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Most Asked Questions
learner account
premium subscription
learning
certificates
payments
orders
career building tools
accreditation
affiliate programme
refer-a-friend programme
alison app
technical help
Guidelines for Assessments
Alison Courses incorporate two types of assessment questions:
These questions are not graded and can be inserted at any point within a course using the New Question button in the Page Editor.
Formative questions serve to test knowledge and provide interactivity for the learner.
These questions are graded and are required to be included at the conclusion of an Alison course. The default pass rate for summative assessments is set at 80%.
You can access and adjust the description and settings for your course assessment through the Course Assessment Settings option in the Module Tree Manager. Here, you have the flexibility to choose the number of questions to include in your assessment.
Our system will automatically tell the learner whether their answer was correct or incorrect, however, you as the Course Creator have the option to elaborate further which will improve the pedagogy of your course in addition to the learning experience of the student. Adding feedback that simply restates the correct answer is not useful for the learner, however, adding information that expands on why an answer is correct, or tells the learner in which topic they can find more information regarding the question, is useful.
Diploma Courses comprising more than 5 modules typically incorporate a First and Second Assessment, in addition to the Course Assessment. These assessments aim to test knowledge progressively. While these in-course assessments are graded, the grades do not contribute to the final course grade.
To include in-course assessments, you can utilise the Add Elements > Create Assessment option in the Module Tree Manager.
There are 6 question types/formats. Use as many different types of these as you can and ensure that no more than 25% of your final assessment consists of a single question type. This will keep the learner engaged and interested.
Ensure that questions align with the course content. Craft questions in a clear and concise manner, while also presenting challenges to the learner. In the final assessment, include questions that test the learners' comprehensive understanding of the entire course, rather than focusing solely on individual topics.
This requires the user to select a single correct answer from two options, usually written in the form of a statement that is either true or false.
This requires the user to select a single or all the correct answers from a list of options. The number of correct answers is usually specified.
This requires the user to complete a sentence by writing a missing word or words into an answer box. There is usually only one correct answer. If there is more than one correct answer, the instructor can include these in the answer options.
This requires the user to match options together in pairs. The user must select one half of a pair from a drop down list.
Requires the user to choose the correct answers sequentially, from a drop down list.
This requires the user to click on the correct area of an image. The correct area is specified by the instructor. The correct area is hidden from the user until they attempt an answer. Then the correct area is revealed.
Guidelines for incorporating images into your course
Images include illustrations, pictures, diagrams and icons, and they play a crucial role in promoting learning. They help:
Draw attention to a specific content element
Suggest analogies between new content and familiar knowledge
Support the understanding of the concepts
Motivate learners by making materials more interesting.
An image can be accessed by clicking the Image icon in the Assets panel of the publishing tool.
The maximum width must be 50-1000px and height must be 50-750px. Max Size: 50 MB
Images should be saved in the appropriate format: .png and/or .jpg.
The image should be relevant to the content on the page or aesthetically appealing. Image quality should be of an acceptable standard (not blurry/grainy and easily discernible, including any text incorporated into the image). The images must also be of an appropriate nature (e.g. avoid images that portray excessive nudity, violence or images that may be easily considered offensive as our courses are available for learners globally).
Image borders are generally used to make an image look more appealing and/or to help the image stand out from the other content on the page. Borders are most often used to help avoid an image blending too much into the background. It is at your personal discretion whether or not you wish to use borders for images.
Typically, 1-3 images should suffice, although this may vary depending on the size of the images being utilised. We recommend that you are cautious of using too many images or images that are too big (i.e. ideally avoid using images that extend below the red line on the page in the Publishing tool) to ensure that the page does look cluttered and that images can be clearly discernible.
No, it is not necessary to always include an image caption. An image caption should be used to give some context of how the image relates to the content in the page. For example, if you are including an image as an illustration of a particular theory, model or specific person then an image caption would be preferable to inform the learner. Aesthetic images (i.e. images used to simply increase the visual/aesthetic look of a page) normally do not require an image caption.
Tips on using Images/Graphics:
Avoid unnecessary or distracting images.
Use complimentary images.
Place images close to the text and other media elements (audio and video), to which they refer.
Ensure the image size and appearance fits well with the other elements on the page.
Use animated images instead of realistic photographs where possible; this convention works better for e-learning courses.
Ensure that there aren't too many images on the page to avoid the page looking too cluttered.
Explore further details about various assets here.
What kind of media should I use in my course?
Individual learners have unique preferences, with some favouring textual content, while others may thrive on visual aids or audio elements. The choice of media depends on the subject matter; for instance, language learning courses may heavily rely on videos and audio rather than graphics or images.
In a broader context, incorporating a variety of media types, such as text, images, audio, graphics, and charts, enhances engagement and ensures a more enjoyable learning experience for your audience.
Descriptions of Assets
There are 6 assets available for creating your course:
Text Box: Inserts a placeholder text onto the page, which can be replaced with your own content and repositioned as needed.
Video Frame: Embeds a placeholder video onto the page. Click on it to add your video URL from the Edit menu.
Audio File: Inserts an audio player onto the page. Click on it to upload an audio file from the Edit menu.
Image: Place a placeholder image onto the page. Simply click on it to upload your own image from the Edit menu.
Table: Places a table onto the page, which can be formatted using the options in the Edit menu.
Tabs: Segmenting the course material into smaller sections.
A variety of different types of assets for presenting course material are available. A paragraph asset contains written text and is one the most important types of media available for communicating course content.
Great attention should be given to its graphic display and integration with images. Display on-screen text to provide the best readability and clarity. For example, consider word and row spacing to improve text readability.
There are six main types of course content that can be included in a paragraph:
Facts refer to specific information that answers questions, such as who, where, how and when? Facts can be shown, exhibited or indicated in course material. Examples include: data, lists and historical events.
Procedures are a series of clearly defined steps, aimed at performing tasks. Procedures answer the question: "How to...?"
Concepts are a group of objects, entities or ideas that are defined by a single word. They require definition. Concepts answer the question: "What is...?"
A principle (or rule), describes a relationship between concepts. For example: "Price increases, as supply decreases". Some principles can be translated into strategic guidelines, which can guide decisions and tasks. For example, what are the guidelines for dealing with price volatility?
Interpersonal skills are verbal and non-verbal skills that are useful for interacting with people.
Attitudes are a predisposition for certain behaviours. For example, course content may be included that relates to promoting "the urgency to adopt attitudes for limiting the effects of climate change", if this is the intended outcome.
A video asset can be inserted by clicking on the image icon in the Assetspanel of the publishing tool:
Video is a very effective type of media that makes it possible to reproduce behaviour, processes or procedures the way they appear in real life. It can also be used to present a case study and is especially effective in role plays to illustrate interpersonal communication situations.
Guidelines for using Videos:
Format: Preferred format is MP4.
Video Codec: Preferred H.264, Apple ProRes 422 (HQ) or H.265 (HEVC).
Compression ratio 1:1/square.
Minimum for HD (preferred format) 720p 1280 × 720 16:9 aspect ratio.
Standard Definition (SD) 4:3 aspect ratio 640 × 480.
Standard Definition (SD) 16:9 aspect ratio 640 × 360.
Duration: Videos can range from 15 seconds to 20 minutes, depending on the nature of content.
An AudioFile can be inserted by clicking on the Audio icon in the Assetspanel of the publishing tool:
Correct use of audio greatly increases the effectiveness of a course. Audio can be used in combination with on-screen text to summarise or expand key points or to accompany video sequences.
Guidelines for using Audio assets:
Audio should be used in mp3 format only.
Quality (64 kbps @ 44.1 lHz).
Duration (audio clips can range from 15 seconds to 15 minutes).
All audios to be compressed to the format.
An image asset can be inserted by clicking on the image icon in the Assets panel of the publishing tool:
You can insert a list by clicking on the Table icon in the Assets panel of the publishing tool:
Like lists you can use tables to organise the information and complex data you are presenting to learners.
A TabAsset can be inserted by clicking on the Tabs icon in the Assetspanel of the publishing tool:
Tab assets promote effective learning by segmenting the course material into smaller sections. The Alison Publisher tool has different types of tabs: Horizontal tabs | Vertical tabs | Accordion tabs and Modals.
Modals add interactivity to pages, making it easier for users to engage with additional details and break content into manageable sections. This creates a familiar, website-like experience that enhances the learning process.
To insert a modal asset into a course page, first click on the “Add Tabs” asset from the assets panel and select Modal. Once the modal appears on the page, click the modal icon to edit the content within it. You'll also need to include a caption for the modal when it’s in its closed state.
How to Create My Course?
Crafting and developing your course should be an engaging process, offering both satisfaction and educational value. Upon completing the creation and submission stages, it's crucial to carefully review the feedback provided by the reviewers and make any necessary adjustments.
After you complete the course Information, you are ready to build your course content.
While the course length will vary based on its content volume, it's essential not only to adhere to Alison's specified minimum and maximum parameters but also to organise the content in a way that ensures a well-balanced structure, grouping relevant information together. Avoiding an imbalanced course, characterised by, for example, varying topic and page counts between modules, is essential for optimal course presentation.
We suggest initiating the course creation process by developing your content in documents or files, rather than directly composing it within the Alison Publishing Tool.
Alison courses are structured hierarchically into Chapters, Modules, Topics and Pages.
When you create a new course in the Publishing Tool, it comes with a default module and topic. You can create a new module by duplicating it:
or by selecting the Create Module option in the Chapter section:
To add your own title and description to a module, select the Edit Module option:
The module title and description should provide a clear depiction of the module's content, offering a summary of the included topics. The module title text field allows up to 100 characters, including spaces, while the module description field permits 350 characters. An effective approach for crafting the module description is to succinctly summarise three topics derived from the learning outcomes.
Module titles and descriptions are prominently featured in the modules section of the main course page.
An Alison certificate course typically comprises an average of 5 modules, while a diploma course typically consists of around 10 modules. Each module should encompass approximately 5 topics, which includes 3 lesson topics in addition to the learning outcomes and lesson summary topics.
When you create a new course in the Publishing Tool, it comes with a default module and topic. You can create a new topic by duplicating it:
or by selecting the Create Topic option in the Module section:
To add your own title and description to a topic, select the Edit Topic option:
The initial page of your course will be the lesson summary. This concise summary provides a quick overview of the course, showcasing its value to the user. It emphasises the course's relevance for personal or professional development and offers a glimpse into the engaging and useful subject matter. The short summary also serves as a sneak peek into specific content, topics, and concepts covered within the course. It is essential to avoid listing topics and instead create descriptive sentences.
The final page is the Bibliography or Reference list.
Other pages within your course are entirely at your discretion. You have the flexibility to add any course-related information you wish to convey. Consult the guidance on Assets for tips on structuring pages effectively.
Don't forget to incorporate course resources, such as training materials and further reading, to enhance the learning experience.
You can also explore our video tutoring for more information.
There are now 6 question types to select:
True/False,
Multiple Choice,
Fill in the Blank,
Matching Pair,
Sequence,
Hotspot.
Find more about question type in article Guidelines for Assessments.
To create a question type, Select one and click the “Continue”.
You can make a particular question mandatory to answer. This can be applied to all question types.
For the assessment, you’ll need to prepare between 35 and 50 questions. Make sure the questions cover a range of topics and are designed to thoroughly evaluate the knowledge and skills required.
Before submitting your course for review, please make sure:
• All course descriptions are complete
• Correct grammar and punctuation is used throughout the course
• All modules, topics and assessment questions are complete
• All meta titles, descriptions and keywords are complete
• The course content does not infringe copyright or intellectual property
• Page layout conforms to the style guides and recommendations demonstrated in Qualified Alison Publisher.
• The course has been previewed and its quality verified
After reviewing the course and ensuring you’re satisfied with it, you can Submit it for Review by clicking the button available on the Module Tree Manager page, as highlighted in the image below.
Your course will be now sent to us for review. If you search for the course in the home page of the publishing team you will now see that the status has changed to Sent for review as highlighted in the image below.
Once the course has been accepted by us to review your course status will be updated to In Review as shown in the sample below.
Note that the course cannot be edited when its status is set to In Review until we update the status back to In Progress.
How to organise my course? What are the requirements for the course length?
Every course possesses its distinctiveness, with its duration hinging on the nature and breadth of knowledge conveyed to learners. Alison provides a diverse array of courses, encompassing short certificates, regular certificates, advanced certificates, diplomas, and advanced diplomas. The duration of these courses ranges from a minimum study period of 90 minutes to a maximum of 30 hours.
Outlined below is the fundamental structure of an Alison course:
Courses are composed of chapters and modules, concluding with an assessment. Each module contains topics, and within each topic, there are individual pages. The structure of courses typically involves a single chapter, with a balanced combination of modules and topics, adjusted based on the course's length.
The introductory topic of each module should consistently display a list of Learning Outcomes on a single page. In contrast, the final topic, identified as the Lesson Summary, should encompass 1-5 pages, contingent on the number of key points relevant to summarise.
The intervening topics, denoted as Core Content topics, should ideally span 3-30 pages, adjusting based on the content needed to convey information effectively. It is advisable for Core Content topics to maintain a similar number of pages, ensuring a well-balanced and structured course. Specific minimum and maximum requirements are as follows:
Number of modules per course: 1-40
Minimum of three topics per module (excluding Learning Outcomes and Lesson Summary)
General advice suggests maintaining 3-8 topics per module, with 5-12 pages per topic (or 1 page per topic for video-based courses).
The Publishing Tool will exhibit character limits as guidance, alerting you if content within a specific field is either too short or too long. Saving your work is contingent upon meeting these requirements, known as Validation Rules.
While it's possible to repurpose some content from a diploma for reuse in a certificate, it's not advisable to directly copy and paste extensive sections. This practice may have adverse effects on SEO (Search Engine Optimisation) and could lead to suboptimal course performance. If there are particular key points from a diploma that you wish to include in a certificate, it's recommended to rephrase and recontextualise them, avoiding duplicate content.
Tutorial Video - Adding Questions
Tutorial Video - Asset Menu Overview
Tutorial Video - Descriptions of Assets
Tutorial Video - Overview
Tutorial Video - Preview, Course Style, Error Scan and Right Pane
Tutorial Video - Implementing Feedback
Everyone's different, and so are their questions. Speak to our team directly and they'll personally answer all your questions, no matter what they are.
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