When an e-Learning website is created on LearnDash, the site owner has the option of adding multiple course authors to it. These authors create and sell their own courses on the website, and the owner can take some part of the fees as a commission.
However, giving so many people access to the backend of your LearnDash website is tricky, a potential security issue, and generally not a good idea. Any mistake on someone’s part can wreak havoc on the front end, affecting users and authors alike. But then, is there an alternative to this?
Front End Course Creation on a Multi-author LearnDash Site
Having a multi-author website has its own advantages, for the creator as well as course hosts. The site owner can earn a commission as a certain percentage of the course fees; authors can host their courses on the website without having to create their own websites.
To give course authors the scope to create courses and add course content, backend access isn’t required anymore. The Front End Course Creation plugin for LearnDash allows authors to perform all these functions from the front end itself. Now let’s look at how it benefits a multi-author website.
Advantages of the Front End Course Creator (FCC)
The Front End Course Creation Plugin makes it very easy for website admins to manage courses, lessons and authors; it also helps authors monetize their lessons. Let’s look at the benefits of the FCC plugin for everyone involved.
#1 Content creation
Course authors can create courses, add lessons, topics, quizzes, exams, and manage it all as well, from the front end. This makes it convenient for them to create course content without navigating the backend at all.
#2 Backend complexities
Course authors aren’t always very tech-savvy folks. The WP backend can be a tricky place to navigate for someone who isn’t adept with the nitty-gritties of it.
In this situation, the FCC shields authors from the complex backend by giving them access from the frontend. This makes the process of adding lessons, quizzes, and topics to courses very simple for authors.
#3 Securing the backend
The plugin secures the backend from unwanted access; this helps ensure the security of the website. If any backend settings are changed, the front end gets affected. And for websites that are offering study courses for a fee, that can spell big problems. The plugin limits author access to the front end, thereby protecting the backend.
#4 Quality control
LearnDash has a ‘save draft’ option for courses, which can later be approved by the site owner or admin. This ensures that the quality of the course and its content is maintained. In case the content isn’t up to the mark, the admin can make the necessary changes or revert to the author.
To keep the quality of the course high and receive positive feedback, the admin should mandate the ‘save draft’ option for all courses.
#5 Money-wise
The FCC plugin can help the website admin set up a commission model for earnings. You can grant every author a percentage of the course fee as a commission for every purchase of the course. The plugin also allows generation and exporting of commission reports for record keeping.
#6 Easy course creation with BuddyPress
The FCC plugin requires the BuddyPress plugin to work. Hence, you will need to install the BuddyPress plugin on your LearnDash website before the FCC. Every site author gets his/her own BuddyPress profile.
The FCC plugin provides a quick link option ‘Listing’ right from the Course Author’s BuddyPress profile page to allow course content to be created and managed. Hence, authors can go directly go to courses directly from their BuddyPress profile and add any new content or manage the old one.
To conclude
The Front End Course Creation plugin offers immense advantages for everyone involved in the LearnDash multi-author website. Firstly, it allows the site owner to have multiple courses and authors on the site. Secondly, it protects the backend security by restricting access.
It’s easier to manage courses and maintain quality, as well as allow a commission-based earning for authors. The FCC plugin allows website owners to assign roles to course authors and give them the freedom to create their courses from the front end.
Please note, some of the links in this blog post might be affiliate links. This means if you go on to purchase a product using such a link, we receive a small commission (at no additional cost to you). This helps us support the blog and produce free content. We only recommend products we work with or love. Thank you for your support!
Adewale Olaore :
I need to verify – is Frontend Course Creation different from Instructor Role or are they one and the same?
Sharon Koshy :
Hello Adewale,
Frontend course creation and Instructor Role are 2 different plugins. We have in fact discontinued Frontend course creation more than an year ago and only Instructor Role plugin is available now.
You can check the plugin here: https://wisdmlabs.com/instructor-role-extension-for-learndash/
You can check the plugin demo here: https://instructorrole.wisdmlabs.com/