Establishing Substitute and Prerequisite Relationships

Objectives

After completing this lesson, you will be able to:
  • Create substitute relationships
  • Create prerequisite relationships

Substitute Items and Credit

A substitute item is an entity that receives credit when another related item is completed. In other words, if you complete one item, you can get credit for a different but related item as well.

How It Works

  1. You complete an item (e.g., a course, training, or certification)

  2. The completed item is marked as Completed in your learning history

  3. A related substitute item also receives credit, even though you didn't directly complete it

  4. The substitute item is marked as Substitute Credit in your learning history

Example

Let's say you need to complete a CPR course. However, if you complete a Lifeguard course instead, which includes CPR training, you can receive substitute credit for the CPR course.

In this case:

  • You complete the Lifeguard course.
  • The Lifeguard course is marked as Completed in your learning history.
  • The CPR course is marked as Substitute Credit in your learning history, even though you didn't directly complete it.
Substitutes entity tab and plus button are highlighted to show their location on the screen.

Configure a Substitute Relationship

Substitute relationships are configured on the entity that will be receiving the credit. Navigate to the item’s Substitutes tab and add the substitute items. Follow these steps to configure a substitute relationship.

Steps

  1. Go to the item receiving the substitute credit.

  2. Select the Substitutes entity tab.

  3. Select the plus icon to search for and select the items that will provide substitute credit to this item.

  4. Select the For-Credit status for the substitute item.

  5. Decide whether to check the box for Provide credit for base item if not assigned. This option allows credit to be given for the base item when no substitutes are assigned.

  6. Select the Not-for-Credit Status. If the learner fails to complete the substitute item, the base item will also be marked as incomplete with whatever value is selected in the dropdown.

  7. Choose an Effective Date for when this substitute relationship should start (this can be backdated).

  8. Confirm Add Checkbox(es). At the end of each row, select the corresponding Add checkbox(es)for each substitute item you wish to include.

  9. Complete the process. Select the Add button to finalize and save your configuration.

    Lifeguard Certification item is highlighted in the search results for substitute items.

    Caution

    For an item to be substituted, the original item must have the alternative listed explicitly in its Substitutes tab. The system does not extend the substitution process beyond what is directly specified; it will not "daisy chain" substitutes. Therefore, ensure that any substitute you consider is directly linked to the base item in the system.

Result

You have created a substitute relationship.

Establish a Substitute Relationship

Business Example

In this exercise, you will establish a substitute relationship to give learners that completed the LMS Manager Course, credit for the LMS User Course. Credit should be granted even if the substitute item was not previously assigned to the learner.

Steps

  1. Search for and open the item that will be receiving the substitute credit: LMS USER Training.

  2. Select the Substitutes entity tab and choose Add New Substitutes.

  3. Use the search criteria to find the LMS Manager Training course and choose Search.

    • In the For Credit Status field, select Substitute.
    • Check the Yes checkbox in the Provide Credit for Base Item If Not Assigned column.
    • In the Not-for-credit Status field, select Course Not Completed Successfully.
    • For Effective Date, enter Select Today’s Date using the calendar icon.
    • Check the box at the end of the row under the Add column.

  4. Select the Add button to complete the creation of the substitute relationship.

  5. Verify the selected item is displayed with the correct settings.

    To ensure the configuration is correct, conduct the following test, beginning with the next step.

  6. Add a history record for a test user that shows completion of the LMS Manager course.

    • Navigate to the Add Learning History for Multiple Courses tool.
    • Search for and add the LMS Manager course.
    • Assign it to User: Lyndsey Abel
    • Select Completion status: COURSE COMPLETE (Course Complete) – For Credit and SUBMIT.

  7. Check the user’s Learning History (Completed Work).

    • Search for and open user entity: Lyndsey Abel.
    • Navigate to the Actions menu and select Launch Proxy.
    • The learning history should show a COURSE COMPLETE status for LMS Manager Training and SUBSTITUTE credit for the LMS User Training course.

Prerequisites

A prerequisite is a course or a group of courses that students must complete before enrolling in a more advanced course. The purpose of prerequisites is to ensure that learners have the necessary foundational knowledge before tackling more complex subjects.

For instance, students must complete the Basic Accounting course before they can enroll in the Advanced Accounting course. This requirement helps ensure that students are well-prepared and set up for success in the advanced course.

Prerequisite relationships are configured on the entity that has the prerequisite.

Prerequisite Relationship Configuration

  1. Navigate to the item’s Prerequisites entity tab and add the prerequisite items.
  2. Use the AND or OR relationship to create groups that define prerequisites options.
    • For the AND relationship: create one group and add all prerequisite items to this group.
    • For the OR relationship: create two or more groups and add the prerequisite items to these groups.

To further illustrate, let's consider two use cases for each configuration option.

AND Relationship Use Case

The Advanced Accounting course prerequisites are the Basic Accounting AND the Server Basics courses.

Configuration steps:

  1. Access the Advanced Accounting item.
  2. Navigate to the Prerequisites tab, then select the plus icon to create a group. For example, Advanced Accounting Prerequisites Group.
  3. Add the prerequisite items to the group by selecting the plus icon within the group.
  4. Search for and add the Basic Accounting and Server Basics courses.

Learners can only enroll in Advanced Accounting once they have completed both prerequisites.

Prerequisite tab is selected and the two prerequisite courses and Assign to me buttons are shown.

OR Relationship Use Case

The Advanced Accounting course prerequisites are either the Basic Accounting OR the Server Basics course.

Configuration steps:

  1. Access the Advanced Accounting item.
  2. Navigate to the Prerequisites item entity tab.
  3. Select the plus icon to create a group. For example, Advanced Accounting Prerequisites – group A.
  4. Add the prerequisite items to the group by selecting the plus icon within the group and searching for the item. For example, add the Basic Accounting course.
  5. Repeat steps 3 and 4 to create a second group Advanced Accounting Prerequisites – group B and add the Server Basics course.

Administrator view for the OR prerequisite is displayed.

Learners can only enroll in the Advanced Accounting course if they have completed either one of the prerequisite courses.

Important Things to Know About Prerequisites

Prerequisite relationships are essential for effective planning and successful completion of learning events. Here are some key points to keep in mind:

  • If a learner has successfully completed any of the required prerequisite courses in their learning history, they may be able to immediately take the course with the prerequisite.
  • A learner may be able to immediately enroll in a class with a prerequisite class if the end date of the prerequisite class is before the start date of the new class.
  • Administrators and managers may be allowed to override prerequisites. This is a Global Applications Setting that can be configured.
  • If an item with a prerequisite is added to a program, the prerequisite relationship is ignored. This means that learners can enroll in the course without meeting the prerequisite requirements.

Establish a Prerequisite Relationship

Business Example

In this exercise, you will establish a prerequisite relationship, requiring learners to complete the LMS User Training course before they can complete the LMS Administrator Course.

Steps

  1. This relationship will be configured on the LMS Administrator Training Course since this is the entity that requires a prerequisite.

  2. Open the LMS Administrator course and select the Prerequisites entity tab.

  3. Select Create Group icon.

  4. Enter a title for the group, for example, Group 1.

  5. Select OK.

  6. Select the Add item/curricula icon next to the name of the group you just created.

  7. Use the search criteria fields and enter LMS User Training to find the LMS User Training course.

  8. Select Search.

  9. Select the Add checkbox at the end of the LMS User Training course row.

  10. Select the Add button.

  11. Verify the selected item is displayed.

  12. Select Save.

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