Learn - How Catalogues, Courses, and Categories work together

In this article, we'll share some examples of Catalogues, Courses, and Categories. We'll show how they relate, and how they're used to deliver targeted optional learning to the right people. We'll also explain how Catalogues are assigned to Users.

If you're new to Learn, take a look at the Learn: terminology explained' article for a definition of all the key system areas.

How optional learning is shared with learners

Optional learning is added to Catalogues - think of Catalogues as a brochure. Catalogues are then assigned to Groups and less commonly, to individual Users. 

When a Catalogue is assigned to a Group, all members of the Group can see the Catalogue and browse the Courses assigned to it. Group members can be automatically added to Groups by the People-data feed, and by Group rules - created and managed by administrators. 

Examples of Catalogues, Courses, and Categories

We've listed below some examples of Catalogues we've seen customers use, along with the Courses that might be assigned, and the Category - broadly, the subject area - for each of those Courses.

Catalogue titled 'Management skills'

This Catalogue could be assigned to a Group containing all line managers. You may have Groups for aspiring managers, senior managers, and all managers. In each case, Catalogues containing Courses appropriate to each audience can be assigned to each Group.

Examples of Courses and Course categories might be:

Course	Category
GDPR for Managers	Compliance
Health and Safety for Managers	Health and Safety
Coaching Skills	Coaching
Managing Conflict	Team Dynamics
Managing remote teams	Business Skills
Improving Group Dynamics	Leadership
Menopause Awareness	Wellbeing

 

Catalogue titled 'Leadership and aspiring managers' 

This Catalogue could be assigned to a Group containing all employees. Examples of Courses and Course categories might be:

Course	Category
Coaching Skills	Coaching
Managing Conflict	Team Dynamics
Improving Group Dynamics	Leadership

 

Catalogue 'My Job - customer service'

In practice multiple catalogues with the title 'My Job' but with code of e.g. My Job - Customer Service
Or similar structure based on departmental learning, Examples of Courses and Course categories might be:

Course	Category
Health and Safety in the Office	Health and Safety
GDPR Essentials	Compliance
Customer Service Essentials	Customer Service
Angry Customers	Customer Service
Satisfying Challenging Customers	Customer Service
Avoiding Burnout	Wellbeing

 

Catalogue titled 'Project management'

This Catalogue could be assigned to a Group containing all employees. Examples of Courses and Course categories might be:

Course	Category
Improving Group Dynamics	Leadership
Presenting Skills	Business Skills
Completing Projects	Project management

Catalogue titled 'technical skills'

This could be a catalogue of learning related to particular areas of specialism in the organisation that might not apply to a specific team/department only. Examples of Courses and Course categories might be:

Course	Category
Technical course A	Technical Skills
Technical course B	Technical Skills
Technical course C	Technical Skills
Technical course D	Technical Skills

Catalogue titled 'Whats new'

Customers often have a 'What's new' Catalogue to highlight new content to the organisation (note that it's also possible to promote a Course on the Learn home page).

When using a 'Whats new' Catalogue, it's important to make sure you keep the content fresh. If new Courses don't appear, then learners will be less likely to pay attention.

A tip for you here - put a space at the beginning of the catalogue title and it will appear first in the list. Catalogues are ordered alphabetically, and special characters come first. 

Course	Category
New course A	Compliance
New course B	Customer Service
New course C	Wellbeing
New course D	Leadership
New course E	Technical Skills

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