Setting delays, schedule for opening and closing lessons (dripping content)

Setting up an opening schedule for lessons and modules helps create a structured learning experience, ensuring material is absorbed sequentially and effectively. You can specify when participants will gain access to new lessons or modules based on the course timeline. This is particularly important for courses where material must be learned step by step.

To set delays, go to the course settings or access the settings for an individual lesson in the builder. Navigate to the Dates and delays for opening lessons tab.

Options for opening delays:

Delaying lesson openings helps facilitate gradual learning, maintain a clear course structure, and provide a smooth experience for participants. There are three main ways to configure this:

• Immediately from the moment of opening access to the course: The lesson becomes available as soon as the participant gains access to the course. This is ideal for courses where all materials should be accessible without delays.

• After N days: For example, a lesson or module can open 7 days after the course starts at a specific time. This approach is ideal for courses with gradual content releases, such as weekly updates, as it prevents overwhelming participants with too much information at once. You can set the exact opening time for the day the delay ends. By selecting Exact Time, you can specify a universal opening time for all participants, such as 9:00 AM. If you choose Participant Time, the lesson will open based on the time each participant gained access to the course through a particular offer, making the timing unique for each participant.

• Specific Date: Access to the lesson is granted on a clearly defined day and time. For example, if the course starts on the 1st of the month, but a specific lesson should only be available on the 15th of the month, this option works perfectly. You can set the exact opening time for the day the lesson should open. Participant Time: The lesson will open when each participant gained access to the course through a specific offer, making the timing unique for each individual. For example, if a participant buys the course at 3:56 PM and the lesson has a 2-day delay, access will open 2 days later at 3:56 PM. Exact Time: By choosing this option, you can set a universal opening time for all participants, such as granting access to everyone at 9:00 AM.

Delays applied to a module automatically affect all lessons within it. However, you can also set individual delays for specific lessons if needed. When a lesson or module becomes available, participants receive automatic notifications by email and in their accounts. 

Module Delays

When you apply a delay to a module, it automatically extends to all included lessons. If needed, you can set additional delays for individual lessons within the module.

For example, a module may open 7 days after the course starts, but the final lesson within that module becomes available 14 days later. This approach helps distribute content even within the same module.

How to configure closing dates for lessons

Lesson closures allow you to restrict access to specific materials after a set period.

Note: If course access is limited to a specific timeframe (e.g., two months), it is recommended to manage closures through offers rather than setting closing date for each lesson or module. This approach simplifies extending access for participants. 

This is convenient for courses where it is important to encourage participants to study on time. You can choose one of the options:

• Indefinitely: Access to the lesson remains open without restrictions. This option works well for courses with permanent access to materials.

• After N day: Access closes a set time after the lesson opens or the course starts. For example, select this option if you want students to complete a lesson within 30 days after its opening. This creates a sense of deadline that often helps participants stay on pace with their learning.

• Specific date: A lesson or module becomes unavailable on a certain day. 

Why is this convenient?

Participants automatically receive email and dashboard notifications when a new lesson or module becomes available. This helps them stay engaged and ensures a structured yet flexible learning experience.

Note: When creating a new course session with a different schedule, use offers to adjust delays instead of duplicating the course or changing delays in the current session settings. Read more in the article: How to create a new class schedule.

Scheduling your lessons will help you ensure a quality learning experience for participants by arranging for a gradual and comfortable pace of learning the materials.