Description:
I want to understand the differences between Plans, Pathways, and Academies in Degreed so I can choose the right structure when designing learning experiences for users.
Answer:
Use the guidance below to choose the right structure based on your learning design goal.
- Plans - Curated content for discovery
Best for grouping content around a common theme and make navigation easier for users. They are designed for discovery and reference rather than completion. Plans organize resources by topic, not sequence, and do not support progress or completion tracking. They can include a wide range of content types, including Academies, Pathways, Plans, People, Groups, Catalog items, text and images, Opportunities, and external links.
- Pathways - Short, guided learning journeys
Best for guiding users through a short, sequenced learning experience that is expected to be completed. Pathways are ideal for lightweight learning journeys, typically up to two hours, with a clear start → middle → end structure. They support progress tracking for users and admins and can include Catalog items such as courses, videos, and articles, along with posts, tasks, optional content, and author notes. Pathways cannot include Plans or Academies.
- Academies - Advanced, structured learning programs
Best used to deliver complex, structured learning programs that require deeper engagement and design control. Academies live in a dedicated space separate from the Degreed Learning Product and support progress tracking by session and overall completion. They enable advanced capabilities such as cohorts, projects with feedback, discussions, and skills self-rating. Academies can include Pathways, Catalog items, external links, text, and images, support locked sessions that require prior completion, and allow custom branding with unique color codes.
Additional Note:
When designing learning experiences, start by identifying whether your primary goal is content curation, short guided learning, or deep, program-based development. Then, select the structure that best aligns with that goal.
Also confirm whether your organization has internal standards for naming or structuring Plans, Pathways, and Academies, and reflect those standards in any documented guidelines.