modules are added or deleted in the current course, this is taken into account in the total sum and the previous percentage value of the learners is adjusted accordingly.

  3. If required, configure further settings for "Pass a course":
    By default, a learning path is considered "passed" when the learning progress is 100%.
    By default, points are totaled and issued.

    You can make configurations different from the default settings if required, as explained below.

    • Bring up the settings under Administration.

    • Bring up the "Rating" tab.

    • At Points, select from "No points" (if there are no assessable course elements in the learning path), "Sum" (default value), or "Average" if necessary.

    • At "Passed if one of the criteria is met", select your desired criterion.

  4. Add course elements: If not already done, open the "Course editor" under "Administration" and insert desired course elements with "Insert course elements" or "Quick-Add".

    • As always with each course element, you can change the title and description and add information under "Insert additional information".

    • In the Learning path tab you can now configure a course element.

    • Implementation: Select "Mandatory", "Voluntary" or "Exempt".
      Mandatory: By default, every course element is mandatory.
      Voluntary course elements can be skipped or completed later. Completion of a voluntary course element will not be included in the percentage progress display.
      Excluded: Elements can be excluded (for all) from the learning path.
      "Turn on exceptions": Add exceptions from the learning path for specific groups/individuals, if necessary. This way, individual building blocks can be voluntarily marked for certain groups/persons or excluded from the learning path only for these groups/persons. You can find out more about this in the following External link opens in a new window:Youtube Video (Data protection information: you will be redirected to Youtube). 

    • Release date: Enter a date from which a course element can be edited. If the date has not yet occurred, the participants will be informed accordingly.
      Tip: We recommend using release dates only if didactically necessity. Inaccessible course elements often lead to confusion and to problems when courses are reused due to outdated data.

    • To be edited by: For mandatory course elements, you can set a date here by which the element must be completed.
      Please note: if someone misses this deadline, this can lead to problems if further course elements depend on this one. As the owner of the course, you can then intervene via the learning path report (see Helpcard 10-007.

    • The "Release" and "To be completed by" dates can also be set as relative dates (e.g. X days after a participant's first course attendance). This not only allows for more individual paths, but also makes copying and reusing the course in the next semester much easier: "Release" and "To be completed by" dates no longer need to be adjusted, as they are relative to the participant's first course visit or enrollment/booking.

    • Processing time (minutes): Information required if the learning progress is to be determined on the basis of the processing time.
      Note: in the case of course elements that are inserted within a structural element and for which the processing time has been added, the time details are automatically added together for the structural element. The time information is visible for the participants.

    • Completion criterion: By default, most course elements are considered completed when they are opened.
      As a further option, a read confirmation can be requested by the users.
      Depending on the course element, further options are available.
      An overview of the options and the default completion criteria are listed in the External link opens in a new window:OpenOlat manual.
      Note: The completion criterion "Execution completed" for (group) tasks refers to the entire execution of the course element. In the "Workflow" tab, you specify whether a (group) task can be submitted or can also be returned or evaluated by you in addition. If a return/feedback or assessment has been activated in the workflow in addition to the submission, all of these subcomponents must be completed for the module to be considered complete. The assessment must be set to "Status completed".  The sole submission by the student is only sufficient if only the "submission" has been defined in the workflow.

    • Tip: In the course editor you can get an overview of all course elements by means of "Configuration overview" (top right). In addition, you can change several elements in your editing requirement (mandatory or voluntary) at this point by selecting them, clicking on "Change configuration" and activating "Implementation" in the "Learning path" area.

  5. Add structure elements: In the "Learning path" tab of a structure element, you can control whether this section of your learning path should be processed in a specific order ("sequential") or in an order of your choice.

    • All mandatory modules of a structure element must be completed before the entire structure element is considered complete. If necessary, define the individual course elements as "voluntary" so that the structure element (in a sequential learning path) can also be skipped.

  6. If you want to simulate the view of your students on this course element, use the in-course role change (see Helpcard 10-021).

    • In the participant view, the course elements are displayed as a progress bar. Furthermore, you get a visualisation of your progress with a progress bar (top right).

  7. Make your course accessible and visible for your students as described in HelpCard 10-030.

    • If you choose the open release type and an enrollment (see Helpcard 30-010) because your course has a limited number of participants or you need a waiting list, then the course element is not considered completed until the enrollment has been completed.
      Furthermore, you can limit the time period of the enrollment and release the subsequent course element from the enrollment only after the time period has expired. In this way, you ensure that the course elements following the enrollment are protected.

Problems or questions?