Learning Maps

A Learning Map turns a Collection into a guided learning experience. Courses remain reusable resources, while the Collection defines their order, prerequisite connections, goals, completion rule, and learner presentation.

Use a Learning Map when learners need more structure than a flat course sequence, such as onboarding, role-based enablement, certification preparation, or a program with several valid outcomes.

Understand the Model#

• A Learning Map belongs to a Collection. It is not a separate resource.
• A connection points from a prerequisite Course to the Course it unlocks.
• Multiple prerequisites use AND logic. A learner must successfully complete every incoming prerequisite.
• Failed attempts do not satisfy prerequisites or Collection completion.
• Course order controls the numbered List. Connections control progression independently.
• A Course may be a learning goal. Goals are used by the all_goals and any_goal completion rules.
• Existing successful attempts count immediately when a learner enters a Collection.

Build a Learning Map#

1. Open Admin > Collections and select a Collection.
2. Open the Courses tab.
3. Use Actions > Add courses to add the Courses in their numbered List order.
4. Switch to Map from the View menu.
5. Connect each prerequisite Course to the Course it unlocks.
6. Select a Course to mark it as a Learning goal or manage its prerequisites.
7. Use Tools > Organize map for a deterministic layout, then adjust positions if needed.
8. Use Actions > Validate and resolve every highlighted issue.
9. Save the Learning Map.
10. Configure Progression and presentation, then submit that form separately.

Use View > Preview List and View > Preview Map before inviting learners. The preview represents a new learner and does not launch Courses.

Choose Progression Settings#

The Roadmap, Constellation, and Islands presets change the Map background. Direction controls horizontal or vertical automatic organization. Course positions remain editable independently from presentation settings.

Example 1: Mathematics Learning Path#

Use a simple ordered Collection when every learner should complete the same curriculum in sequence. Arithmetic foundations unlock pre-algebra, followed by algebra and geometry.

<!-- learning-map-preview:simple -->

Recommended settings:

• Completion rule: Complete every Course
• Enforce prerequisites: enabled
• Default view: List
• Visibility: Full Map

Expected behavior:

1. Arithmetic foundations begins as available.
2. Pre-algebra, Algebra, and Geometry begin as locked.
3. Each successful mathematics Course unlocks the next Course in order.
4. The Collection completes after Geometry succeeds.

This fixture tests the most common linear progression, numbered List order, and one-at-a-time unlocking.

Example 2: Data Analytics Program#

This example models a comprehensive data analytics program. Spreadsheet skills, statistics, SQL, and data ethics unlock a shared analytics foundation. That gateway unlocks four advanced Courses, all required for the final analytics capstone.

Suggested Course names:

<!-- learning-map-preview:foundation -->

Recommended settings:

• Completion rule: Complete every goal
• Goal: J
• Enforce prerequisites: enabled
• Default view: Map
• Visibility: Full Map

Expected behavior:

1. Spreadsheet fundamentals, Statistics, SQL fundamentals, and Data ethics begin as available.
2. Analytics foundations remains locked until all four introductory Courses are successful.
3. Data visualization, Forecasting, Experiment design, and Business intelligence become available together after Analytics foundations succeeds.
4. Analytics capstone remains locked until all four advanced Courses are successful.
5. The grouped List displays ABCD, then E, then FGHI, then J.

This fixture tests wide-to-narrow and narrow-to-wide organization, an AND join, four-course List groups, locking, and goal completion.

Example 3: Two Independent Required Pathways#

Use independent pathways when one Collection contains two programs that can be completed in parallel, such as policy training and role preparation.

<!-- learning-map-preview:independent -->

Recommended settings:

• Completion rule: Complete every goal
• Goals: E and J
• Enforce prerequisites: enabled
• Visibility: Full Map

The organizer places the connected components in separate bands. The List presents them as separate grouped sections rather than implying that E unlocks F, G, H, or I.

This fixture tests independent component spacing, multiple required goals, and deterministic organization in horizontal and vertical directions.

Example 4: Choose One Specialization#

Use Complete any goal when learners share a foundation but may finish one of several specializations.

Suggested interpretation:

• A: Business essentials
• B: Strategic thinking
• C: Marketing specialization
• D: Data analysis specialization
• E: Technology specialization
• G1: Marketing strategy goal
• G2: Business intelligence goal
• G3: Digital transformation goal

<!-- learning-map-preview:specialization -->

Recommended settings:

• Completion rule: Complete any goal
• Goals: G1, G2, and G3
• Enforce prerequisites: enabled
• Visibility: Progressive Map

After B succeeds, all three specialization Courses become available. Completing any one specialization and its goal completes the Collection. Do not connect all three specializations to one goal unless all three are required, because multiple incoming connections use AND logic.

This fixture tests branching, progressive reveal, several simultaneous available Courses, and any_goal completion.

Visual Test Checklist#

Use the examples above after changes to the editor or learner experience.

Editor#

• List numbering remains stable when Courses are organized on the Map.
• List groups follow prerequisite depth without becoming card-based Map replicas.
• Down arrows appear between connected depth groups, not between independent pathways.
• Organize is deterministic when run repeatedly.
• Long Course names wrap without changing Map column spacing.
• Undo and redo restore connections, goals, order, and positions.
• Validation identifies cycles, missing goals, unreachable goals, and archived Courses.

Learner#

• Locked Courses cannot be launched when enforcement is enabled.
• The List remains complete on mobile, including locked Courses.
• Progressive visibility hides locked Map nodes without removing them from the List.
• A successful attempt unlocks dependents; a failed attempt does not.
• Start changes to Continue when an attempt exists.
• Goal, status, score, completion date, and module version appear when available.
• The Collection completes according to the selected Course or goal rule.

Plan Safe Changes#

Learning Map changes affect accepted learners immediately after saving. Existing attempts are preserved and reevaluated against the new graph.

Before changing a live Map:

1. Preview both presentations.
2. Validate the graph.
3. Confirm that new prerequisites do not unexpectedly lock active learners.
4. Confirm that goal and completion-rule changes match your reporting policy.
5. Communicate structural changes to learners.

Related Guides#

• Collections
• Courses
• SCORM 1.2 and 2004
• Learner management