In Coassemble, a screen is a single unit of learning. Think of it as a page in a book, but interactive, purposeful, and designed with learning science in mind. When you transform a document into a course, your original paragraphs and bullet points become screens. Each screen should ideally contain one clear concept, idea, or theme, making it easier for learners to follow, digest, and apply what they've learned.

Each screen gives you an opportunity to present information in a way that optimizes engagement and retention. For example:

• Text and image: great for storytelling and explanation.
• Accordion or Process: helps with layered information or step-by-step breakdowns.
• Flashcards and Quizzes: activate retrieval practice and reinforce memory.

From a learning design perspective, chunking content into screens aligns with Cognitive Load Theory, reducing overwhelm by presenting bite-sized content that's easier to absorb.

Why we recommend keeping your course under 20 screens

While it might be tempting to fit everything into a single course, more isn't always better. Courses with too many screens can quickly lead to:

• Learner fatigue: long courses can feel overwhelming and reduce motivation.
• Lower completion rates: learners are less likely to finish lengthy experiences.
• Missed opportunities for modular learning: breaking content into smaller courses gives learners more flexibility and improves knowledge retention.

As a best practice, aim to keep your course under 20 screens. If your content naturally goes beyond that, consider splitting it into multiple courses and grouping them using a collection.

Common elements within screens

Each screen type has different elements and options, but many are common across multiple screens. All screens allow for a title and description.

• Title. The heading that appears along the top of the screen. You can switch this between two sizes (Heading 1 and Heading 2), which is useful for showing a hierarchy of information within your course.
• Description. Where you add larger bodies of text, like paragraphs or bullet points. On some screens the Description is toggled off by default.
• Images. Depending on the screen type, you can add one or multiple images. Screens that allow images either have a placeholder image you can edit and swap out, or a container for you to add or upload an image.

Screen options toolbar

The options in the toolbar vary across screen types and the elements included. Depending on the screen, you can adjust:

• Image options. Adjust the layout of your images.
• Text alignment. Align text to the left, right, or center.
• Display options. Hide elements from your screen. For example, you might include a heading but no description text.
• Background color. Change the background color of your screen.
• SmartColor scheme. If the screen has elements that use the SmartColor scheme, reset them here.
• Duplicate. If the screen has multiple slides, such as the Process screen, duplicate one of the slides.
• Delete. If the screen has multiple slides, delete an individual slide.
• Reorder items. Change the sequence in which items appear within a screen.

Screen types

Coassemble gives you 11 screen types so you can present content the right way, from text and video to interactive formats like flashcards, hotspots, and quizzes. Every screen is mobile responsive.

Text and image screen

The Text and image screen is perfect for presenting a paragraph or small chunk of text alongside a central image.

Step 1: Select 'Add screen' and choose 'Text and image'.

Step 2: Add a title and replace the placeholder text with your own content.

Step 3: Hover on the image and select the 'Edit image' icon. Select the trashcan icon in the top right corner to delete the placeholder image. You can now upload your own image or search for a photo on Unsplash or a GIF on GIPHY.

Step 4: Change the layout of your Text and image screen with a few simple clicks.

Video screen

The Video screen makes it easy to present a video to your learners. You might link to an existing resource, or upload your own video file directly on paid plans.

Step 1: Select 'Add screen' and choose the Video screen.

Step 2: Select 'Edit video' and the trashcan icon to delete the placeholder video.

Step 3: Replace the placeholder video with your own content by pasting the video URL (for example a YouTube or Vimeo link), or upload a video file directly. Direct video upload is available on paid plans.

If you would like to add text alongside your video for extra context, click the eye icon and tick the box next to the description. This adds a description field before your video.

Slideshow screen

Use the Slideshow screen to present a gallery of images around a particular topic or theme. This can be helpful to:

• Showcase a gallery of product images or services you offer
• Create a visual story or narrative through a sequence of images
• Present a collection of photographs, such as a portfolio of work.

Step 1: Select 'Add screen' and choose the Slideshow screen.

Step 2: Add a title for your Slideshow.

Step 3: Add your images. A new Slideshow screen contains a placeholder image. Delete the first image by selecting the trash can, then add your own. You can drag and drop an image from your desktop, browse your device for a file, or search Unsplash or GIPHY.

Step 4: If you choose to, add a description for each image in the description field below the image.

Once you've added your images, select 'Reorder' in the toolbar to change their order within the Slideshow.

Document screen

Using the Document screen, you can upload existing training documents and make them available to your audience. You might use the Document screen if:

• You don't have time to convert existing materials into Coassemble screen types but want to start rolling out training and gathering insights
• You have optional extra reading or reference materials
• You have policy and procedure documents to include
• You have marketing material, such as brochures or flyers, to include.

The Document screen allows you to upload common formats including:

• Microsoft Word documents (.doc, .docx)
• PDF (Portable Document Format)
• Excel spreadsheets (.xls, .xlsx)
• PowerPoint presentations (.ppt, .pptx)
• Text files (.txt)
• Rich Text Format (.rtf)

Coassemble uses Google's document viewer to display documents as embedded objects in their original format, so learners don't need any software installed to view them.

Step 1: Select 'Add screen' and choose the Document screen from the sidebar.

Step 2: Drag and drop your file into the container, or browse your device for the file.

Step 3: Give your screen a title, and you're ready to roll.

If you'd prefer learners to download the document rather than view it inline, select the 'Download document' button in the toolbar. You can also switch on the description field to introduce your document.

Embed screen

Use the Embed screen to embed rich content into your training. Engage learners by adding surveys, podcasts, forms, calendar bookings, maps, and more. A few ways to use it:

• Surveys and polls to get feedback, using tools like Typeform, Survicate, or SurveyMonkey.
• Maps to show a location, embedded from Google Maps.
• Forms to collect data from your audience, using Google Forms or Typeform.
• Calendar booking, using a tool like Calendly, so learners can book a session with your team. Useful for lead generation.

Step 1: Select 'Add screen' and choose the Embed screen.

Step 2: Paste the embed link of your third-party tool and click 'Add embed link'. Your tool loads inline.

Step 3: Add a title for your screen. To provide extra context, select the eye icon and turn on 'Description'.

Accordion screen

The Accordion screen is perfect for organizing a large amount of information in a small space. Learners expand and collapse sections of content, which reduces cognitive load and makes information easier to find. Display options let you use it to explain acronyms and present ordered and unordered lists.

Step 1: Select 'Add screen' and choose the Accordion screen.

Step 2: The screen starts with placeholder items. Select each item to expand it and type your content directly into the description fields. To add another collapsible section, select 'Add item'.

Step 3: If you like, change the + icons to arrows, numbers, or letters (useful for an acronym).

Process screen

The Process screen displays a process in small, manageable steps. Visual aids like diagrams or images supplement your instructions and make the process easier to understand.

Step 1: Select 'Add screen' and choose the Process screen.

Step 2: Add a title for your Process screen.

Step 3: Add your first step by typing directly into the fields. To swap out the placeholder image, hover over it and select the 'Edit image' icon.

Step 4: To add more steps, select the + symbol underneath the slide.

Flashcards screen

Flashcards are perfect for prompting your audience's memory using visual or verbal cues.

Step 1: Select 'Add screen' and choose the Flashcards screen.

Step 2: Give your screen a title.

Step 3: Choose which fields to type into on the card. You might have a question, key concept, or image on the front. You can hide text if you'd like an image to span the entire card.

Step 4: To add a new Flashcard, select the + symbol underneath the cards.

Checklist screen

Whether you're listing key points, a simple process, or crucial things to remember, the Checklist screen is a great option. Learners check off each item as they read, creating an engaging experience where they interact with the material.

Step 1: Select 'Add screen' and choose the Checklist from the sidebar.

Step 2: Give your Checklist screen a title.

Step 3: Replace the placeholder items with the first points in your checklist. Add more items by clicking the + symbol.

Hotspot screen

The Hotspot screen is an interactive screen that overlays an image with one or more clickable hotspots that reveal additional information when selected. It creates an exploratory, non-linear learning experience.

Step 1: Swap out the placeholder image by selecting 'Edit image' and the trashcan icon. You can upload your own image or search for one to use.

Step 2: Add any labels you'd like for the image. Select 'Add item' to add another hotspot, and click and drag to move hotspots around your image.

Quiz screen

The Quiz screen is an interactive knowledge check you can place at the end of a course or throughout it to reinforce learning. It auto-grades and supports seven question types: multiple choice, multiple response, true/false, short answer, fill in the blank, matching, and sequence. Quizzes can be scored (an assessment with a pass mark) or unscored (practice with unlimited attempts). For full detail on building and scoring quizzes, see the Quizzes page.

Frequently asked questions

How many screen types are there?

There are 11: Text and image, Video, Slideshow, Document, Embed, Accordion, Process, Flashcards, Checklist, Hotspot, and Quiz.

How many screens should a course have?

Around 20 or fewer works best. For longer topics, split the content into several shorter courses grouped into a collection.

Can I reorder screens?

Yes. You can add, remove, and reorder screens of any type at any time in the editor.