Understanding Pipelines

Pipelines are what make CoursePipelines special. They connect your courses and chatbots, allowing information to flow automatically between them to create smarter learning experiences.

What is a Pipeline?

A pipeline is like a road map that shows how information travels between your courses and chatbots. For example:

• When a learner completes a quiz in Course A, their score can automatically be sent to a chatbot
• The chatbot can then provide personalized help based on that score
• The chatbot can also recommend which course the learner should take next

How Pipelines Work

Here's a simple example of how information flows in a pipeline:

In this example:

1. Course A sends quiz scores to the AI Chatbot and completion rates to Course B
2. The AI Chatbot analyzes the information and:
   • Determines a skill level that affects what content appears in Course B
   • Evaluates topic mastery that guides what appears in Course C
3. Each arrow represents information being passed between components

Pipeline Building Blocks

Courses

Course blocks represent your learning content. They can:

• Send information out (like scores or completion status)
• Receive information (like what content to show next)
• Connect to multiple chatbots or other courses

Chatbots

Chatbot blocks represent AI assistants that help your learners. They can:

• Receive information from courses (like learner performance)
• Process conversations with learners
• Make decisions based on these conversations
• Send information to courses or other chatbots

Actions

Action blocks represent automated tasks that perform operations when triggered. They can:

• Execute when specific conditions are met
• Process incoming variables from courses or chatbots
• Perform operations like sending emails or updating data
• Pass processed information to other components
• Integrate with external systems through webhooks

Creating Your First Pipeline

Step 1: Start a New Pipeline

1. Go to the Pipelines section of your dashboard
2. Click "Create New Pipeline"
3. Give your pipeline a descriptive name (e.g., "Basic Python Learning Path")

Step 2: Add Components

1. You'll see your courses and chatbots in the sidebar
2. Drag and drop them onto the canvas
3. Arrange them in a way that makes sense for your learning flow

Step 3: Connect the Components

1. Click and drag from the right side (output) of one component
2. Drop onto the left side (input) of another component
3. When prompted, select which information should flow through this connection

Step 4: Save Your Pipeline

• Your pipeline saves automatically as you work
• You can always come back and make changes later

Pipeline Examples

Simple Linear Flow

This basic pipeline shows a straightforward learning path:

Feedback Loop

This pipeline creates a cycle of improvement:

Tips for Effective Pipelines

1. Start Simple

   • Begin with just a few components and connections
   • Add more complexity as you become comfortable

2. Name Everything Clearly

   • Give your pipelines and connections descriptive names
   • This makes them easier to understand and manage later

3. Think About Your Learning Goals

   • Design your pipeline to support specific learning objectives
   • Consider what information is most important to track

4. Review Regularly

   • Check your pipeline reports to see how learners are progressing
   • Make adjustments based on the data you collect

Advanced Features

As you become more comfortable with basic pipelines, you can explore:

Parallel Learning Tracks

Create multiple paths through your content based on learner preferences or performance.

Chatbot Collaboration

Allow chatbots to share information with each other to create a more cohesive learning experience.

Adaptive Difficulty

Automatically adjust content difficulty based on performance metrics.

Prerequisite Checks

Ensure learners have necessary skills before advancing to more advanced material.

Action Automation

Implement action nodes to automate tasks like:

• Sending personalized emails when learners complete courses
• Updating external systems through webhook integrations
• Processing and transforming variable data
• Triggering notifications based on specific conditions
• Executing custom logic between other pipeline components

Need Help?

If you have questions about building pipelines:

• Click the "?" icon in the pipeline editor for in-app guidance
• Email support@coursepipelines.com
• Check out our video tutorials