Quick starts for your new site

Start with your organization, people and first community space. Then choose the tools that fit your work.

Setup tasks require the appropriate site-owner or management access. Renewal and portfolio guides also help educators get started.

1. Set up your site

2. Create and offer learning

3. Coordinate and connect

4. Support ongoing learning

These short guides help you complete one task. Use Help for the detailed guidance and options available to your account.

All quick starts

1. Set up your site

Create your organization

Identify the district, association or provider responsible for your learning and credentials.

Before you start

Have the official name, a stable identifier and the organization type ready. You need site-management access.

Steps

  1. Open organization tools. In Setup → Manage Organizations, search Manage first so you do not create a duplicate.
  2. If the record is missing, choose Create. Enter Organization Name and Identifier, then choose Organization Type.
  3. Use Managed / Participating for the organization that will administer learning, provide courses or issue credentials. Use Reference / Directory for affiliation or reporting-only records.
  4. Choose a parent organization if appropriate. Review Operational Status and add the contact details you need.
  5. Select Create Organization. Return to Manage and reopen the record to check its name, identifier and scope.

Check your result

Your organization appears once, with the intended scope, and is available for the workflows it should support.

Keep in mind

Set up the organization before importing people or defining its credentials. Leave connection fields alone unless a network administrator has supplied an agreed setup.

Open workspace

In Help, choose Browse guides and look for: Creating an Organization; Setup, Organizations, and Imports.

All quick starts

1. Set up your site

Add or import your people

Give staff the right accounts and organizational context before inviting them into your site.

Before you start

Create the organization first. Prepare names and accurate email addresses; decide who needs staff, management or system-administration access.

Steps

  1. Open people tools. Choose Manage → Learners and use All Users and search to check for existing accounts.
  2. For a few people, choose Add Learner. Enter first name and email, then review the remaining name fields.
  3. Choose Account access level deliberately: Staff for ordinary participation, PD Manager for learning administration, or SysAdmin for site administration. Review Organization and any school/unit, professional-role or employee-ID fields you use.
  4. Review Send welcome email with login details before creating the account. Leave it off during preparation if invitations will be sent later. Select Create Learner when ready.
  5. For a larger list, open Setup → Bulk Import. Use the current user/personnel import format, map the available fields and review matching and validation before committing the import.
  6. Import a small reviewed set first. Reopen the resulting accounts, confirm organization and access, then continue with the larger list.

Check your result

Each person has one intended account, the correct email and organization, and an access level that matches their responsibilities.

Keep in mind

Importing accounts and sending invitations are separate decisions. A sign-in integration does not automatically guarantee that missing people or employee IDs will be created correctly.

Open workspace

In Help, choose Browse guides and look for: Creating a Learner; Learners; Setup, Organizations, and Imports.

All quick starts

1. Set up your site

Set up a community space

Create a place for a defined group to discuss work and share useful resources.

Before you start

Decide who the space is for, what members should do there, and whether it should be public, private or otherwise restricted.

Steps

  1. Open Spaces and choose New Space. Select Discussion Space, then Next.
  2. Enter Space Title and a short description explaining its purpose. Choose a Menu Group if it should appear in the sidebar.
  3. Review Privacy and the separate option for requesting to join. Choose the settings that match the intended audience, then Next.
  4. In Customization, review who may post and which resources or features the space needs. Choose Create to save it.
  5. Open the new space and review its membership controls. Add or invite the intended people through the available controls.
  6. Write a short welcome post explaining what belongs here. Check the member view and confirm the space is reachable from the intended navigation.

Check your result

The space has a clear purpose, the intended privacy and posting settings, and a visible way for eligible members to participate.

Keep in mind

Creating a space does not enroll people in a course or award credit. If New Space is missing, ask a site administrator to review your creation access.

Open workspace

In Help, choose Browse guides and look for: Create a community discussion space; Find and join a community space; Post and comment in your community.

All quick starts

2. Create and offer learning

Author a blog or article

Publish a useful update, article or resource, then share it with the right community if needed.

Before you start

Have a clear topic, intended audience and any images or resource links ready. Your account needs authoring access.

Steps

  1. Open My Posts and choose Create Content. Select Article for a blog post, announcement or resource.
  2. Add a clear title and description. Write the main content and add a cover image and Resource Links where useful.
  3. Select Save Draft. Use Preview to check headings, images, links and how the article reads on a small screen.
  4. Publish when the content and audience are ready. Return to My Posts → Blog Posts to find and maintain it.
  5. To promote it to a community, choose Share on the published item, select an available destination, review it and confirm. Sharing is a separate action from publishing.

Check your result

The published article opens correctly, its links work, and any chosen community share points readers to the right original.

Keep in mind

A shared link does not grant access to restricted content. Later edits to the original do not continuously update every community share; review Update share when offered.

Open workspace

In Help, choose Browse guides and look for: Get started in Community Authoring Studio; Share authored content with your community.

All quick starts

2. Create and offer learning

Build a course

Create a structured learning experience with an overview, lessons and supporting resources.

Before you start

Outline the learning outcome and sections. Decide whether this is content only or will also need registration and a completion credential.

Steps

  1. Open My Posts → Create Content and select Course. Add the title, overview and resource links, then Save Draft.
  2. Open My Posts → Course Content and choose Manage Course for the saved course.
  3. Use Add Unit to group lessons, Add Lesson within a unit, or Add Direct Lesson at course level. Add Topic under a lesson for a smaller activity.
  4. Write the content and add media or resources for each section. Save it, then check its placement and order in Manage Course.
  5. Use Preview and review publication status for the course and its sections individually.
  6. If registration or credentials are needed, review Format & Credentials → Credalyst Catalog before creating a separate offering. Check for an existing connection and have the learning administrator finish the operational setup.

Check your result

The intended audience can follow the course outline and open its ready sections; any connected offering is reviewed separately.

Keep in mind

Publishing course content does not register learners, confirm completion or issue credit. Keep an accepted proposal distinct from its delivery course.

Open workspace

In Help, choose Browse guides and look for: Create a course and add units, lessons and topics; Connect a Studio course to Credalyst.

All quick starts

2. Create and offer learning

Define a badge or credential

Describe what people will earn, which organization stands behind it, and the requirements for earning it.

Before you start

Create the issuing organization first. Agree the recognition, criteria and any supported hours, PDPs or CEUs.

Steps

  1. Open credential tools. In Setup → Manage Credentials, search existing definitions before creating another.
  2. Choose Create. Enter a clear title and description, then choose the category that fits, such as Digital Badge or Certificate.
  3. Record the learning value and criteria accurately. Explain whether earning it requires attendance, completion, evidence or review.
  4. Choose the Default Issuing Organization and review verification details. Add a badge image if useful.
  5. Keep the definition in Draft while it needs review. Save it and activate it only when it is ready for use.
  6. When using it with an offering, review that offering’s credential mapping and award policy before participants register.

Check your result

The saved definition clearly describes the recognition, issuer, criteria and learning value; it is available only as intended.

Keep in mind

A definition is not an issued award. Attendance, completion, approval and awarding remain separate steps.

Open workspace

In Help, choose Browse guides and look for: Defining a Credential; Awarding Credentials.

All quick starts

2. Create and offer learning

Design a workshop or event

Turn an offering into a delivery people can find and join.

Before you start

Know the provider, audience, delivery mode, dates and any credential or completion requirements.

Steps

  1. Open Events & learning. Check the Workshop Library for an existing offering or a draft already connected to an authored course or accepted proposal.
  2. For a new standalone offering, choose New Workshop. Complete its identity, description, provider and relevant credential settings, then save a draft.
  3. Add the class/session for the actual delivery. Review dates and timezone, delivery mode, location, instructors, capacity and registration rules.
  4. For a conference or grouped program, open Events and create the Event. Choose the specific workshop sessions to include; adding one session does not add its siblings.
  5. Review publication readiness: the Workshop must be active with the intended visibility, and its sessions and Event must meet their own availability rules.
  6. Check the learner PD Catalog and the intended session before announcing registration. Plan how attendance, completion and any award review will be recorded.

Check your result

An eligible learner can find the intended offering and choose the correct session, with accurate dates, location and registration details.

Keep in mind

Activating an Event does not publish a draft Workshop. Publishing content or sharing its link does not award credit.

Open workspace

In Help, choose Browse guides and look for: Workshop Publication and Session Management; Creating a Class; Create a Credalyst offering for a Studio course.

All quick starts

3. Coordinate and connect

Invite and review proposals

Collect proposed sessions or learning experiences before the delivery team schedules them.

Before you start

Agree the request, audience, deadline, reviewer responsibilities and how decisions will be communicated.

Steps

  1. Open RFPs & Proposals → Manage RFPs. Start the request through Create Content, using an article/request with Accept proposal responses enabled.
  2. Add the request title, overview and supporting information. Review opening and closing dates, expected format and any preferred session/time options.
  3. Preview and publish the request when it is ready. Check that eligible applicants can find it and open its proposal action.
  4. Use Review Queue for submitted or resubmitted proposals. Review the preserved submission and record the appropriate decision: request changes, accept or decline.
  5. After acceptance, open Events & learning → Accepted Proposal Setup. Check for an existing Workshop draft before choosing Create Draft.
  6. Have the delivery administrator complete scheduling, sessions, registration, visibility and award rules before publication.

Check your result

Applicants can respond to the correct request, reviewers can find submissions, and an accepted proposal has one intended draft handoff.

Keep in mind

Acceptance is a decision on the submitted proposal. It is not final scheduling, learner enrollment or publication. Review any decision message before sending it.

Open workspace

In Help, choose Browse guides and look for: RFP Workflow and Accepted Proposal Setup; Responding to a Call for Proposals.

All quick starts

3. Coordinate and connect

Set strategic goals

Connect organizational priorities to professional learning and reviewable evidence.

Before you start

Use this area if your organization manages shared goals or professional plans. Agree the outcome, owner, time period and evidence expectation.

Steps

  1. Open planning tools → Goals & planning. Choose Strategic Planning, then review Strategic Goals before adding another.
  2. Write a clear outcome and include the relevant time period and how progress should be demonstrated.
  3. Set the assignment scope to the district, school, department, role or individual that actually carries the expectation.
  4. Mark Required only when the goal represents a real requirement for that audience. Keep unfinished language and assignments in draft.
  5. Publish when the goal and assignment are ready. Check that the intended educators match the assignment scope.
  6. Use the evidence and progress views to review the learning and artifacts connected to the goal. Where Professional Plans are available, confirm the assigned goal appears in the appropriate editable plan.

Check your result

The goal has a clear outcome and audience, and the intended published assignment can be found in the appropriate educator workflow.

Keep in mind

A goal does not itself enroll someone in a course or approve credit. Submitted plans retain the assignment snapshot that was reviewed.

Open workspace

In Help, choose Browse guides and look for: Goals and Planning; Professional Plans.

All quick starts

3. Coordinate and connect

Plan a learning budget

Set up the funding periods and categories that will support learning requests.

Before you start

Use this area if you manage learning funding. Have the school year, date window, planned amount and any per-learner policy ready.

Steps

  1. Open planning tools → Goals & planning → Budget Planning.
  2. Review Funding Categories. Keep or add the categories educators should use for funding requests.
  3. Review existing Training Budgets before adding another. Expand the relevant period to check its name, school year, amount and dates.
  4. Use Add Budget only when a distinct funding period or budget is needed. Enter the planned amount and any Per-Learner Limit your policy requires.
  5. Review Status and the Start Date and End Date, then select Save Budget Planning. Only Active budgets within their date window appear in the learner approval form.
  6. After saving, check availability. As approved requests progress, review Committed, Spent and Remaining as separate amounts.

Check your result

The intended funding categories and dated budgets are saved, and the budgets expected to be available are shown as available now.

Keep in mind

A planned budget is not expenditure. Request approval can commit funds; completion and reimbursement review follow their own rules.

Open workspace

In Help, choose Browse guides and look for: Goals and Planning; Approval Queue.

All quick starts

3. Coordinate and connect

Start a conversation

Use Messages for member conversations and Help for support questions.

Before you start

Know whom you need to reach and whether this is a personal conversation, a community post or a support request.

Steps

  1. Open Messages. Choose an existing conversation to continue it, or New Conversation to start another.
  2. Find the intended recipient using the available search control. Check the person and any group participants before composing.
  3. Write a concise message. Review the text and any attachment before choosing Send.
  4. For information intended for a whole Space, use a community post in that Space instead of a personal conversation.
  5. For a support question, open Help. Browse guides or ask a question; use Your tickets → Open a Ticket when you need a tracked support reply.

Check your result

The conversation is addressed to the intended people and appears in Messages. Support ticket replies remain available through Help.

Keep in mind

Available recipients depend on site communication rules. A message or ticket does not approve membership, attendance or credit.

Open workspace

In Help, choose Browse guides and look for: Messages and Help: choose the right place; Post and comment in your community.

All quick starts

3. Coordinate and connect

Connect with partner organizations

Plan how this site will exchange learning opportunities or records with agreed partners.

Before you start

Complete local organization and people setup first. Involve the administrators responsible for both sites and agree exactly what will be shared.

Steps

  1. Open network tools → Network Settings and review the current Site Role. Do not change an established role just to make another screen appear.
  2. Agree with the partner who publishes offerings, manages registration, issues credentials and receives records. Confirm the intended audience and organizational identities.
  3. Have the responsible administrator configure the connection through the existing network tools and approved setup guidance. Keep connection credentials in the designated secure setup fields.
  4. When a connection is configured, use its available status or test controls and review any reported problem before proceeding.
  5. For shared opportunities, open Events & learning → Connected Catalog. Check that the intended offering is available to the right audience and review its registration behavior before promoting it.

Check your result

Both administrators can identify the intended connection and responsibilities, and the agreed opportunity or record flow has been checked.

Keep in mind

Network setup is optional. A site can begin with local learning; sharing an opportunity does not give a partner authority over all local records.

Open workspace

In Help, choose Browse guides and look for: Connected Catalog; Setup, Organizations, and Imports.

All quick starts

4. Support ongoing learning

Start a renewal plan

Help educators organize learning against the requirements and dates for their license.

Before you start

Have the applicable license, renewal dates and requirements ready. Available options depend on the site’s jurisdiction and configuration.

Steps

  1. Open My Credentials → Renewals and review the scope and dates shown with progress.
  2. In License paths, review existing entries before choosing Add License Path. Enter the applicable license identity, cycle dates and requirements in the available form.
  3. Connect the relevant learning records to the intended path using the available assignment controls.
  4. Review totals and category details. Check missing dates, pending or revoked status, learning value and records outside the cycle when something does not count as expected.
  5. If your site exposes Professional Plan, use it for the district’s goals, planned learning and review process. If it is absent, ask your administrator about site configuration rather than creating another account or record.

Check your result

The educator can identify the intended license path and renewal period, and explain which recorded learning is included or still needs review.

Keep in mind

Renewal progress supports planning. It is not a licensing determination, and adding a portfolio record does not automatically make it approved credit.

Open workspace

In Help, choose Browse guides and look for: Renewals and Renewal Progress; Professional Plan.

All quick starts

4. Support ongoing learning

Start a lifelong portfolio

Keep learning, credentials and evidence in an organized professional record.

Before you start

Gather any existing certificates, completion dates, provider details and learning values you want to retain.

Steps

  1. Open My Credentials → Portfolio. Review the existing records before adding anything; use the transcript range and filters to narrow the list.
  2. Choose Add Personal Learning Record for outside learning that is missing.
  3. Enter the title, record type, provider or issuer, relevant dates and supported learning value. Attach evidence or a verification link where appropriate.
  4. Save the record, then reopen it to check the dates, evidence and status. Do not add a second copy of an award that is already present.
  5. For a larger collection, use Import Learning Records and the current on-screen import format. Start with a small reviewed set before importing the rest.
  6. Use Renewals to see how learning aligns with a license path. Where district review is available, follow Approvals rather than treating a personal record as an approved award.

Check your result

The intended records can be found with accurate dates, issuer context and evidence, and their statuses distinguish recognized awards from personal or pending records.

Keep in mind

Portfolio recordkeeping, district approval and licensure decisions serve different purposes. Check sharing and export choices before disclosing records.

Open workspace

In Help, choose Browse guides and look for: Portfolio; District Account and Lifelong Portfolio.