Learner progress not resuming
Why a learner's course might start again from the beginning when they come back to it, and how to make sure their progress is saved.
Why does my learner's course start from the beginning when they come back?
It usually comes down to how the learner opened the course. Identified Recipients (IRs), learners who open it through an email invitation, by providing their email address, or through an embed that passes their identifier, have their progress saved against them and can pick up where they left off on any device. Anonymous Recipients (ARs), learners who open an open share link, only have their progress saved in that browser on that device.
How is progress saved for Identified and Anonymous Recipients?
- Identified Recipients: progress is tied to their email address or identifier, so it resumes across devices and browsers.
- Anonymous Recipients: progress is stored in the browser they used. If they switch device or browser, use a private window, clear their browser data, or their session expires, they start again from the beginning.
How do I make sure progress is saved?
- Check the course's access setting. Open the Share dialog. If the course is open to anyone with the link, learners are Anonymous Recipients. Choose a setting that captures an email address, such as requiring learners to provide one, or inviting them by email.
- Ask Anonymous Recipients to use the same browser and device each time, and not to use a private window.
- If you embed courses in your own product, pass the same unique identifier for a learner every time you request their course. A new or changing identifier looks like a new learner, so their progress starts again.
Frequently asked questions
Can I restore progress an Anonymous Recipient lost?
No. Anonymous progress lives in the learner's browser, so once it's gone it can't be recovered. Switching the course to a setting that captures an email address makes learners Identified Recipients, so their progress is saved for future attempts.