LearnDash and BuddyPress Use Cases

By: Justin Ferriman • July 10, 2015
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BuddyPress Integration v2Just recently we announced the announced the a new BuddyPress integration to LearnDash.

For many people this was welcomed news as they were currently using BuddyPress on their WordPress site. Others were not as familiar with BuddyPress, and as such weren’t exactly sure how to leverage this new integration.

First, I’ll say that just because an integration exists doesn’t mean you should necessarily use it. It needs to make sense for your course offering.

Where BuddyPress thrives is in helping you to create a community beyond the standard forum capabilities (although forums are very much a part of the BuddyPress solution).

With this in mind, let’s look at a few possible use cases for using BuddyPress and LearnDash together.

Use Case #1: Professional Associations

Professional associations are very member focused and exist across a variety of industries.

In general, people sign-up to become a member of the association and in return they get the opportunity to attend functions they are interested in, network with other professionals, and access to a variety of “member only” assets.

BuddyPress allows users to create robust profiles. Using LearnDash, you can grant access to specific industry courses based on their level. Progress and badges are tracked against the user’s profile.

Use Case #2: Franchises

Franchises are successful because they have a set of guidelines in place that their franchisees must follow. Training franchisees takes time and money (which is initially offset by the upfront payment franchisees make).

After the initial training, it’s important to continue to support the franchisees. Using BuddyPress and LearnDash, it’s easy to create an internal network for people to share ideas, take refresher courses, and ask questions so that they don’t feel like they are in business alone.

Use Case #3: Classroom LMS

LearnDash and bbPress (the forum integration) are often used as part of classroom learning management systems. BuddyPress however opens up additional possibilities of collaboration among students with one another. It also gives them the chance to “show off” any badges, points, and certifications they earn on their profile.

The BuddyPress groups feature can be leveraged to better sync with live classroom events, such as study group assignments or research projects.

Think of it as an internal “Facebook” of sorts but with a focus on student interaction for the purpose of education.

These are just three quick examples about how BuddyPress and LearnDash can be used to create a unique and robust online learning experience. If you have questions as to whether this combination would be right for your project, don’t hesitate to contact us!

Justin Ferriman

Justin started LearnDash, the WordPress LMS trusted by Fortune 500 companies, major universities, training organizations, and entrepreneurs worldwide. He is currently founder & CEO of GapScout. Justin’s Homepage | GapScout | Twitter