The Course Player is the responsive interface that Learners use to play Lessons, track their progress, and access a Course's Resources, reviews, and recommendations. It is part of the Modern Learner UI and uses its own setting, so it can be turned on independently of the rest of the new Learner Experience. This article describes the layout of the Course Player and how its main features work for Learners.
The Course Player described in this article is part of the Modern Learner UI and is turned on by a System Admin in Client Settings. Because it uses a separate setting, it can be enabled on its own. For setup steps, see Modern Learner UI.
Course Player Layout
When a Learner opens a Course, the Course Player displays the Lesson content alongside the tools needed to move through the Course. On larger screens, the layout is divided into a Top Bar, the Lesson content area, and a Course Navigation panel.
On desktop, a tab panel also appears below the content area. A Learner can click View More to expand it and see additional course information without leaving the Lesson. The sections below describe each area of the Course Player in more detail.
The Top Bar
The Top Bar runs across the top of the Course Player on every screen size. It holds the controls a Learner uses to move through and exit the Course.
The Top Bar includes the following controls:
- Exit (back arrow): Click to leave the Course Player and return to the previous page.
- Course title: Displays the name of the current Course.
-
Previous Lesson and Next Lesson: Click to move one Lesson at a time. A control is disabled when there is no previous or next Lesson, or when the next Lesson is locked.
- Sidebar toggle (desktop): Click to collapse or expand the Course Navigation panel.
- Full-Screen toggle: Click to open the Course Player in full screen, or to exit full screen.
- Progress bar: Appears in compact view. It fills as the Learner advances and turns green at completion.
The Course Navigation Panel
On desktop, the Course Navigation panel appears on the right side of the Course Player. It shows the Learner's overall progress and the structure of the Course, and it can be collapsed to give the content area more room.
The panel contains:
- A set of tabs for Course information, described in Course Player Tabs below.
- The Course Progress bar and a course status chip, such as In Progress.
- The chapter and lesson structure, organized into collapsible chapters.
On phones and other smaller screens, this same information appears in a bottom sheet rather than a side panel. A Learner can swipe up or tap the handle to expand it and view the full Course structure, then collapse it to return to the content.
The Lesson Content Area
The content area is where the current Lesson plays. It takes the remaining space beside the Course Navigation panel on desktop, or the full width of the screen on mobile.
The Course Player supports the Lesson types available in the LMS, including video, assessments, documents, Absorb-authored content, and third-party content such as SCORM and xAPI.
When a Learner opens certain third-party content, such as SCORM or AICC lessons, the Course Player switches to a compact view. This hides the Course Navigation panel, expands the content to full width, and keeps a progress bar visible in the Top Bar.
Tracking Course Progress
The Course Player shows progress at the Course, Chapter, and Lesson levels so Learners can always see where they are.
At the top of the Course Navigation panel, the Course Progress bar displays the percentage of the Course completed, along with a status chip such as Not Started, In Progress, or Completed. Each Chapter shows a progress pill, for example 0/1, indicating how many of its Lessons are complete.
Within each Chapter, every Lesson displays a status indicator:
Status |
Description |
| Not Started | The Lesson has not been opened. It shows an icon for the Lesson type, such as video or document. |
| Currently Playing | The Lesson is open and active in the content area. |
| In Progress | The Lesson has been started but not yet finished. |
| Completed | The Lesson is finished and shows a checkmark. |
| Locked | The Lesson is not yet available. A Learner must complete earlier Lessons first, and a tooltip explains this. |
Progress is saved as the Learner moves through the Course, so they can leave and resume later from the same point, even on a different device.
Navigating Chapters and Lessons
Courses are organized into Chapters and Lessons, which a Learner can browse from the Lessons tab in the Course Navigation panel.
To move through a Course, a Learner can:
- Click a Lesson in the Lessons tab to open it. The active Lesson is highlighted and scrolls into view automatically.
- Click a Chapter heading to expand or collapse its Lessons.
- Use the Previous Lesson and Next Lesson controls in the Top Bar to move one Lesson at a time.
Lessons unlock as the Learner meets the requirements set for the Course. A locked Lesson cannot be opened until the earlier Lessons are complete, such as in the case of Pace Progress.
Course Player Tabs
The Course Navigation panel groups Course information into tabs. The tabs that appear depend on how the Course is configured.
Element |
Description |
| Overview | Course details and description, with quick actions to Rate This Course or Download Resources when those options are available. If the Course belongs to a Curriculum, a link connects to the Curriculum. |
| Lessons | The Chapter and Lesson structure, including Assessment scores and any remaining attempts. This tab is selected by default. |
| Resources | Downloadable materials attached to the Course. |
| Reviews | Course ratings, plus the option for Learners who have completed the Course to leave a review. |
| Collaborations | Discussion and comments related to the Course. |
| Recommendations | Suggested Courses based on the current Course's Tags, with a link to browse the Catalog. |
For steps on leaving feedback from the Reviews tab, see How To: Add a Comment. To learn how Curriculum completion is measured, see How Curriculum Progress is Calculated.
The Download All button in the Resources tab works only when every resource for a Course is a file. If a Course includes a resource added as a URL, advise Learners to download resources individually to avoid an error.
Responsive Layouts Across Devices
The Course Player adapts to the size of the Learner's screen, so the experience stays consistent on desktop, tablet, and mobile.
Layout |
Description |
| Desktop | A split-screen layout with the Top Bar, the content area, and the Course Navigation panel side by side. |
| Tablet and Mobile | The content area fills the screen, and the Course structure moves into a bottom sheet that the Learner can swipe up to open. |
| Mobile, Landscape | Video fills the screen, and the controls appear on tap and fade after a few seconds of inactivity. |
| Compact View | Used for certain third-party content. The Course Navigation panel is hidden and the content expands to full width, with the progress bar shown in the Top Bar. |
Accessibility
The Course Player is built to support Learners who navigate with a keyboard or assistive technology.
- Keyboard navigation moves between tabs and controls, with a visible focus indicator on the active element.
- Text and interface colors meet recognized contrast standards for readability.
- Status indicators and controls include labels so they can be read by screen readers.
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