Purpose Statement

Course Builder allows agencies with the Advanced Training Module to create customized online training courses within First Due. Course creators can combine multiple types of training content, including videos, documents, audio files, quizzes, SCORM packages, and external links, into a single course.

Courses can be made available for users to self-enroll or can be assigned as part of a scheduled training assignment.  Online Course completions are not available for Log Training workflow. 

This Article is part of a series for creating an online learning course in the Training Module.  The Steps are as follows: 

Not all content types are required to create on online course but have been separated efficient explanation.  

Background Information

Course Builder is located within the Training Module under the Course Library.

Using Course Builder, agencies can create online training tailored to their department's policies, procedures, continuing education requirements, and operational needs.

Course creators can:

• Organize courses using Categories, Topics, and Standards.
• Add multiple types of training content.
• Require specific course elements for completion.
• Require users to complete content in a specific order.
• Configure a minimum course participation time.
• Preview a course before publishing.
• Save unfinished courses as drafts.
• Publish courses to the Course Library.
• Allow users to self-enroll when Course Library visibility is enabled.

Required Permissions

Course Builder is available to agencies using the Advanced Training Module.

Users wishing to use Course Builder need to have been granted access to the Course Library and the ability to create or update courses.  

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Step-by-Step Guide

Navigate to the Course Library

• Navigate to Training.
• Select Course Library.
• Select Create Course at the top of the page.

Enter the Course Information

1. Enter a Course Name. This field is required.
2. Associate the applicable Categories, Topics, and Standards with the course as needed.
3. Enter a Default Duration, if desired. A default duration is optional for an online course.
4. Select Online as the course type.
5. Enter a course description, if needed.
6. Enable Visible in Course Library if users should be able to locate the course in the Course Library and self-enroll.
7. Select Next.

Configure the Course Settings

The course settings page displays information entered during initial course creation and allows those settings to be adjusted.

• Review the previously entered course information and make any necessary changes.
• Configure the Default Duration, if applicable.
• Configure the optional Course Timer - The Course Timer establishes the minimum amount of time an attendee must participate in the course before receiving credit.

1. Enter or Edit the Course Description
2. Enable if this course is visible to end users in the Course Library - This allows end users to self-enroll in the course 
3. Secure Playback - Requires learners to enter fullscreen before any playback and logs events if they attempt to switch tabs or attempt to copy content
4. Allow learners to revisit content they have already completed
5. Inactivity Threshold - Amount of time a user is inactive before it stops counting active learning time. 

Open the Course Content Area

• Navigate to the Course Content area to begin building the online course.

Course Builder allows multiple content types to be combined into one course.

Add Course Content

• Select Add Content.
• From the modal, select the type of content you want to add.
• Select Add Content.
• Toggle the 'Require Sequential Order' so that the order the course content is presented is the order the end user must complete them in. 

Repeat this process for each item that should be included in the course. 

Arrange the Course Content

After course content has been added, arrange the items in the order attendees should complete them.

• Locate the drag handle to the left of a content item.
• Select and drag the item to the desired position.
• Repeat the process until all content is in the appropriate order.
• If attendees must complete all course elements in the order presented, enable the applicable sequential-completion toggle.

Save the Course Content

• After adding and arranging the course elements, select Save Content to save the course configuration.

Preview the Course

Course creators can preview the course before making it available to attendees.

• Select Preview.
• Navigate through the course as an attendee would.
• Review the content, order, links, and required elements.
• Select the option at the upper-right of the page to exit the preview.

Completing content while in Preview mode does not provide training credit.

Save as a Draft or Publish the Course

• If additional work is needed, save the course as a Draft.
• When all course information and content have been configured and reviewed, select Publish to make the course active in the Course Library.

Make the Course Available to Attendees

After the course is published, it can be accessed in one of two ways depending on agency configuration:

• Users can locate the course and self-enroll when Visible in Course Library is enabled.
• Administrators can assign the course as part of a scheduled training assignment.

Best Practices

• Preview courses before publishing. Verify that videos, documents, links, quizzes, and other course elements function as expected.
• Use clear content names. Name each section so attendees understand what they are expected to complete.
• Organize content logically. Place course materials in the same sequence attendees should follow during training.
• Use required content intentionally. Mark an item as required when completion is necessary to satisfy the training objective.
• Use sequential completion when order matters. Enable the applicable setting when later content depends on information presented earlier in the course.
• Verify embedded content. Use Open in Browser to confirm external video links are valid. Keep in mind that the external provider must allow embedding for the content to display within Course Builder.
• Use the Course Timer only when appropriate. Configure the timer when attendees must participate for a minimum amount of time before receiving credit.
• Save progress while building the course. Use Save Content after adding or modifying course materials.
• Use Draft status for unfinished courses. Publish only after all course elements have been reviewed.

Troubleshooting & FAQs

Why don't I see the Create Course option?

Course Builder is available to agencies using the Advanced Training Module. If your agency has Advanced Training but you still do not see Create Course, contact your First Due administrator to verify your access and applicable Training Module permissions.

Do I have to enter a Default Duration for an online course?

No. A Default Duration can be configured, but it is not required when initially creating the online course.

What does the Course Timer do?

The Course Timer establishes the minimum amount of time an attendee must be present in the course before receiving credit.

Can attendees be required to complete course content in order?

Yes. Course creators can enable the applicable setting to require course elements to be completed in the order presented.

Can I test the course before publishing it?

Yes. Select Preview to navigate through the course as an attendee would. Activity completed during Preview does not provide training credit.

Can I save a course without publishing it?

Yes. Courses that are not ready for attendees can be saved as drafts.

How can users enroll in a published course themselves?

Enable Visible in Course Library when configuring the course. Once the course is published, users can locate it in the Course Library and self-enroll when that functionality is enabled.

Can an administrator assign a Course Builder course instead of having users self-enroll?

Yes. Published courses can be assigned as part of a scheduled training assignment.