Courses
Comprehensive guide to the ikigize courses system for creating structured learning programs with modules and sessions.
Overview
Courses are comprehensive learning programs that organize course blocks like modules or sessions into structured learning experiences. They represent the highest level of learning content organization in the ikigize platform, providing complete learning paths that guide learners from initial objectives to final outcomes.
Core Characteristics
Structure & Content
- Title & Objective: Clear title and learning objective defining overall learning outcome
- Description & Context: Detailed descriptions and contextual information
- Duration & Effort: Expected duration and weekly effort requirements (1-40 hours per week)
- Status Management: Draft, published, completed, or cancelled states
- Template Support: Courses can be marked as templates for reuse
- Embedding Support: Vector embeddings for intelligent search and similarity matching
Course Types
The platform supports multiple course types to accommodate different learning scenarios and delivery methods. From self-paced learning to live cohorts, intensive programs to micro-courses, each type is designed with specific learning patterns and outcomes in mind. Choose the type that best matches your educational goals and learner needs.
Learn at your own speed with no fixed deadlines
Structured timeline with start and end dates
Real-time sessions with instructors and peers
Combination of self-paced content and live sessions
Short, focused, high-intensity learning experience
Very short, focused learning (1-3 days)
Ongoing, subscription-style with regular updates
Structured preparation for specific certifications
Course Structure
A course's learning path is built from a flexible outline of content blocks. Each block represents a distinct learning component—whether it's a module, session, task, or resource—and can be sequenced to create a coherent learning journey.
Blocks support time-based access control through optional start and end dates: a start date locks the block until that date arrives, while an end date establishes a deadline for completion. This enables course designers to pace learning, create cohort-based experiences, and ensure prerequisites are met before advancing.
Course progress is measured based on completed blocks. As learners complete each block in the outline, their overall progress percentage increases, providing clear visibility into how far they've come and what remains ahead.
Available Block Types
Example Course Outline
The following example demonstrates how blocks are organized into a course outline, showing locked/unlocked states, dates, and progress tracking:
Progress is measured based on completed blocks. Complete all blocks to finish the course.
Introduction to Course Fundamentals
Get started with the core concepts and foundational knowledge
Kick-off Session: Welcome & Overview
Live interactive session to introduce the course and meet fellow learners
Core Concepts & Practical Applications
Dive deeper into the main topics with hands-on examples
Practice Assignment: Apply Your Knowledge
Complete hands-on exercises to reinforce your learning
Q&A Workshop: Deep Dive Discussion
Interactive workshop to address questions and explore advanced topics
Advanced Techniques & Best Practices
Master advanced concepts and industry best practices
Unlocks on Feb 1, 2025
Supplementary Reading Materials
Additional resources to enhance your understanding
Final Project: Capstone Assignment
Demonstrate your mastery with a comprehensive final project
Unlocks on Feb 10, 2025
Block Types & Features
Blocks with start dates are locked until that date
Blocks with end dates have deadlines
Course progress is calculated from completed blocks
Social Learning Integration
Courses are deeply integrated with ikigize's social learning features, enabling rich collaboration, communication, and community building throughout the learning journey.
Learning Together
Social features transform courses from isolated experiences into vibrant learning communities. From peer discussions and study groups to instructor Q&A and collaborative projects, social learning enhances engagement, retention, and outcomes throughout the entire course experience.
Courses are deeply integrated with ikigize's social learning features, enabling rich collaboration, communication, and community building throughout the learning journey.
Real-time messaging and video conferencing for course communities
Course Integration:
Threaded discussions for in-depth course-related conversations
Course Integration:
Structured collaboration tools for course projects and study groups
Course Integration:
Stay informed about course updates and learner activity
Course Integration:
Connect learners with mentors and peers for guidance
Course Integration:
Discover relevant courses and connect with fellow learners
Course Integration:
Explore Social Learning
Learn more about how social features enhance learning across the platform in the Social Learning Introduction.
Ownership & Visibility
Course ownership and visibility settings determine who controls the course and how it can be accessed—both for joining as a learner and for using as a template. The ikigize platform provides a sophisticated dual-context system that gives you independent control over learner access and template replication.
Dual-Context Access Control
Courses operate in two independent contexts:
Join Context → Controls who can access the course as a learner
Template Context → Controls who can copy and use the course as a template
Each context has its own visibility settings and access conditions, giving you complete flexibility in controlling both learning access AND structure replication.
Learner Access
Template Access
Independent Control: Configure visibility and access conditions separately for each context
Ownership Types
Every course has an owner who controls its configuration, content, and access settings across both contexts:
User Ownership
- Individual creator maintains full control
- Can transfer ownership to organizations
- Ideal for personal courses and independent creators
Organization Ownership
- Organization controls the course
- Multiple admins can manage
- Suitable for corporate training and institutional courses
Public Ownership
- Course is managed by the platform or broader community
- Oversight by appointed platform administrators or moderators
- Ideal for open educational resources or shared community initiatives
Understanding Dual-Context Visibility
Unlike traditional course platforms where visibility is monolithic, ikigize separates Join Visibility (where learners discover the course) from Template Visibility (where educators discover it as a reusable template).
Real-World Example: A university creates an excellent "Introduction to Data Science" course. They want:
- Campus students to join and learn (Join Context: Campus visibility, Free to Join)
- Other universities to use it as a template (Template Context: Public visibility, Free to Copy)
This dual-context system makes it possible. Students at the original campus can join, while educators worldwide can discover and adapt the course structure.
Flexibility Benefits
- Protect proprietary delivery while sharing best-practice structures
- Offer courses locally while enabling global template replication
- Control learner access independently from template distribution
- Create template-only resources that are never joinable courses
Join Context: Visibility Settings
Visibility determines where your course appears for potential learners to discover.
Maximum exposure across the platform
Best for: Open courses, MOOCs, and community learning programs
Visible to specific organization(s) members
Best for: Corporate training, internal programs, and organizational learning
Visible to specific campus(es) community
Best for: Department courses, campus programs, and academic offerings
Hidden from all catalogues
Best for: Exclusive programs, work-in-progress, and invitation-only courses
Multiple Catalogue Visibility
Courses can be visible in multiple catalogues simultaneously. For example, a course can be:
- Public + Multiple Organizations: Wide reach while maintaining organizational tracking
- Multiple Campuses: Enable inter-campus collaboration and shared programs
- Organizations + Campuses: Target specific institutional audiences across boundaries
Strategic Visibility
Use multiple catalogue visibility to maximize appropriate exposure. A professional development course can be public for general discovery while also appearing in specific organization catalogues for branded employee access.
Join Context: Access Conditions
Join conditions define the access requirements and enrollment process for learners.
User Experience
Click "Join Course" → Instant access with default role assigned
Admin Experience
New members appear automatically in the member list. No approval needed.
Configuration Options
Ideal For
Not Ideal For
Public Course Restriction
Public courses cannot be invite-only. When a course is publicly visible, it must allow either "Free to Join" or "Ask to Join" to prevent confusing experiences where learners can discover courses but never access them.
Join Context: Advanced Conditions
Beyond the three basic join types, course admins can configure additional conditions to control enrollment:
Course Prerequisites
Skill Assessments
Form Fields
Screening Questions
Payment Options
License Verification
Time-Based Access
Capacity Management
Template Context: Access Conditions
Template conditions determine who can copy and use your course as a template for creating their own version.
Independent Template Control
Template conditions are completely independent from join conditions. A course can be:
- Joinable but not copyable (protect your structure)
- Copyable but not joinable (template-only frameworks)
- Both joinable and copyable (maximum openness)
- Neither joinable nor copyable (work-in-progress, private courses)
User Experience
Click "Use as Template" → Template copied → Customize and publish
Template Owner Experience
Template is copied freely. Track usage metrics and derivatives. No approval needed.
Configuration Options
Ideal For
Not Ideal For
Template Context: Advanced Conditions
Beyond the three basic template access types, template owners can configure additional conditions to control usage, monetization, and distribution:
Template Payment Options
License Types
Attribution Requirements
Usage Rights
Allowed Modifications
Derivative Controls
Usage Metrics
Compliance Monitoring
Version Management
Update Propagation
Support Tiers
Certification Programs
Dual-Context Configuration Matrix
Understanding how Join Context and Template Context work together enables powerful access control strategies:
| Scenario | Join Context | Template Context |
|---|---|---|
| Public MOOC | Public +Free to Join | Public +Free to Copy |
| Public Course, Private Structure | Public +Free to Join | Private +Not Available |
| Template-Only Resource | Private +Not Available | Public +Free to Copy |
| Campus Course, Sharable Template | Campus +Free to Join | Organizations +Free to Copy |
| Selective Access, Licensed Template | Public +Ask to Join | Organizations +Ask to Copy |
| Organization Training, Internal Template | Organizations +Free to Join | Organizations +Free to Copy |
| Private Cohort, No Template | Private +Invite Only | Private +Not Available |
| Open Template, Selective Delivery | Campuses +Ask to Join | Public +Free to Copy |
Key Insight
Join Context and Template Context are completely independent. You can have a course that's publicly joinable but private as a template, or vice versa. This dual-layer system gives you maximum flexibility in controlling both learner access AND course structure replication.
Roles & Permissions
Course roles define what specific users can do within a course. While ownership and visibility determine control and discoverability, roles grant the actual permissions to view, edit, manage, teach, and interact with course content and participants.
How Roles Are Assigned
Course owners (or users with Superadmin/Admin roles) can assign roles to other users. Once assigned, roles determine exact capabilities. Users can hold multiple roles simultaneously, and permissions from all roles are combined additively.
Understanding Course Roles
Course roles operate independently from visibility and join conditions. A user might discover a course through a public catalogue, join via "Free to Join," but need a specific role (like Instructor or Teaching Assistant) to facilitate learning or support students.
Key Points:
- Owner = Automatic Superadmin: Course owners automatically have all Superadmin permissions
- Multiple Roles Allowed: Users can have several roles (e.g., Instructor + Author)
- Additive Permissions: More roles means more capabilities, never fewer
- Explicit Assignment: Roles must be explicitly assigned; they don't inherit from other contexts
- Role Hierarchy: Superadmin → Admin → Instructor/Author → Teaching Assistant → Student
Available Course Roles
Each role grants a specific set of permissions for working with course content, teaching, administration, and learning:
Complete control over the course
Key Capabilities:
Typical Users: Course owner, organization superadmins
Manage course operations and users
Key Capabilities:
Typical Users: Course administrators, program managers
Deliver and facilitate course learning
Key Capabilities:
Typical Users: Teachers, trainers, course facilitators
Create and edit course content
Key Capabilities:
Typical Users: Content creators, instructional designers, subject matter experts
Support instructors and help students
Key Capabilities:
Typical Users: Teaching assistants, course tutors, peer mentors
Learn and participate in the course
Key Capabilities:
Typical Users: Learners, participants, course members
Common Role Combinations
Users often benefit from multiple roles to fulfill complex responsibilities in course delivery:
Instructor + Author
- Teach content AND create/edit materials
- Ideal for: Subject matter experts who develop and deliver courses
Admin + Instructor
- Manage operations AND teach
- Ideal for: Course leads who handle both administration and facilitation
Author + Teaching Assistant
- Create content AND support students
- Ideal for: Advanced learners contributing content while helping peers
Instructor + Teaching Assistant
- Usually redundant (Instructor already has TA capabilities)
- Only assign both if you want explicit role clarity in the course roster
Complete Permissions Matrix
The following matrix shows exactly what each role can do at the course level:
| Permission | Superadmin | Admin | Instructor | Author | TA | Student |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Core Access | ||||||
| View Course | ||||||
| Access Course Content | ||||||
| Track Own Progress | ||||||
| Content Management | ||||||
| Edit Course Content | ||||||
| Manage Course Outline | ||||||
| Add/Remove Blocks | ||||||
| Create Sessions | ||||||
| Archive Course | ||||||
| Course Settings | ||||||
| Edit Course Settings | ||||||
| Configure Visibility | ||||||
| Configure Join Conditions | ||||||
| Configure Template Conditions | ||||||
| Templates & Licensing | ||||||
| Create Templates | ||||||
| License Course | ||||||
| User Management | ||||||
| Manage Course Members | ||||||
| Assign Roles | ||||||
| Remove Members | ||||||
| Teaching & Assessment | ||||||
| Grade Assignments | ||||||
| Provide Feedback | ||||||
| View Student Progress | ||||||
| View Course Analytics | ||||||
Permission Scenarios
Scenario 1: Self-Paced Online Course
- Superadmin: Course owner/creator
- Admin: Course manager handling enrollments and updates
- Instructors: Optional facilitators for live Q&A sessions
- Authors: Content creators updating materials
- Students: Self-paced learners
- Result: Clear separation of content creation, administration, and learning
Scenario 2: University Course
- Superadmin: Department head or course coordinator
- Admin: Program administrator
- Instructor: Primary professor
- Teaching Assistants: Graduate students supporting instruction
- Students: Enrolled students
- Result: Traditional academic structure with clear teaching support
Scenario 3: Corporate Training Program
- Superadmin: L&D (Learning & Development) director
- Admin: Training coordinator
- Instructors: Internal trainers and external consultants
- Authors: Subject matter experts creating content
- Students: Employees completing training
- Result: Scalable corporate learning with multiple content contributors
Scenario 4: Cohort-Based Course
- Superadmin: Course creator
- Instructors: Multiple facilitators for different cohorts
- Teaching Assistants: Cohort-specific TAs
- Students: Cohort members
- Result: Personalized cohort experience with dedicated support
Role Assignment Strategy
For detailed guidance on role assignment best practices and implementation patterns across the platform, see the Roles & Permissions System documentation.
Course Lifecycle
Every course on ikigize follows a natural progression from initial planning to ongoing maintenance. This lifecycle ensures that courses are well-designed, thoroughly tested, and continuously improved based on learner feedback and evolving educational needs.
Planning & Design
Define the course vision, learning objectives, and structural foundation:
- •Define learning objectives and measurable outcomes that learners will achieve
- •Plan course structure and organize content blocks (modules, sessions, tasks, resources)
- •Set duration, effort requirements, and pacing strategy for the learning journey
- •Design assessment methods, evaluation criteria, and completion requirements
- •Determine visibility settings and join conditions for target audience
Content Creation
Develop and curate comprehensive learning materials and resources:
- •Create or curate learning modules with clear objectives and structured content
- •Develop interactive sessions including workshops, discussions, and live activities
- •Prepare supporting resources such as readings, videos, and reference materials
- •Design assessments and projects that measure learning outcomes effectively
- •Configure block sequences, prerequisites, and time-based access controls
Review & Testing
Validate content quality, learning progression, and user experience:
- •Validate content quality, accuracy, and alignment with learning objectives
- •Test learning progression to ensure logical flow and appropriate pacing
- •Review assessment effectiveness and ensure they measure intended outcomes
- •Ensure accessibility compliance and usability across different devices
- •Conduct pilot testing with sample learners and gather initial feedback
Publication & Launch
Release the course and manage initial learner enrollment and engagement:
- •Set final visibility settings and configure join conditions for enrollment
- •Enroll initial learners or open registration based on access settings
- •Monitor learner progress, engagement patterns, and completion rates
- •Gather feedback through surveys, assessments, and learner interactions
- •Iterate on content and structure based on initial learner experiences
Maintenance & Updates
Continuously improve and maintain course relevance and effectiveness:
- •Update content regularly based on learner feedback and changing subject matter
- •Add new modules, resources, and activities to enhance learning experience
- •Improve assessments and projects to better measure and support learning
- •Maintain content relevance and accuracy as knowledge and practices evolve
- •Analyze learning analytics to identify improvement opportunities and optimize outcomes
Related Documentation
- Modules System - Building blocks for course content
- Sessions System - Interactive learning activities
- Groups - Managing course participants
- Library System - Organizing course resources