Courses and learning paths

Courses are organised by subject and level (High School 9–10, High School 11–12, Undergraduate). A card counts what is inside: lessons, problems, labs, question sets and mock tests.

A lesson with code or a simulation can be read two ways. Theory shows the lesson on its own. Lab workspace puts a workspace beside it on a computer: the lesson on the left, and on the right a Python editor and the lesson's simulations, which stay in view while you scroll. On a phone the two are tabs.

Open in workspace above any code in the lesson sends that code to the editor, and Open beside the lesson does the same for a simulation. The editor also loads any example from the lesson. Your own code in it is kept on your device for that lesson, and Back to my code brings it back after you load an example. On a computer, the site remembers which way you like to read.

A course without a Standard or Premium label is Free, and every one of its lessons is open to read, even before you log in. Press Enroll free and start to keep your place: you can then mark lessons done, take the tests of the lessons and the course, and count the course towards its chapter's certificate. The outline shows what each lesson holds (simulations, practice questions, Python programs, problems and labs) and about how long it takes. A teacher can also enroll you by assigning the course to your class.

To leave a course, press Leave this course at the foot of its side card. The site asks once before you leave, and your progress is kept if you join again.

1. Read a lesson

   Work through the lesson and try its questions. On a computer the course's lessons are listed in the margin; on a phone, open Show all lessons under the lesson title.

2. Mark it done

   At the end of the lesson, press Mark this lesson as done. The lesson gets a green tick on the course outline. Pressed it by mistake? Press Undo.

3. Go on

   The big blue button under it opens the next lesson. After the last lesson it takes you back to the course and its test.

The course page shows how far you are (for example 1 of 3 lessons done) and a Continue button that opens the first lesson you have not finished. Your dashboard shows the same for every course you joined. On the outline, the next lesson says Up next, and the problems and labs you have done are counted ("2 of 4 problems"). When every lesson is done, try the course test, then press Mark Course Complete.

On your own course (and on a course you help with as a collaborator), a dark Manage this course panel sits above the outline. Students never see it. It holds everything you do to the course: Publish or Unpublish, Public or Private, Edit Course, Compile into a Note, Announce Update (once students have joined) and deletion.

Under the buttons, Ready for students is a checklist of what makes a course work well: a clear description, at least three lessons, text in every lesson, check-yourself questions, practice, Python, a simulation or a video in every lesson, a test to finish with, and publishing. Each item still to do says how to do it. On the outline, a lesson that lacks something says so in amber, for example Still to add: no Python.

1. Open a chapter

   On Learning Paths, choose a subject, then a class, then a topic if you like. Chapters are laid out like a bookshelf, one heading per book.

2. Follow it

   Follow this Learning Path adds it to My Learning Paths on your dashboard and enrolls you in every course in it you can open.

3. Finish every course

   Paths by a teacher or admin are Official (a blue seal ) and give a certificate when you finish every course. Paths by students are Community paths, with no certificate.

Unfollowing stops the path but keeps the courses you joined.

A course in an official chapter shows a badge such as Ch 1 · 2/3: part 2 of 3 in chapter 1. Tap it to see the chapter. The order is a suggestion, not a lock: open a later part and the page reminds you, but you can carry on. A course in two chapters shows a +1.

A collection is a book or series made of learning paths, each with its chapter number, for example "Physics · High School (9–10)". A path in no collection is listed under Individual paths.

Many chapters end with a course that goes further than the textbook: extended reading, harder problems, a Python challenge lab or an olympiad style test. Its name says what is inside, and it is marked Standard. Everything else in the chapter stays free.

A playlist is your own study route through courses anywhere on the site, in the order you choose. Press + Playlist on a course page, or + New playlist on your dashboard. It is private until you publish it (up to 30 private playlists).

Published playlists are on the Student playlists tab of Learning Paths. Sort them by Popular, Trending, Top rated or Newest, follow one, and rate it with stars. Students under 18 need a parent's approval once before they can publish.