Learning paths are used to structure and illustrate long-term learning scenarios. A learning path is a sequence of courses that are linked together so that a person can build knowledge and master a particular training goal. A learning path ensures that learners are working towards an overall goal by mapping learning activities to specific levels of expertise.
Learning paths can be differentiated between two different learning path modes: content-driven and level-based. The default mode for learning path types is content-driven, if chosen the learning path is used and displayed in a layout showing all content in its folder structure at once. Level-based learning paths show their content in a leveled structure, in which folders are interpreted as levels and can be reached by a user. For this further reports are available.
Learners are granted access to courses upon registering for the learning paths. The registration can be performed by administrators or, if the learning paths is part of the catalogue, by learners and supervisors.
Learning paths are based on versioned learning path types, in which properties (metatags and attributes, use of classifications, skills, logic and requirements, cancellation fees) were already defined. These properties can be edited again upon creating a learning path.
Learning path contents can be structured and sorted in folders. Courses as well as course templates can be integrated into learning paths, enabling learners to choose which course of a course template to take, for instance (e.g. if two courses are identical, but are held at different locations).
Registration for learning path contents does not occur automatically along with the registration for the learning paths itself if not configured, enabling learners to largely determine the time periods for processing themselves.
The courses and course templates of a learning path can also be used in the system independently of the learning path.
Functions of the Learning Path Manager
New
Learning Logic
Learning logic for learning paths can be defined for the learning path itself, for folders/levels of the syllabus or an element of the syllabus. Two different condition types can be applied. Access restrictions allow to restrict access to certain elements until certain conditions are met. Completion conditions on the other hand allow to set of specific conditions under which the corresponding element is marked as completed. Depending on the selected element different options are available:
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For the learning path itself (root) completion condition can be applied.
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For folders/levels, both access restrictions and completion conditions are available.
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For syllabus elements access restrictions.
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Learning paths: Learning paths can be set to "Passed" upon concluding one or more specific syllabus components or manually by the learning paths administrator.
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Folder: Access to folder contents can be configured to be available only after concluding one or more components. Folders can be set to "Passed" upon concluding one or more specific syllabus components or manually by the learning paths administrator.
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Course Templates: The number of courses of a course template that can be taken can be limited to one or more. Access to course templates can be configured to be available only after concluding one or more components.
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Courses: Access to courses can be configured to be available only after concluding one or more components.
The schedule of the components is determined by the start and end dates of the added learning paths and does not need to be indicated separately in the learning paths syllabus.
If the learning paths syllabus is modified, then these changes are valid for all learners, even if they have already started processing the learning paths. Therefore, changes should be implemented only in exceptional cases when using learning logic rules.
The following functions are available for the curriculum:
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Automatic booking: The courses of the learning path are automatically enroled when the learner is enroled on the learning path or enrols themselves.
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Automatic cancelation: The courses of the learning path that were booked automatically are also canceled automatically as soon as the learner is canceled from the learning path or cancels themselves.
General Level Protection
General Level Protection can be activated for a level of learning path so that the level status remains achieved/certified even when new/additional content is added to it. If this checkbox is active and the level is completed once, level is protected forever so that the learners do not need to do it again.
Moreover, once a learner achieves a level he/she can get a certificate when it's fully completed. This part is configurable by the admin on the Syllabus side by selecting a certificate from the dedicated field, called “Certificate of completion” available for every configured language of the selected level.
The certificate, if provided, will be available to the learner based on the following criteria:
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If the certificate of completion is provided in the user preferred language - then the learner will get a certificate after achieving the level
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the learner will see this change in ILP under "Certificate available" for every level achieved which has a certificate configured
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If the certificate of completion is NOT provided in the user preferred language - then the learner will get the certificate in the provided default language on the Syllabus tab when editing a level based learning path
The admin will always need to make sure that a certificate is provided in the default language when editing a a level from the level based learning path form the Syllabus to avoid any other inconveniences and risking to not get a certificate for the achieved level.
The certificates of completion are only available for Level Based learning paths.
Administrators
Each learning path requires the assignment of at least one administrator, which is conducted in a separate tab in the learning paths manager. For the assigned administrators, it can be determined if they receive notifications on learning paths.
Prerequisites
Registration prerequisites for learning paths can be established. Options include specific course groups, learning paths, level of a learning path, course templates, courses, skills, and job profiles (id add-on "Skill and Competence Manager" applies) and groups.
Whether or not prerequisites can be edited depends on the settings of the main type that serves as a basis.
In addition, prerequisite sub-sets can be created, with the possibility to specify how many components from the sub-set should be fulfilled, in order for the sub-set to be considered fulfilled.
Minimum Learning Status Needed for Prerequisites in Order to Allow Learners to Enroll
When setting up the learning path prerequisite conditions, it is possible to define which is the minimum required status that the learner must have on the prerequisites, in order to be allowed to enrol on the learning path. The minimum status can be defined by selecting the prerequisite set or sub-set and selecting the Edit function. The specified minimum status will then refer to all components from that set and will impact components of type Course, Course template, and Cluster. The minimum status is only relevant for mandatory prerequisites. Recommended prerequisites will continue to be evaluated with the status Completed when determining whether they are met or not. The setting is available at the prerequisite set and sub-set level in the form of a selection list with the possibility to select a single value.
The list contains the possible statuses: Booked, Started, Completed, Requested, Waiting List, etc. The default value for the required status is Completed.
The following statuses can be selected: Enrolled, In Progress, Passed/Completed
The hierarchy is Enrolled → In progress → Passed/Completed
If the learner has a status higher than the minimum required, he is allowed to enrol, but the prerequisite will be still marked as partially fulfilled if the status of the prerequisite is not COMPLETED/PASSED. Since the user can have another status on the prerequisite course, course template, or cluster than the ones defined in the list of options available per set, the rule will be: Any other status is considered as the equivalent of not fulfilling the prerequisite.
Learning Path start and end date
The start date of a learning path can only be set manually, as there is no status “started” in learning paths, while the personal end date of a learning path is set to the date when the learning path status is “concluded”.
Learning Path Completion
The learning path completion type can be controlled via the meta tag "Learning path completion by".
The possible values are:
Progress or Learning logic - in which case the learning path is set to completed when the user reaches 100% progress or when the learning logic completion condition is fulfilled.
Administrator - in which case the completion of the learning path can only be set manually by the administrator.
Learning Path Progress Based on Mandatory Modules
In learning paths the progress is displayed based on mandatory and optional courses. The setting based on the meta tag "Calculation of progress based on mandatory modules" ensures that the progress is shown only for mandatory courses. Following limitations need to be considered when applying this meta tag:
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Learning Paths with different alternative conditions for completions conditions in their learning logic will not be part of the enhancement, since the learner can choose between different completions conditions, which will result in different progress calculations . This affects the case is different completion conditions are defined on folder level or on subfolder level, as well the case of a learning logic is defined on the learning path level and on folders of it at the same time.
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Access restrictions can lead to erroneous results in the learning path progress calculation, as e.g. for unlocking a course alternative conditions can be set. Therefore they cannot be considered for the
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The learner progress will not be displayed in the overall progress of the learning path under my learning and the dashboard panels. Only when the learning path is opened by the learner, the progress regarding the mandatory courses will be displayed.
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EQS is not considered within this implementation.
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Reports will not be changed according to the new learning path progress calculation .
Direct Link via QR Code
Administrators can create a QR code that contains a link to a learning path. They can download and provide the link to the learner, enabling them a quick access (no enrolment) to the learning path. The button for creating the QR code is placed at the toolbar of the learning path manager.
NewTest-out
Tests with the option “test out” enabled can be added to a learning path to determine whether certain courses are already covered by existing knowledge. Only tests of this type can be added to a learning path.
Mapping
First, at least one course and one test must be added to the learning path. The mapping option becomes available as soon as a course is selected.
The mapping window shows any test-out that was added to this particular learning path. For tests with the option “overall test evaluation” only the full test can be mapped, for tests with the option “folder based evaluation” only a folder can be mapped. It is possible to select multiple courses and assign them to the same test or test folder, but it is not possible to assign multiple tests or test folders to course(s). Course templates are excluded from the mapping.
Course completion
Course completion depends on the test configuration. If “overall test evaluation” was selected, the entire test must be passed to complete the course. If “folder-based evaluation” was selected, only a specific folder of the test was mapped to the course, and accordingly, only this folder (and its subfolders, if applicable) must be passed to complete the course. In this case, this may mean that the overall test was not passed; however, as long as the assigned folder is passed, the course can be marked as completed.
When it comes to settings such as maximum places, seat allocation, or seat limitation, it works the same way as when the admin sets the course enrollment limit in the backend.
Validation for the course cannot be considered, since the learner is not completing the course themselves.
Reporting
The information is provided across five reports. The Learning Path Report shows whether a course was marked as Completed through EQS or via the Test-Out option.
In addition, the four Test Reports provide access to the corresponding test results, as these are not available within the learning path itself: Test question per user, SOLR test question per user, test results (supervisor) and test results (learner).
Seat limitations
The seat limitation can assist in restricting specific users or user groups when it comes to course and learning paths bookings. In a separate manager, it can be defined whether users with particular user attributes or entire group structures are considered for the limitation. The limitation defined here can then be applied to course templates, courses, learning path templates, or learning paths, where this restriction takes effect.
A seat limitation is created and managed in the Seat Limitation Manager and assigned to a learning path via the meta tag Seat Limitation (ID: 11988).
A column called Seat limitation is available in the Learning paths Manager. It displays the current seat occupancy in the format x/y seats (e.g., 7/10 seats), where x = occupied seats and y = maximum seats configured. If the course has no seat limitation assigned, the column displays an empty value. When overbooking has occurred, the column reflects the overbooked count (e.g., 6/2 seats).
The column data is included in Excel exports when the column is enabled.
A search filter called Seat limitation is available in the Learning paths Manager.
Search filters
The filter appears as a selection box listing all previously created seat limitations. When a seat limitation is selected, only courses with that seat limitation assigned are displayed in the result list.
Details Section — Seat Limitations per Group
When a learning path with a seat limitation is selected in the Learning paths Manager, the Details section displays a per-group/attribute breakdown of seat occupancy.
Each group or attribute linked to the seat limitation is listed with its current and maximum seat count:
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Tutor group — 4/5 seats -
Learner group — 3/4 seats
Attributes and filters assigned to the seat limitation are also counted toward the total.
If the course has no seat limitation configured, no seat limitation information is shown in the Details section.
When an active overbooking exists, an additional section appears below "Seat limitations per group/attribute", named “Seat limitation overbooked by“ and displays the last person who performed the overbooking and the number of overbooked seats. This section is only visible when there is an active overbooking. Once the number of participants drops back within the configured limit, the section is hidden.
Overbooking (Overruling the Seat Limitation)
Users with Execute and Participant Administration rights can overrule the seat limitation in the backend to enroll additional learners beyond the configured limit.
How it works:
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When the admin selects learners to enroll that would exceed the seat limit, a warning dialog is displayed.
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The dialog contains:
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A warning message about the overbooking
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A Proceed button to confirm the overbooking
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A Cancel button to abort the action
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Clicking Proceed enrolls the selected learners beyond the limit.
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Clicking Cancel aborts the action — no additional learners are enrolled.
Duplicate
Duplicate
Edit
Edit
Delete
Delete
Clearances
Clearance
Participant Administration
Learning Paths Participant Manager
Notification → Message Monitor
The system messages sent by the system (booking mails and notifications) are available in the message monitor. The administrator can see all messages sent by the system in a system-wide message monitor. To limit the view to messages sent for courses and learning paths, the message monitor can be opened specifically in the course, course template, or learning path manager.
In the monitor, he has a recipient-centered view and a chronological view. He can see which message has been sent and the status of the sending. He can adjust and resend the emails.
Preview
The "Preview" function is provided in the left-hand toolbar. If clicked the preview of the learning path is shown as if the learning path had been entered from the catalogue by the learner.