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Learning Pathways: LMS Feature Set, Product Requirements

Learning Pathways: LMS Feature Set, Product Requirements

Context

The purpose of this document is to clearly define the requirements for a feature set that will allow learners to explore, discover, enroll, learn, track progress in, and complete learning pathways.

The GOAL is to fully define the product requirements, so that we can decide how to phase the work across multiple releases (Willow in December 2026; Xylon in June 2027; Y in December 2027). This document will also inform the requirements and needs for UX/UI designs.

NOTE: The Verawood release (June 2026) will contain technical, backend-only implementations that will support this project in Willow, Xylon and beyond. That work is in progress and technical discovery is currently underway, which will need to be aligned with this PRD (as of Jan 10, 2026).

NOTE: Much of this PRD is drawn from earlier proposals and subsequent community feedback, captured here and in other stakeholder interviews.

Scope and Definitions

See: Learning Pathways: Studio Feature Set, Product Requirement Document (PRD)

User Stories

As a learner:

Browsing learning pathways in the catalog

I want to browse the learning paths that are available for me to take, and I want a clear view of the learning objective of the path and what I will be able to do on completion, so I can decide whether to enroll.

I want to view learning path details (title, description, estimated time), so I can decide if it fits my goals.

I want to be able to search for courses and learning pathways by competencies.

I want to see the list of courses in a learning path, so I can understand the scope of the sequence.

I want to see how the learning path is sequenced and any criteria around the completion rubrics and sequencing, so that I can make a plan for completing the pathway.

I want to be able to search for learning paths in the same way I search for individual courses, without having to search in separate environments. 

As a learner:

Enrolling in a pathway

I want to quickly enroll in a learning path and start the first course right away.

I want to see the learning paths I am enrolled in, and the standalone courses I am enrolled in, all in the same place.

As a learner:

Learning and tracking progress

I want to track my progress across each course and the overall learning path through a status indicator (e.g. Not Started, In Progress, Completed), so I can keep track of where I am.

I also want to track my progress within the course, using the same progress tracker experience that I have in other standalone courses. 

I want my progress and grades to stay accurate and untouched when new versions of a learning path are released, so I can complete the version I started with confidence.

As a learner:

Earning a credential

I want to receive a certificate or credential upon completing a learning path, if one is issued.

I want to keep track of my pathway certificates in the same wallet that I use to track my course credentials.

General Requirements for Catalog

  • The catalog presents a unified search and discovery experience across courses and learning paths, but with a clear distinction between what is a course vs what is a learning path.

  • The search experience in catalog extends to both courses and paths, with the ability to refine searches by learning path if the user so chooses.

  • Like courses, learning paths can be searched for by freetext keyword searches, and with all of the filtering, sorting and browsing options that currently exist in the catalog.

  • Learning path cards/tiles contain the following information/metadata:

    • Title of the path

    • Titles of the courses within the path

    • Learning objective and description

    • Effort estimates

    • Criteria around completion

    • Criteria around sequencing

    • Credential

General Requirements for enrolling

  • Learners can enroll in a path using the same enrollment pathway for a course.

  • Learners can start learning as soon as they enroll.

  • Learners see which pathways they are enrolled in on their dashboard, alongside the courses they are enrolled in.

  • The dashboard gives a quick view of the learner’s status and progress through the pathway.

General Requirements for learning and tracking progress

  • Learners can track their progress through a pathway, including the status of their progress within a course and across the whole pathway. 

  • At first glance, learners can easily see where they are in the sequence, what they have already accomplished, what they still need to accomplish

  • Learners can easily see the end-goal they are working toward

  • The distinction between progress within a course vs the progress within a pathway is clear, delineated, and not confusing.

  • Progress tracking within a course is a parity experience with the current navigation/progress sidebar in courses. 

General Requirements for credentials

 

Open Questions:

  • Are pathway courses delivered in the LMS in the same way standalone courses are?