How to enable content scheduling?

This article covers how to release course content over a period of time.

Content Scheduling, which is also called Content Dripping is a way to release your course material at different intervals rather than releasing them all at once. If you want a particular chapter or multiple chapters to release on a fixed date, or after a certain period, you can use the feature "enable content scheduling". 

Steps to enable Content Scheduling for your course

Go to your Dashboard> CONTENT > Courses.

Click on the "Course Builder" icon of the particular course. 

In the course builder landing page, there is an option "Enable Content Scheduling". You can find it just above the Table Of Contents. You need to tick the checkbox placed just beside it.

Once you tick on the option to "Enable Content Scheduling", you will be redirected to choose one of the two types of Content Scheduling Option.

Let's get into the details of both the available options individually.

1. Enrolment Wise:
Introduction
Learners will only be able to access the course content after a pre-defined period of days from the date of enrolment. Until then, the course item will be locked.
Example: If you set up a window of 3 days, then a student enrolling for the course on 5th Aug will get its access on 8th Aug. In the span of 3 days, until the content becomes live, it will be shown locked with a text specifying "This item will be accessible on 2019/08/08, 10:00:00 AM".  

Choose Enrolment Wise
To select "Enrolment Wise" you need to choose the option "Enrolment Wise" & click on Submit.

Upon submission, you will be redirected back to the course builder page. In the Table of Contents, you will see an additional option of "0 days". This option will be present in every chapter as well as sub-chapters.
"0 days" means the chapter will be visible to the learners immediately after they sign up for the course. 

Setting Number Of Days
The zero number of days is by-default set. However, the number of days can be modified. To schedule the chapter or the sub-chapters you need to click on 0 days for that particular chapter and update the value.
Example: If you want Chapter 2 to open after 5 days of learners' enrolment, then you need to click on "0 days" beside chapter 2, select 5 & click "save".

Access for Number of days

This option sets the validity of the particular course item from the day of its visibility. For unlimited access, choose "0". 

Once you select 5 days, the Chapter would be scheduled to open after 5 days of learners' enrolment.

2. Fixed Dates:

Introduction
The course item will be locked until the given date and will get unlocked on the specified date. It is independent of learner's enrolment date.

Example: If you set up a date, say 5th Aug, the learners would get access of the course on 5th Aug, irrespective of their enrolment date.
However, if the learner has enrolled on 3rd Aug, then it will be shown locked with a text specifying "This item will be accessible on 2019/05/08, 10:00:00 AM".  

Choose Fixed Date
To select "Fixed Date" you need to choose the option "Fixed Dates" & click on Submit.

Landing Page
Upon submission, you will be redirected back to the course builder page. In the Table of Contents, you will see an additional option yyyy/mm/dd. This option will be present beside every chapter as well as sub-chapters.
yyyy/mm/dd denotes that the respective chapter or the sub-chapter will be visible to the learners on that particular date.

Fixing the Date
To set the chapter or the sub chapters to open & close on a specific date & time, you need to click on yyyy/mm/dd pointed to that particular chapter.
Example: If you want to set validity for Chapter 2, click on yyyy/mm/dd beside chapter 2, select the beginning & ending date & time, then click on "save".

3. Change Content Scheduling Type:

Even after you have chosen a Content Scheduling Type, you have the option to change it back.
Example: If you have selected Fixed Dates, but later want to change it to "Enrolment Type". You need to click on Fixed Dates. 

The options window will reopen. You need to make your choice & repeat the same process as mentioned above.

Setting up Course Item wise Availability

If you just want to set up the availability date of one particular chapter, click on that chapter item. & go to availability settings. 

The default option is set to "Always Available". If you want that course item to be available to the learners for just a particular period, click on "Time Based". 

 Now, enter Beginning date & time> Ending date & time > Save.