Educational Platform Information Architecture Template

Educational platforms serve diverse learners with different goals: students taking courses, instructors creating content, administrators managing programs, and visitors exploring offerings. This template helps you organize courses, resources, and tools in a way that supports learning—not just content management.

Why Educational Platform IA Matters

The eLearning reality:

73% of students abandon online courses due to poor navigation
68% of learners can't find course materials when needed
Good IA increases course completion rates by 35-50%
Mobile learning grew 240% since 2020
Poor organization is the #1 complaint about LMS platforms

Card sorting reveals:

How learners naturally navigate: by subject, skill level, or goal
Where course materials, assignments, and grades belong
Whether students think "my courses" vs. "browse courses" first
How instructors expect to access teaching tools vs. admin functions

Template Overview

What's Included

Ready-to-use cards (50 educational platform elements):

Course browsing & enrollment (Browse Courses, My Courses, Prerequisites, Certificates)
Learning materials (Video Lectures, Reading Materials, Assignments, Quizzes)
Student tools (Progress Tracking, Grades, Calendar, Study Groups)
Instructor features (Create Course, Grade Assignments, Student Analytics)
Support & resources (Help Center, Technical Support, Library, Career Services)

Recommended study type: Hybrid card sort (provide suggested categories, allow custom)

Suggested participants: 30-40 (mix of students, instructors, administrators)

Time to complete: 10-12 minutes

Analysis time: 3-4 hours

The Template: Educational Platform IA Card Sort

Cards to Sort (50 items)

Course Discovery & Enrollment (10 cards):

Browse All Courses
Search Courses by Topic
Course Catalog
Course Prerequisites
Course Reviews & Ratings
Instructor Profiles
Free Trial / Sample Lessons
Enroll in Course
Course Certificates
Learning Paths / Programs

My Learning Dashboard (10 cards):

My Current Courses
My Completed Courses
Continue Where I Left Off
Course Progress Tracker
Upcoming Assignments
My Grades & Scores
Study Schedule / Calendar
Bookmarked Content
Learning Goals
Recommended Courses for Me

Course Content & Materials (10 cards):

Video Lectures / Lessons
Reading Materials / Textbooks
Downloadable Resources
Interactive Exercises
Assignments & Projects
Quizzes & Tests
Discussion Forums
Live Classes / Webinars
Transcripts & Captions
Course Announcements

Student Tools & Features (8 cards):

Note-Taking Tool
Flashcards / Study Aids
Progress Reports
Certificates & Badges
Study Groups / Peer Collaboration
Ask Instructor a Question
Office Hours / 1-on-1 Help
Mobile App Access

Instructor & Admin Tools (7 cards):

Create / Edit Course
Upload Course Materials
Grade Assignments
Student Analytics / Reports
Manage Enrollments
Course Settings
Instructor Dashboard

Support & Resources (5 cards):

Help Center / FAQs
Technical Support
Library / Research Resources
Career Services / Job Placement
Community Forums

Suggested pre-made categories (for hybrid sort):

Category 1: Find & Enroll in Courses
Category 2: My Learning
Category 3: Course Content
Category 4: Get Help & Support
Category 5: Instructor Tools

Instructions for participants:

Welcome! We're redesigning our educational platform.

Please organize these features, tools, and resources into groups that make sense to you.

You can use the suggested categories or create your own.

Think about how you use online learning platforms—what would you look for first?

Takes about 12 minutes. Thank you for helping us improve student learning!

Real-World Example: Online University Platform

Before Card Sorting

Original navigation (university's internal structure):

├─ Academics
│  ├─ Departments
│  ├─ Course Catalog
│  └─ Academic Calendar
├─ Student Portal
│  ├─ Blackboard / LMS
│  ├─ Grades
│  └─ Registration
├─ Library
├─ Support Services
└─ About Us

Problems:

Students couldn't find current course materials (buried 4 clicks deep)
"Where do I submit assignments?" was the #1 support question
61% of students used search instead of navigation (sign of poor IA)
Mobile users struggled to access course content
Instructors confused about where to post announcements vs. materials

Card Sort Results

35 students, instructors, and staff sorted 50 educational elements. Key findings:

"My Courses" group (92%+ agreement):

- Current Courses
- Continue Learning
- Upcoming Assignments
- Course Materials
- Grades
- Course Calendar

"Discover Learning" group (78%+ agreement):

- Browse Courses
- Course Catalog
- Learning Paths
- Instructor Profiles
- Course Reviews
- Prerequisites

"Course Content" group (85%+ agreement - students expected this INSIDE each course):

- Video Lectures
- Reading Materials
- Assignments
- Quizzes
- Discussion Forum
- Course Announcements

"Study Tools" group (73%+ agreement):

- Notes
- Progress Tracker
- Study Groups
- Flashcards
- Bookmarks

"Get Help" group (80%+ agreement):

- Ask Instructor
- Technical Support
- Help Center
- Office Hours
- Peer Discussion

Surprising insights:

89% expected "My Courses" to be the DEFAULT landing page after login, not a homepage
Students wanted "Continue Learning" button on homepage (pick up where they left off)
"Grades" should appear in BOTH course view AND global dashboard
"Discussion Forums" belongs INSIDE each course, not as separate platform section
Mobile learners wanted downloadable content for offline access (not just streaming)
Instructors expected "Student Analytics" in course dashboard, not buried in admin panel

Implemented Solution

New navigation (based on card sort):

After Login → My Learning Dashboard:
├─ My Courses
│  ├─ [Course 1]
│  │  ├─ Lessons / Content
│  │  ├─ Assignments
│  │  ├─ Discussions
│  │  ├─ Grades
│  │  └─ Resources
│  ├─ [Course 2]
│  └─ [Add more courses]
├─ Continue Learning (quick resume)
├─ Upcoming Assignments
├─ Calendar
└─ Progress & Achievements

Main Nav:
├─ My Learning (default home)
├─ Discover Courses
│  ├─ Browse All Courses
│  ├─ Learning Paths
│  ├─ Free Courses
│  └─ Instructors
├─ Study Tools
│  ├─ My Notes
│  ├─ Bookmarks
│  ├─ Study Groups
│  └─ Progress Reports
├─ Support
│  ├─ Help Center
│  ├─ Ask a Question
│  └─ Technical Support
└─ Profile & Settings

Instructor View (separate dashboard):
├─ My Courses (teaching)
├─ Create Course
├─ Student Analytics
├─ Grading Queue
└─ Resources

Results after 90 days:

Course completion rate: 42% → 61%
Support tickets ("where is...?"): -73%
Mobile engagement: +118%
Average study time per session: +54%
Student satisfaction scores: +32 points
Instructor content creation: +47%

Best Practices for Educational Platform Card Sorting

1. Test with Multiple User Roles

Different users, different needs:

Students: Focus on learning, assignments, grades, progress
Instructors: Focus on teaching, grading, analytics, content creation
Administrators: Focus on program management, reporting, enrollment
Prospective students: Focus on browsing, previewing, enrolling

Run separate card sorts for students vs. instructors, or analyze results by segment.

2. Separate Course Discovery from Course Experience

Two distinct mental models:

Discovery phase: "What courses should I take?" (browsing, researching, comparing)
Learning phase: "I'm enrolled, where's my content?" (accessing materials, completing work)

Test whether these should be separate sections or integrated experiences.

3. Consider Learning Modalities

Different course types need different navigation:

Self-paced courses: Progress tracker, flexible schedule
Live cohort courses: Calendar, live sessions, peer interaction
Hybrid courses: Both synchronous and asynchronous content
Micro-learning: Short lessons, quick completion

Include cards that represent different learning formats.

4. Don't Neglect Progress & Motivation

Learners need to see progress:

Course completion percentage
Earned certificates and badges
Learning streaks and milestones
Skill development tracking

Test where progress elements belong: Dashboard? Course view? Profile?

5. Mobile-First for Students, Desktop-First for Instructors

Usage patterns differ:

Students: 70% access courses on mobile (watching videos, reading, quick assignments)
Instructors: 85% create content on desktop (uploading materials, grading, analytics)

Test mobile-specific needs for students (download for offline, resume on any device).

Common Educational Platform IA Patterns

Pattern 1: Course-Centric Navigation

├─ My Courses
│  ├─ [Each course as separate container]
│  │  ├─ Content
│  │  ├─ Assignments
│  │  ├─ Discussions
│  │  ├─ Grades
│  │  └─ Resources
└─ Browse Courses

Best for: Traditional LMS, structured programs

Pros: Clear course boundaries, familiar to students Cons: Hard to see assignments across all courses

Example: Canvas, Blackboard, Moodle

Pattern 2: Task-Centric Navigation

├─ My Calendar (all courses)
├─ My Assignments (all courses)
├─ My Grades (all courses)
├─ My Content (all courses)
└─ Browse Courses

Best for: Students juggling multiple courses

Pros: See all deadlines across courses, task-focused Cons: Harder to focus on one course at a time

Example: Google Classroom (combines both approaches)

Pattern 3: Learning Path Navigation

├─ My Learning Path
│  ├─ Current Step
│  ├─ Next Recommended
│  ├─ Progress to Goal
│  └─ [Courses in sequence]
└─ Explore More Paths

Best for: Skill-building platforms, professional development

Pros: Goal-oriented, guided progression Cons: Less flexible for casual learners

Example: LinkedIn Learning, Coursera Specializations

Pattern 4: Hybrid (Multi-View) Navigation

Top Tabs:
├─ My Learning (student dashboard)
├─ Discover (course catalog)
├─ Community (forums, groups)
└─ Resources (library, tools)

Within "My Learning":
├─ Continue Learning (quick resume)
├─ By Course (course-centric view)
├─ By Due Date (task-centric view)
└─ Progress (achievements view)

Best for: Comprehensive learning platforms

Pros: Serves multiple user mental models, flexible Cons: More complex, requires thoughtful design

Example: Udemy, Skillshare

Using This Template

Step 1: Customize for Your Platform (20 minutes)

Replace generic cards with your specific features:

Generic template:

- Video Lectures
- Assignments
- Quizzes

Your platform (e.g., coding bootcamp):

- Coding Tutorials
- Coding Challenges / Exercises
- Code Review & Feedback
- Live Coding Sessions
- Portfolio Projects
- Peer Code Review
- Industry Mentor Sessions

Include your unique features (e.g., "AI Tutor," "Career Coaching," "Job Placement").

Step 2: Set Up Study (5 minutes)

Create study →

Settings:

Type: Hybrid card sort (provide suggested categories, allow custom)
Cards: 45-55
Suggested categories:
- Find Courses
- My Learning
- Course Content
- Study Tools
- Get Help
Collect: Name, Email, Role (student, instructor, admin)

Step 3: Recruit Learners & Educators (2-3 days)

Screening questions:

What is your role? (Student / Instructor / Administrator)
How often do you use online learning platforms? (Daily / Weekly / Monthly)
What's your primary device for learning? (Desktop / Mobile / Tablet)

Email template (send to students):

Subject: Help improve our learning platform (12 min, $15 gift card)

Hi [Name],

We're redesigning our educational platform and need your input!

Help us organize courses, tools, and resources in a way that makes learning easier. It takes 12 minutes, and you'll receive a $15 gift card.

[Link to study]

Your feedback will directly improve the student experience.

Thank you,
[Your University / Platform]

Target: 30-40 participants

60% students (diverse course levels)
25% instructors
15% administrators

Step 4: Analyze by User Role (3-4 hours)

Analyze separately for:

Students (learning experience)
Instructors (teaching tools)
Administrators (program management)

Look for:

Course discovery vs. course experience separation
Dashboard priorities (what appears first)
Course content organization (inside course vs. global)
Study tools placement (course-specific vs. platform-wide)
Support and help access points

Step 5: Design Learner-Centered IA (2 weeks)

Based on results:

Student dashboard (post-login landing):
- Active courses with "Continue Learning"
- Upcoming assignments
- Progress visualization
- Quick access to study tools
Course structure (within each course):
- Lessons / content
- Assignments & due dates
- Discussions
- Grades & feedback
- Resources
Course discovery (pre-enrollment):
- Browse catalog
- Search and filters
- Learning paths
- Instructor profiles
- Course previews
Support & tools (accessible everywhere):
- Help center
- Technical support
- Study aids (notes, flashcards)
- Community forums

Step 6: Test with Real Learning Tasks (1 week)

Usability testing scenarios:

"You're enrolled in 3 courses. Find your next assignment due this week."
"You want to learn Python. Find and enroll in a beginner course."
"You missed a lecture. Find the video and take notes."
"Check your grade on last week's quiz in your Marketing course."

Target: 85%+ task completion without help

Metrics to Track Post-Launch

Learning engagement:

Course completion rate
Average time per session
Video completion rate
Assignment submission rate
Discussion participation

Navigation effectiveness:

Search usage rate (high search = poor nav)
Top landing pages
Drop-off points (where students leave)
Clicks to common tasks (submit assignment, view grade)

Student satisfaction:

Platform satisfaction scores
Support ticket volume (navigation-related)
Mobile vs. desktop usage
Student retention rate

Instructor adoption:

Course creation rate
Content upload frequency
Grading turnaround time
Use of platform features (analytics, discussions)

Target improvements:

30-50% increase in course completion
40-60% reduction in "where is...?" support tickets
50-70% increase in mobile engagement
20-30% improvement in student satisfaction

Related Templates

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Should students and instructors have separate platforms or shared navigation? A: Card sorting will reveal this! Most platforms benefit from role-based dashboards (different landing pages) but shared course spaces (students and instructors see same course, different tools).

Q: How do we organize hundreds of courses? A: Use card sort for HIGH-LEVEL structure (how to browse, filter, and discover). Common patterns: by subject, by skill level, by learning path, by instructor.

Q: Should assignments live in a course or in a global "All Assignments" view? A: Test both! Many students want BOTH: assignments within each course AND a cross-course view of upcoming deadlines.

Q: Where should discussion forums live? A: Card sorting typically shows students expect course-specific discussions INSIDE each course, not as separate platform section. General community forums can be separate.

Q: What about gamification elements (badges, leaderboards)? A: Include these as cards! Test whether they belong in course view, profile, or dedicated achievements section.

Ready to Optimize Your Educational Platform IA?

Use this template now (free) →

What you'll get:

Pre-configured educational platform card sort
Student mental model insights
Course navigation analysis
Export results for design team

No credit card required. 3 free studies.

Next Steps

Create free account (2 minutes)
Load educational platform template (1 click)
Customize with your features (20 minutes)
Send to 30-40 learners (2-3 days)
Identify learning priorities (3 hours)
Redesign for student success (2 weeks)
Increase course completion (ongoing)

Start optimizing your educational platform IA today.

Educational Platform Information Architecture Template | eLearning Navigation Card Sort