This guide helps you decide when to use a learning path, a journey, or an event. You will learn what each format is, how they differ, and which use cases they fit best.
Note: Think of learning paths as continuous digital courses, journeys as time‑bound programs with multiple steps, and events as scheduled live sessions.
What each format is
Learning paths
What they are: Digital courses composed of one or more materials (standard, adaptive, SCORM, or linked). Paths have no inherent start or end date, and learners do not need to sign up to begin.
Typical length: From a few minutes up to a few hours
Flow: Learners move through a single, uninterrupted sequence
Examples: A short compliance refresher; a self‑paced module combining several materials into one course
Journeys
What they are: Time‑boxed programs that can include multiple steps such as learning paths, events (for blended learning), and standalone materials. Participants explicitly sign up, and the schedule defines when the program starts and ends.
Structure: Multi‑step sequence with clear boundaries and timing
Participation: Learners enroll/sign up to join
Examples: Onboarding across several weeks; a role‑based upskilling track combining paths, workshops, and documents
Events
What they are: Scheduled live sessions (online, onsite, or hybrid) that learners sign up for or are added to. Use them standalone or inside a journey to mix live learning with self‑paced content.
Format: Single session with a defined date and time
Modes: Webinar, classroom, workshop, coaching
Examples: A monthly product webinar; an in‑person workshop embedded in a journey
Key differences at a glance
Timeframe: Learning paths are time‑agnostic; journeys are fixed in time; events happen at a specific date and time.
Sign‑up: Learning paths do not require sign‑up; journeys and events include sign‑up or participant assignment.
Composition: Learning paths contain digital materials in a single flow; journeys combine steps (paths, events, materials); events are single live sessions.
When to use which
Use a learning path when
You need a self‑paced digital course without dates or sign‑up
You want a concise, uninterrupted flow (for example, two SCORM files presented as one course)
Your topic fits well into minutes or a few hours of learning
Use a journey when
You have a program with a defined start and end date
You need multiple steps (paths, events, materials) with clear boundaries
You target a specific cohort that should explicitly sign up and follow a schedule
Use an event when
You deliver a live session such as a workshop, webinar, coaching, or classroom training
You want to blend a live touchpoint into a broader journey
Attendance needs to be scheduled and tracked for a specific date/time
Choosing between a path and a journey for digital content
If your goal is to connect purely digital materials into one seamless experience, a single learning path is usually the simplest and clearest choice. If you want the same materials to appear as separate, more clearly segmented steps with a cohort schedule and sign‑up, use a journey.
Tip: Reserve journeys for programs that benefit from pacing, cohort sign‑up, and step‑by‑step structure. Keep straightforward digital courses inside learning paths.
FAQs
Can I add standalone documents without creating a learning path?
Yes. In a journey, you can include individual materials or documents as separate steps without wrapping them in a learning path.
Can events exist without a journey?
Yes. You can run events as standalone live sessions or include them inside a journey for blended learning.
How long can a learning path be?
There is no strict limit, but best practice is to scope a path to a focused topic that typically fits into minutes or a few hours.