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Course Creation Flow

This guide walks you through the complete process of creating a course in NOW-LMS, from initial setup to publishing.

Prerequisites

Before creating your first course, ensure you have:

  • Instructor Role: You need instructor or administrator privileges
  • Content Ready: Course materials, learning objectives, and structure planned
  • Technical Resources: Videos uploaded, documents prepared, images optimized

Step 1: Create New Course

  1. Navigate to Course Management
  2. Log into your NOW-LMS dashboard

  3. Go to Courses → Create New Course

  4. Basic Course Information

  5. Course Name: Enter a clear, descriptive title
  6. Course Code: Unique identifier (auto-generated or custom)
  7. Short Description: Brief summary (max 280 characters)
  8. Full Description: Comprehensive course overview (max 1000 characters)

Step 2: Configure Course Settings

Course Level

Choose the appropriate difficulty level: - 0 - Introductory: No prior knowledge required - 1 - Beginner: Basic familiarity helpful - 2 - Intermediate: Some experience recommended - 3 - Advanced: Significant prior knowledge required

Course Duration

  • Set estimated completion time in hours
  • Helps students plan their learning schedule

Course Modality

Select the learning format:

Self-Paced

- Students learn independently
- No fixed schedule
- Forums automatically disabled
- Best for: Individual learning, skill development

Time-Based

- Fixed start and end dates
- Structured schedule
- Forums enabled for interaction
- Best for: Cohort learning, group projects

Live

- Real-time instruction
- Meeting sessions included
- Interactive discussions
- Best for: Workshops, seminars

Step 3: Payment Configuration

Free Course Setup

  1. Set Paid status to False
  2. Students can enroll immediately
  3. Full access to all materials
  4. Certificate eligibility enabled
  1. Set Paid status to True
  2. Enter course price in your currency
  3. Configure PayPal integration (see Payment Setup)
  4. Set Auditable option if desired

Audit Mode

When enabled for paid courses: - Students can access content without payment - No certificate eligibility - Useful for course previews or trial access

Step 4: Course Capacity and Availability

Enrollment Limits

  • Unlimited: Leave Limited unchecked
  • Limited: Check Limited and set Capacity number

Course Dates (Time-Based/Live Courses)

  • Start Date: When course becomes available
  • End Date: Course completion deadline
  • Registration Period: Can be set before start date

Step 5: Certificate Configuration

  1. Enable Certificates: Check Certificate option
  2. Choose Template: Select from available certificate templates
  3. Custom Templates: Create custom designs (see Certificate Customization)

Default Certificate Templates

  • Basic: Simple text-based certificate
  • Professional: Formal business style
  • Academic: University-style diploma
  • Creative: Colorful design with graphics

Step 6: Forum and Messaging Setup

Forum Configuration

  • Self-Paced Courses: Forums automatically disabled
  • Time-Based/Live Courses: Forums can be enabled
  • Benefits: Student interaction, Q&A, peer learning

Messaging Features

  • Student-to-Instructor: Always available
  • Instructor Responses: Configurable notification settings
  • Moderator Support: Assign moderators for large courses

Step 7: Course Promotion

Marketing Features

  • Promoted Status: Feature course on homepage
  • Promotional Dates: Set promotion period
  • Course Cover: Upload attractive cover image

SEO Optimization

  • Use descriptive course names
  • Include relevant keywords in descriptions
  • Add appropriate tags and categories

Step 8: Save and Review

  1. Save Draft: Save course as draft for later editing
  2. Review Settings: Double-check all configurations
  3. Test Access: Verify course behavior in different modes

Step 9: Add Course Content

Once your course structure is created:

  1. Create Sections: Organize content into logical modules
  2. Add Resources: Upload materials and create interactive content
  3. Set Prerequisites: Define section completion requirements
  4. Configure Assessments: Add quizzes and evaluations

See Sections and Resources for detailed content creation guidance.

Step 10: Publish Course

Before Publishing Checklist

  • [ ] All course information complete and accurate
  • [ ] Content uploaded and organized
  • [ ] Assessments created and tested
  • [ ] Certificate template configured
  • [ ] Payment settings verified (if applicable)
  • [ ] Moderators assigned (if needed)

Publishing Process

  1. Change course status from Draft to Open
  2. Set Public visibility to True
  3. Announce course availability to your audience
  4. Monitor initial enrollments and feedback

Post-Publication Tasks

Course Monitoring

  • Track enrollment numbers
  • Monitor student progress
  • Review forum discussions
  • Respond to student messages

Continuous Improvement

  • Gather student feedback
  • Update content based on questions
  • Add new resources as needed
  • Refine course structure

Common Issues and Solutions

Course Not Visible

  • Check: Public status is enabled
  • Check: Course status is set to "Open"
  • Check: User permissions are correct

Payment Issues

  • Verify: PayPal integration is configured
  • Check: Course price is set correctly
  • Test: Payment flow with test account

Forum Not Available

  • Remember: Forums are disabled for self-paced courses
  • Check: Course modality is time-based or live
  • Verify: Forum is enabled in course settings

Certificate Problems

  • Ensure: Certificate option is enabled
  • Check: Template is selected and valid
  • Verify: Student has completed course requirements

Next Steps

Now that your course is created, continue with: - Sections and Resources - Adding and organizing content - Certificate Customization - Creating custom certificates - Forum and Messaging - Managing student communications