Creating a new course in LearnDash is easy and only takes a few minutes. In this post, we’ll show you how to get started creating your own course, including adding lessons, quizzes, and more. Whether you’re an experienced teacher or just getting started with online learning, this post will help you get up and running quickly with LearnDash. Let’s get started!
Log into your WordPress site and go to the LearnDash LMS plugin
Alright, we’re here! Now it’s time to create your new course in LearnDash. First things first: you’ll need to log into your WordPress site. Once that’s done, head on over to the LearnDash LMS plugin. From there, you’ll be taken to an area where you can set up and configure courses however you’d like. Don’t forget — take your time, be thorough and enjoy the process of creating a course that works best for you!
Don’t have your website set up, yet? Check out our quick start guide on WordPress and LearnDash.
Click on “Add New Course”
Ready to get started creating your first LearnDash course? Great! Step one is to open the Courses page and click the “Add New Course” button. This will open a new page where you can enter all the essential details for your course – from the title and description to adding lessons and content. Once you have everything just how you want it, hit Publish – voilà! You’ve created your first LearnDash course.
Enter a title for your course and select a category
Choosing a title and category for your course is an essential first step in creating it with LearnDash. A catchy but descriptive title will draw in potential students, so take some time to give it some thought and ensure it accurately reflects your course’s content. The category you choose will help people find what they’re looking for on your website, so choose one that fits your course best. Once you’ve selected these two items, you’ll be ready to start building out your course!
Choose whether you want your course to be free or paid
Creating a course in LearnDash is an exciting process. Many people may be unsure when deciding whether to set their course as free or paid, or even a mix of both. The great news is there is flexibility with this decision – you can choose for your course to be free, or to require a fee for access. A good place to start is considering what outcome you hope to achieve from sharing your content and which pricing strategy would best align with that goal.
Add an overview of what the course will cover in the description box
Writing a description of your new course can be an exciting moment! It’s your chance to showcase what it offers and why it’s so valuable. The description box is the perfect way to give potential students a brief but comprehensive overview of what the course covers, from objectives and milestones to topics that will be discussed. While you don’t have to go into extreme detail for each component, feel free to convey why this course differs from others—is it more in-depth, flexible, or interactive? Let its upcoming students know what they’ll be getting out of enrolling. Bottom line: take the time to craft a strong description box so learners can quickly get a sense of all your course has to offer before diving in—your knowledge awaits!
Choose a featured image for your course
Selecting a featured image for your course is an important step in creating a successful learning experience in LearnDash. A great featured image will draw attention and communicate the overall theme of your course. Consider choosing an interesting picture that both portrays your course’s focus and excites your potential students. Also, remember that the right size will ensure it looks good on all types of devices, so aim for somewhere around 800 x 600 pixels and avoid any extremely large images since they may take a while to load.
Add lessons and quizzes
Now, all you need to do is fill it with lessons, topics, and quizzes. Click on the “Builder” tab at the top of your LearnDash course page on the backend, and you’ll be brought to a page that allows you to easily add lessons and topics. Just type in the names of all of your lessons in the Builder and then click the “Publish” or “Update” button to save your progress.
Now you can you click on “Edit” beside each lesson and begin adding your lesson content. As you add content, be sure to include supplemental resources such as videos, slideshows, PDFs, audio files, and more.
Advanced features for your courses
You can also create groups, forums, assignments, quizzes, certificates, and more for your course – it’s entirely up to you! Keep in mind that these items can be added and edited as you move along.
With LearnDash Notifications (a free add-on), you can also set up automated emails that are sent to users after they enroll in the course, complete lessons, and more. These automated emails will make it easy to keep students on track and engaged with the course material, so be sure to take advantage of this feature if you want to ensure your learners have a successful journey through your course.
In LearnDash, you can create custom certificates that are awarded to students who complete the course. Certificates serve as a great way to motivate and reward your learners for their dedication and hard work.
You can also add additional features such as forums, surveys, and more to give your course an extra boost of interactivity. Additional plugins (some free and some premium) are needed to add this extended functionality, but the results are often worth it.
Promote your course
Congratulations! You’ve just created your very own LearnDash course. From setting up the details to choosing a featured image and adding lessons, you’ve completed every step necessary to make it happen. Now all that’s left is to hit the “Publish” button. Once you do, your course will be ready for students to start enrolling and learning! Good luck with your new course!
With LearnDash, you can easily create a comprehensive and engaging online course to share with learners. By following this guide, you’ll have everything set up in no time so that you can start teaching. Have fun and enjoy sharing your knowledge!
Don’t forget to regularly review your course and ensure it is up-to-date with the latest information and changes in your industry. With LearnDash, you have the power to update your courses quickly and easily to keep students engaged.
Testing Your Course
Before releasing your course to the public, it’s a good idea to take a few minutes and review it. Experiment with the different lesson types, try out the quizzes, and make sure each page looks great. Once you feel confident your course is ready for its big debut, it’s time to open up access and get students enrolled!
Share Your Course With the World
Now that your LearnDash course is officially published, it’s time to start spreading the word. Share it on social media, add a link to your website or blog, and let everyone know about the amazing new course you’ve created! With your course content and the structure provided by LearnDash, you can be sure that your students are getting the best possible learning experience – so don’t forget to share it with the world and watch your students learn, grow, and succeed! Good luck!
Need Help Getting Started?
LearnDash is easy to use once you get used to it, but it can be a steep learning curve and feel overwhelming in the beginning. If you need help getting started, check out the LearnDash knowledge base with detailed step-by-step articles or Dave Warfel’s treasure trove of LearnDash insights at ldx.design.
I also offer one-on-one training if you want someone to walk you through the process step-by-step or done-for-you services in which I can build you a WordPress website with LearnDash or add LearnDash to your current site. Creating a course in LearnDash is an exciting process, so don’t hesitate to reach out if you need help getting started.
