Equivalence for Learning Paths

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Equivalence for Learning Paths

You may find it useful to offer more than one route to accomplish the same goal within a path. Alternative routes to path completion, so to speak. Intellek LMS accommodates this through Equivalence. Each path can have two or more folders defined as equivalent to each other. Folders can contain one Course or a set of Courses and any type of Course. All folders within a path defined as Part of Equivalence are considered equal, so end-users need only select ONE preferred route (folder) from two or more offered.

This topic will demonstrate the steps for setting the equivalence in Learning Paths feature and outline some best practices.

ExpandedEquivalence Set up and Considerations

1.Create your Learning Path details.

2.Consider the structure of your path:

a.Which Courses or sets of Courses do you consider equivalent to each other?

b.Consider folder names for each equivalent Course or set of Courses.

c.Will you need to use Courses or sets of Courses that will not be part of the equivalence? In other words, in cases where everybody must choose THIS Course or set of Courses to complete the path.

BestPrac  Best Practice

Consider adding instructions to the Path description to explain to users that they should choose ONE option among the equivalence folders. Besides a visual indicator next to each equivalence folder title (Equivalence Set up - Clip 1), this is the only method of directing users to choose between equivalence folders.

equiv

 
ExpandedSetting up a Courses Structure to Use Equivalence

equiv set

Administrators have three options for structuring Courses in a Learning Path:

•None

•Courses must be completed in order

•Use Equivalence

TPArrowOnly ONE of the above can be chosen for each path.

Select your preferred option from the Path Completes When All Required Courses Are drop-down, then select Use Equivalence to setup the path to accept equivalence folders.
ExpandedCreating Equivalence Folders

Start developing your Course structure by hovering over Add Course Add Record to show the Add Folder option.

1.Click Add Folder Add Learning Path Folder icon.

Equivalence Folders - Clip 1

2.Name the folder.

BestPrac  Best Practice

The names of your Equivalence folders should help guide end-users to select only one of the equivalence folders. Use a naming convention to assist with that. Also consider adding instructions to the Course Details > Description as described in Set up and Considerations. Besides a visual indicator next to each equivalence folder title (Equivalence Set up - Clip 1), this is the only method of directing users to choose between equivalence folders.

Equivalence Folders - Clip 2

3.Select the Is part of Equivalence check box for each folder you want to include as an alternative for the other equivalence folders within the path.

TPArrowUsers who complete any ONE of the equivalence folders in a path will no longer be required to complete any other equivalence folder(s) in the path. If ONE equivalence folder is completed AND all other required NOT-Equivalence Courses and folders are also completed, the Path is Complete for that user.

4.Click Apply Button and repeat steps 1-4 for as many Equivalence folders as you need.

5.Select a folder and add one or a set of Courses to the folder. Each new equivalence folder you add, regardless of the contents, should be interchangeable/equivalent. Users can select one folder from all folders marked as part of Equivalence to complete the goal of any/all equivalence folders.

Equivalence Folders - Clip 3

6.Add additional folders.

a.Equivalence Folders - Clip 5 End-users choose ONE folder from all Equivalence Folders offered in the path.

b.Equivalence Folders - Clip 4 End-users must complete EACH.

7.Click Save Button.

Equivalence Folders - Clip 6
ExpandedUser Interface

An equivalence path launched by a user displays the Path Description clearly at the top of the path to guide users. Equivalence path folders are identified with double asterisks (Equivalence Set up - Clip 1). Consider including that in your description.

equiv

Equivalence User Interface - Clip 2

 

Equivalence Paths in the Dashboard > Assignments card display the "Path" icon instead of the % in progress gauge and do not display a "_ out of _ courses completed" indicator as we do not know what journey the user is going to take.  We do show a total number of courses completed.

ExpandedCompletion

Once a user has completed ONE of the equivalence folders Equivalence Folders - Clip 5 and all other required folder(s) that are NOT part of Equivalence Equivalence Folders - Clip 4, the path is marked as Complete.