LearnDash LMS – Course Grid

Understanding LearnDash LMS Course Grid

The LearnDash LMS Course Grid Add-on is a powerful tool that allows users to present their courses in an organized, visually appealing grid format. This add-on significantly enhances the user experience by providing customization options that extend beyond the basic offerings of LearnDash.

Unlocking the Power of Course Grid 2.0

With the arrival of Course Grid 2.0, users can take advantage of a more intuitive interface that merges seamlessly with Gutenberg’s block editing capabilities. This shift towards a block-based system means creating and managing course grids is easier than ever. The add-on offers a plethora of new features, including various display skins and built-in filtering options for a tailored browsing experience.

Key Features of LearnDash LMS Course Grid

Before diving into the practicalities of setting up the Course Grid, it’s essential to enumerate what this add-on can do:

• Display Courses in Columns: Customize how many course columns are visible on your grid.
• Sort and Order Courses: You have the autonomy to customize the order in which courses appear.
• Filter by Category or Tag: If you organize your courses well, filtering them by categories or tags can be a significant enhancement to the user experience.
• Show Enrolled Courses Only: This feature ensures only the courses the user is enrolled in will be displayed for easy access.
• Hide/Show Course Images: Depending on your design preference, you can choose to include or omit course images.
• Include Video Previews: An option to showcase a video for previews can attract more users.
• Short Description Inclusion: This aids in providing quick context about the course.
• Customizable CTA Button: The call-to-action button can be tailored to fit your content theme.
• Price Ribbons: Useful for indicating the cost of courses at a glance.
• Course Progress Bar: This is particularly enticing for users tracking their learning journey.
• Search and Filtering Options: Powerful search functionalities ensure users can quickly find what they need.
• Multiple Usages: You can utilize the grid multiple times on different pages or sections of your website.
• Custom Layout Skins: These skins define how your Course Grid visually appears.

Installation Process

To get started with LearnDash LMS Course Grid, follow these installation guidelines:

1. Add-Ons Menu Installation:
2. Navigate to the Add-Ons section in your WordPress Admin area.
3. Locate the LearnDash Course Grid Add-on and click “Install Now.”

4. Activate your newly installed plugin.

5. Manual Upload:

6. Download the plugin and navigate to WordPress Plugins > Add New.
7. Choose “Upload Plugin” and select the downloaded zip file.
8. Click on “Install Now” followed by “Activate Plugin.”

Utilizing the Course Grid

There are two principal methods for integrating the course grid onto your site:

• Using Gutenberg Blocks: If you leverage the Gutenberg editor, you can easily add the grid by inserting the “LearnDash Course Grid” block and then customizing the settings as needed.

• Shortcode Implementation: For users working with a different editor, applying shortcodes provides an alternative means to display Your Course Grid. This is also suitable for page builder plugins such as Elementor, Divi, and Beaver Builder.

If you are in a situation where you need to insert the grid within theme files, using the do_shortcode() function is a seamless solution.

The Shortcode Functionality

The shortcode functionality expands user capabilities significantly. For instance, with Course Grid 2.0, you can use the shortcode [learndash_course_grid] followed by several attributes to fine-tune what appears in your grid.

Attributes Include:

• Post Type: Specify the post type you want to retrieve (default is sfwd-courses).
• Per Page: Control how many items appear per page.
• Order By/Order: Customize the sorting of displayed courses.
• Filters: Enable or disable filters for a more interactive experience.
• Elements: Manage which elements, like thumbnails and descriptions, get displayed.

This combination allows for ample customization to fit various needs, from academic platforms to training sites.

Styling and Customization

Customization extends beyond simple functionality; it also involves aesthetics. LearnDash LMS Course Grid enables you to modify visual elements such as:

• Skin Options: Select between grid, list, or masonry presentations for your course listings.
• Card Options: Choose preset designs for how course cards appear on the grid.
• Responsive Columns: Define how many columns are visible across different screen sizes to ensure a polished look on all devices.

Fonts, colors, and additional style features can be modified under the “Styles” tab, allowing you to create a visually cohesive learning environment that matches your brand.

Filtering Options

With Advancements in Course Grid 2.0, users can filter their courses extensively:

• Keyword Search: Users can search for specific courses using keywords.
• Taxonomy Filters: Filter courses based on selected categories and tags, thus enhancing user navigation.
• Price Filter: Helps prospective students to find courses within their budget quickly.

This capability makes it effortless for learners to zero in on precisely what they are looking for, ensuring they find courses that suit their needs best.

Conclusion

Deploying the LearnDash LMS Course Grid Add-on can significantly enhance the way courses are presented and accessed on your site. With its flexible design features, robust filtering capabilities, and straightforward setup process, anyone looking to offer a comprehensive online learning experience can greatly benefit from its implementation. The ability to customize the grid while also ensuring a clean and engaging user interface means it is well worth considering for any educational platform. Users can look forward to creating tailored learning pathways that not only meet but exceed the expectations of their learners. Whether through the ease of using the Gutenberg editor or toggling through shortcode settings, the LearnDash LMS Course Grid proves to be an invaluable tool for educators and content creators alike.