Learn - Use categories to organise LMS content

In this article, we'll explain how Categories are used to organise content so it's easier for learners to find what they're looking for, your LMS stays neat and tidy, and reporting can be more targeted. 

Categories are mandatory for Courses. They're important because learners use them to refine their view of Courses on the 'All Courses' page. Categories can also be used by administrators to refine the list of Courses in Learn admin, to find and view a specific Course. 

It's also possible to specify a Category for Accreditations, Catalogues, Groups, Job Profiles, Lessons and Resources. Categories in these areas are visible only to administrators in Learn Admin, and its totally optional to use them (but we REALLY recommend you do, they really help you keep organised).

We'll cover how to:

• View and edit the Category for a Course, Lesson Catalogue or Group
• Create and edit Categories for any system area
• Make it mandatory to add a Category for any system area (where categories are used)

Watch the video below for an overview of Categories in Learn LMS:

For more information about Categories, Courses and Catalogues, take a look at 'Build and curate learning' in The Academy

View and edit the Category for a Course, Lesson, Catalogue, and Group

View a Course, Accreditation, Catalogue, Group, Job Profile, Lesson or Resource and there will be an option to specify a Category. Here are a few examples of where that option appears:

For Catalogues, the Category is specified here:

For Courses, the Category is specified here:

For a Lesson, the Category is specified here:

For a Group, the Category is specified here. (Note that the 'Manually Maintained Users' category should only be used where the Group contains manually added Users):

Steps to create and edit Categories for any system area

Categories are unique to each system area. For this example, we'll create a new Category for Courses. The same steps apply for Catalogues, Groups, and Lessons in each respective area of Learn admin.

1. Browse to the Course area of Learn admin:
2. Select 'Edit' next to the Course Category. All existing categories will be listed. 
3. Select 'New' to create a new Category, or Edit/delete to amend an existing Category:
4. When you're done, select 'Save' to keep the changes. The new Category will now be available to select when a Course is created or edited.

Steps to make it mandatory to add a Category for any system area

Categories are used for Accreditations, Catalogues, Groups, Job Profiles, Lessons, and Resources. If you decide to use Categories to keep your LMS organised, make it mandatory so all administrators populate the Category field. Here's how to do it:

1. In Learn admin, browse to settings:
2. Select 'Category' from the Settings administration menu
3. Select the checkbox for the system areas where categories should be mandatory:
4. Select 'Submit' to save

Get deeper learning in The Academy

In 'The big picture: build and curate learning' (10 min eLearning) we explore the different types of Lessons available in Learn and show how to build Courses with the perfect blend of learning. We'll also take a look at how to organise optional learning to inspire, engage, and make it easy for learners to find what they're looking for. 
Understand the different Lesson types in Learn LMS, and how they can be organised into Courses

• Understand how Categories are used to make it easy for learners to find what they're looking for
• Have a strategy for planning out Catalogues in your Learn LMS