NOTE
This article is outdated. See the updated Quiz Builder in LearnDash 3.0!

Latest update takes quizzing to a whole new level in the LMS industry (plus an update on the coming LearnDash 3.0)!

First, let me address the obvious: things have been a tad quiet lately on the LearnDash update front. However, I can assure you that this is not because we aren’t doing anything… actually it’s quite the opposite!

Today we have released an update which pushes the boundaries in not just the WordPress learning management system industry, but the entire LMS industry.

And at the end of this post I will let you know where we currently are with LearnDash 3.0, the biggest update ever to come to LearnDash since our initial release.

Introducing the New LearnDash Quiz Builder

You asked for it, so here it is! 🙂

This latest version of LearnDash has many improvements to the quiz creation process. Specifically, it makes it possible for you to quickly spin-up quizzes using the drag-and-drop builder that echos the functionality of the LearnDash Course Builder.

As you can see in the video above this greatly streamlines the quiz creation process. It also reduces the resources required on your site for creating (and managing) quiz questions. For example, you can now easily re-use questions across any number of quizzes without having to make a duplicate!

For the developers out there, you will be happy to learn that quiz questions in LearnDash are now each their own individual post type, opening them up to easier modifications and enhancements.

In order to start using this new functionality you will need to run a data upgrade after updating to LearnDash v2.6.

1. Take a backup of your site.
2. Go to LearnDash LMS > Settings > Data Upgrade (tab).
3. Find the “Upgrade Question Data” option (last option on this page).
4. Click the Upgrade button.

Once complete you will now have the Quiz Builder option available when creating a new quiz!

If you want the ability to share questions across quizzes then there is a setting to enable this under LEARNDASH LMS > QUIZZES > QUIZ OPTIONS.

While the quiz is the most obvious enhancement made in Version 2.6, there are a number of additional updates included in this version. For example, there is now the ability to manually change a course enrollment date from a user’s profile (perfect for getting late joiners onto the same lesson drip-feed schedule).

See the changelog for a full list of the updates and fixes.

Let’s talk about LearnDash 3.0!

I will cut straight to the point as I know many of you have been eagerly awaiting for the LearnDash 3.0 release. Our original plan was to have this in your hands this year. Unfortunately that won’t happen. The short of it is that our project timeline was thrown off by the pending WordPress 5.0 release (Gutenberg) as well as an increase in scope for 3.0.

The good news is that we are well into LearnDash 3.0 development.

The original plan was to focus on freshening up the front-end templates. However, as we dug into your feedback more, and through having phone interviews with those of you using LearnDash currently, we felt that 3.0 was the perfect opportunity to bring you something more. The entire product is being improved on the front-end and in the back-end.

In short: LearnDash 3.0 is the biggest undertaking that the software has seen, ever.

Three is better than one.

I am a believer that no company, no matter how experienced, is good at everything. It’s important (almost necessary) to occasionally “get out of your own way” in order for true, positive change to result.

It is for this very reason that we have brought in not one, but two incredibly talented firms to work with us in bringing you the very best in learning management!

For the back-end UX/UI we brought in 10up, an award winning firm whose clients include the likes of TechCrunch.

For the front-end design we brought in 3.7Designs, a leader in instructional design theory and the team behind the custom LearnDash implementation at the University of Michigan.

With all three of our teams working together everything is starting to take shape, and it’s resulting in something really special!

When will LearnDash 3.0 be ready?

No one is more eager for LearnDash 3.0 to be released than me. While I would have loved for this to be sooner, the reality is that the shifting landscape of WordPress 5.0 does impact us, especially with the back-end updates we are working on. And of course a project of this undertaking can’t be rushed.

As of today we are on schedule for an early 2019 release.

I should note that the release of version 3.0 is just the beginning. It’s not a “one-and-done” effort. We have a roadmap of enhancements to follow that will very much follow the “3.0 ethos”.

I want to take an opportunity to thank all of you so much for choosing LearnDash to power your online course programs. The stories you share are inspiring, and they motivate us to continue bringing you a best-in-class LMS.

Until next time!

PS: If you haven’t already, I encourage you to join the LearnDash Facebook Group. It’s a great place to learn from others’ success and to network with folks using LearnDash!