Wasting $169K on Training? Launch Online Courses in Odoo 18 E-Learning

Training company has 847 employees. HR creates onboarding course. Uses PowerPoint, uploads to SharePoint. Sends email: "Check SharePoint for training." Employee searches SharePoint. Can't find file (folder name misspelled). Emails HR: "Where's training?" HR sends link. Employee downloads 47 MB PowerPoint. Opens, watches video embedded in slide. Video doesn't play (codec missing). Employee installs codec. Video plays, but quiz at end? Screenshot quiz, email to HR. HR manually grades 847 quizzes. Takes 3 days. No tracking (who completed? who passed?). Employee #234 never did training. Compliance audit: "Show proof Employee #234 completed." HR: "Can't prove it." Fine: $12,000. Training update needed. HR uploads new PowerPoint. Old version still downloaded by 423 employees. Confusion. Another company sells online courses. Uploads videos to YouTube. Manually emails links. Student watches, wants certificate. Instructor manually creates PDF certificate in Word. Emails to student. 247 students × manual certificates = 87 hours. Typo in student name. Re-create certificate. Email again. Annual cost: $87K HR time + $47K manual certificates + $12K compliance fines + $23K support (where's training?) = $169K e-learning chaos.

Odoo 18 e-Learning fixes this: Create course (title, description). Add content (videos, documents, quizzes, certifications). Publish to website (one-click). Students enroll (self-service or invited). Track completion automatically (who finished, who passed). Quiz auto-graded (instant results, scores tracked). Certificate auto-issued (PDF generated with student name). Course updates? Republish. Everyone sees new version. Compliance reports: Export completion data. Gamification: Points, badges for engagement. Forum discussions per course. Reviews and ratings. Multiple courses managed centrally. Here's how to launch online courses in Odoo 18 e-Learning so you stop losing $169K annually to manual training chaos.

What Odoo E-Learning Does

Complete learning management: Create courses → Add content (videos, docs, quizzes) → Publish to website → Students enroll → Auto-track completion → Auto-grade quizzes → Auto-issue certificates → Compliance reporting.

Step 1: Install e-Learning Module

1. Go to Apps
2. Search "eLearning"
3. Install e-Learning module
4. e-Learning menu appears in Odoo

Step 2: Create New Course

1. Go to e-Learning → Courses → Courses
2. Click New
3. Enter Course Title: "Employee Onboarding 2024"
4. Add Tags: "Basic", "Onboarding", "Required"
5. Course form opens with multiple tabs

Step 3: Add Course Content

Add Section (Organize Content)

1. In Content tab, click Add Section
2. Section name: "Week 1: Company Introduction"
3. Sections organize content into modules/chapters
4. Add multiple sections for course structure

Add Content (Video, Document, Article)

1. Click Add Content
2. Popup appears with content configuration
3. Fill details:
   • Content Title: "Welcome Video"
   • Tags: "Video", "Introduction"
4. In Document tab:
   • Content Type: Select from:
     • Video: Upload MP4, embed YouTube/Vimeo link
     • Document: Upload PDF, Word, Excel
     • Image: Upload JPG, PNG
     • Article: Write text content (rich text editor)
     • Quiz: Create quiz (separate from content)
     • Certification: Issue certificate
   • Upload your file: Click to upload (or paste YouTube link for videos)
   • Responsible: Assign instructor/content owner
   • Duration: Estimated time (e.g., 15 minutes)
   • Allow Download: Enable to let students download file
   • Allow Preview: Enable to let non-enrolled users preview
5. Description tab: Add summary/notes about content
6. Additional Resources tab: Add supplementary links or files
7. Click Save & Close or Save & New to add more content

Example Content Structure

Step 4: Add Quiz

1. Click Add Content
2. Content Title: "Week 1 Quiz"
3. Content Type: Quiz
4. Go to Quiz tab
5. Points Rewards: Set points per attempt (e.g., 10 points)
6. Under Questions, click Add a line
7. Popup for question creation:
   • Question Name: "What year was the company founded?"
   • Question Type: Multiple Choice (or Single Line Text Box, Matrix, etc.)
   • Under Answers tab, add options:
     • Answer 1: "2010"
     • Answer 2: "2015" (check Is Correct Answer)
     • Answer 3: "2020"
8. Click Save & Close or Save & New for more questions
9. Repeat for all quiz questions

Question Types Explained

• Single Line Text Box: Short answer (name, email)
  • Enable "Input must be an email" for email validation
  • "Save as user email" stores answer as student email
  • "Save as user nickname" stores as student name
• Multiple Choice: Select one correct answer from options
• Matrix: Table/grid answer (rows and columns)
• Numerical Value: Number input with validation
• Date/Datetime: Date picker answer

Step 5: Add Certification

1. Click Add Certification
2. Content Title: "Onboarding Completion Certificate"
3. Content Type: Certification
4. Under Certification field:
   • Select existing certification template
   • Or click New to create new

Create New Certification

1. Name: "Employee Onboarding Certificate"
2. Go to Questions tab (optional pre-certification quiz)
3. Add questions (similar to quiz creation)
4. Question types:
   • Single Line Text Box (for name collection)
   • Multiple Choice (final assessment questions)
   • Matrix (complex evaluations)
5. Under Options tab:
   • Mandatory Answer: Require answer before proceeding
   • Validate entry: Min/Max limits, validation rules
   • Show Comment Field: Allow student feedback
6. Click Save & Close
7. Certification auto-generated as PDF when student completes course

Step 6: Configure Course Settings

1. Go to Description tab
2. Add course description (rich text):
   • What students will learn
   • Prerequisites
   • Target audience
3. Go to Options tab
4. Configure:
   • Responsible: Course instructor/manager
   • Website: Select website to publish on
   • Prerequisites: Select required courses (must complete before this one)
   • Show Course To:
     • Everyone: Public (anyone can see)
     • Signed In: Registered users only
     • Course Attendees: Enrolled students only
   • Enroll Policy:
     • Open: Anyone can self-enroll
     • On Invitation: Admin/instructor must invite
   • Allow Reviews: Students can rate/review course
   • Forum: Enable discussion forum for course
   • New Content Notification: Email students when new content added
   • Completion Notification: Email when student completes course
   • Type:
     • Training: Structured learning path
     • Documentation: Reference materials

Step 7: Publish Course to Website

1. Click Go to Website button
2. Course preview opens in new tab
3. Toggle Unpublished → Published
4. Course now visible on website
5. Students can browse, enroll

Step 8: Publish Individual Content

1. Go back to course in Odoo
2. Note: Course published, but content shows "0 Published Contents"
3. Click Published Contents smart button
4. List of all course content appears
5. For each content item:
   • Click content
   • Click Go to Website
   • Toggle Unpublished → Published
6. Repeat for all content (videos, docs, quizzes, certification)
7. Return to course: See "Published Contents: 5" (or your total)

Step 9: Manage Course Attendees

Add Attendees Manually

1. In course form, click Add Attendees
2. Select employees/contacts to enroll
3. Click Add
4. Attendees receive enrollment notification (if configured)

Contact Attendees

1. Click Contact Attendees
2. Compose message (email)
3. Send announcements, reminders, updates

Self-Enrollment (Open Policy)

1. Student visits website
2. Browses courses
3. Clicks Enroll
4. Auto-enrolled (if Open policy)
5. Access to all published content

Step 10: Track Student Progress

1. Go to e-Learning → Courses → Courses
2. Select course
3. Smart buttons show:
   • Attendees: Total enrolled students
   • Visits: Total page views
   • Published Contents: Content items live
4. Click Attendees to see:
   • Student list
   • Completion status
   • Progress percentage
   • Quiz scores
   • Certificate issued (yes/no)

Student Learning Experience

Student Workflow

1. Student receives enrollment notification (or self-enrolls)
2. Logs into website
3. Goes to My Courses
4. Selects course
5. Sees content sections (Week 1, Week 2, etc.)
6. Clicks content to view:
   • Video plays in browser
   • Document downloads (if allowed)
   • Article displays in page
7. Progress auto-tracked (content marked "completed" when viewed)
8. Takes quiz:
   • Answers questions
   • Submits
   • Instant results (auto-graded)
   • Score displayed
9. Completes all content
10. Certificate auto-generated
11. Download certificate (PDF with student name, date, course title)

Direct Content/Certification Management

Manage All Content

1. Go to e-Learning → Courses → Contents
2. View all content across all courses
3. Click New to create standalone content
4. Edit, publish, delete content items

Manage All Certifications

1. Go to e-Learning → Courses → Certifications
2. View all certification templates
3. Click New to create reusable certification
4. Use same certification across multiple courses

Gamification & Engagement

Karma/Points System

1. Go to course → Karma tab
2. View:
   • Rewards: Points earned for completion, quiz scores
   • Access Rights: Karma required to access certain content
3. Configure points per activity
4. Students earn badges, rankings

Course Forum

1. Enable forum in course options
2. Students post questions, discussions
3. Instructor/peers answer
4. Community learning

Reviews & Ratings

1. Enable "Allow Reviews"
2. Students rate course (1-5 stars)
3. Write text reviews
4. Displayed on course page
5. Helps improve course quality

Real-World Impact

FAQs