A practical guide to the Edovo Editor: How to build, preview, edit and publish active content

A practical guide to the Edovo Editor: How to build, preview, edit and publish active content

Learn how to build, preview, edit, and publish courses and interactive resources onto Edovo

Wondering, “Do I need to be a coder to use the Editor?”—breathe easy. You don’t. This article gives you the roadmap so you too can create active content in the Edovo Editor.  

From setting up content cards to publishing your final lesson, we’ll walk you through every tool, button, and best practice you need to know. Built with adult learning theory, trauma-informed design, and tablet functionality in mind, this guide helps you make structure your secret weapon.

Your cheat sheet for this article

  1. The Edovo Editor is where you build active learning materials: courses and interactive resources (not passive learning materials)

  2. Accepted file formats: MP4, MP3, PDF, JPEG and PNG

  3. Accepted file formats for icons: JPEG and PNG, measuring 500px X 500px 

  4. Videos must be compressed to Edovo Presets

  5. There is a unique preview process to preview content from the incarcerated learners’ perspective

  6. Before you start, make sure you’ve got the goods:

  • Countersigned agreements from the Edovo Content Team

  • Your username

  • Your password

  • If you’re missing any of the above, email content@edovo.org and we’ll help you out.

  1. Want to upload a stand-alone resource (aka passive learning experiences) rather than active learning content? Check out this article.


Want to go deeper into the strategy behind your content—the why behind the how? Check out The Edovo Edge: Research-Backed Methods for Real Results.

Uploading active learning content roadmap 

Whether you’re designing a course or an interactive resource, these formats invite learners to go one step further, engaging with multimedia content, reflecting on prompts, or answering multiple choice, Likert, fill-in-the-blank, or true/false questions.

It’s not about replacing passive learning, it’s about creating moments for learners to respond, reflect, and apply what they’ve taken in. Active learning doesn’t mean more important—it just means more involved.  

This article provides a step-by-step breakdown of the entire process to build, preview, edit, and publish your active learning content. The image below provides an overview of everything we’ll cover in this article.



Step 1: Which format fits? A Quick refresher on Edovo’s active content types

On Edovo, everything you build inside the Editor is considered active content. No matter how many lessons/sections you plug into a course or interactive resource, they're each considered an “item,” and they all invite learners to do something—not just passively read or watch.

Which one should you use?
Start with your goal.
Ask: “What do I want my Learner to walk away with—and what kind of interaction helps them get there?”

  • Want them to solely reflect or lightly interact with the content? → Interactive Resource

  • Want to build knowledge in a structured, scaffolded curriculum with assessments? → Course

If you’re not asking learners to respond in some way—just giving them something to read, watch, or listen to—then you’re working with stand-alone content items, not an item that gets built in the Edovo Editor. (And we’ve got a whole other guide for that.)

Bottom line? The format you choose should serve your intent—and your Learner’s experience.



Step 2: Touring the Edovo Editor: Where the magic (and media) happens


Whether you’re building your first course or your fiftieth, this series of videos, pdfs, and images will show you how to use every feature within the  Edovo Editor. You’ll see where to add media, how to embed questions, and get a side of “ohhh, that’s what that button does.” We recommend following the sequence provided, but if you’re looking for a specific tip, feel free to jump around. 

In the 4 videos below, we’ll cover how to:

  • Build your base: Creating a content card 

  • Set up your pages: Layout, tools, and flow 

  • Design your interactions: Quiz & page tools

  • Enhance the experience: Extras, logic & support

(Look at that…we’re modeling adult learning theory by providing you with choices! Choice = agency = increased motivation and deeper engagement.)

Build Your Base: Creating a Content Card

Give your content a first impression learners won’t scroll past. In this video, we’re setting the foundation: the content card. This is your content’s first impression; its elevator pitch, its dating profile, its digital handshake. Whether you’re building a course or interactive resource, this is where it all begins.

You’ll learn:

  1. How to title and describe your content to make learners want to click "Start"

  2. What makes a great transcript description for parole boards and case managers

  3. How to upload a series icon that says, “I’m polished and professional—and tablet friendly”

  4. Where to edit, duplicate, and un-hide all your brilliant drafts

By the end, your content card will be clean, clear, and totally click-worthy. 


Set up your pages: Layout, tools, and flow  

Welcome to your creative HQ—aka the Edovo Editor. In this video, we’ll walk you through how to structure your course or interactive resource one page at a time.

In the video below, you’ll learn:

  • How to add and organize lessons

  • What all those buttons actually do (no guesswork needed)

  • How to use building blocks like videos, PDFs, audio, and quizzes

  • The secret to pacing lessons so learners don’t check out halfway through

  • Best practices for formatting titles, chunking content, and avoiding overwhelm

We’ll also cover how to keep your content clear, concise, and optimized for a small screen in a noisy environment (because yes, correctional learning has its quirks).

Go ahead and press play below to get started.



Design your interactions: Quiz & page tools

Make your content active, engaging, and purposeful.

Welcome to the fun part—where your content stops just talking at learners and starts talking with them.

In this video, you’ll learn how to:

  • Turn passive content into interactive learning with quizzes and prompts

  • Use the right tool for the right job—multiple choice, Likert, open response, and more

  • Customize grading, feedback, and scoring to match your goals

  • Create space for reflection, critical thinking, and deeper engagement

  • Avoid common editing mistakes (yes, the red box of doom will find you)

But first… you’ve got to click that little “play” triangle. Go on, we believe in you. ;)


Enhance the experience: Extras, logic & support
 Make your content flexible, thoughtful, and learner-friendly.

In this video, you’ll learn:

  • How to give learners more choice without losing structure

  • How to use optional toggles and precondition logic to guide the journey

  • How to offer content in different formats—and let learners pick

  • What to do when things go sideways (hello, help center)

  • Why a little planning now saves a lot of troubleshooting later

You’ve already built the structure. Now it’s time to layer in the good stuff that makes learning personal, responsive, and smooth. You know the drill… press play on the video below (grab your favorite pen and notebook, note-taking is encouraged)




Step 3: Save yourself a support ticket: Common mistakes & how to avoid them

Even the best content creators hit bumps in the road—but most of them? Totally avoidable. In this lesson, we’ll walk through the most common mistakes we see in the Edovo Editor and show you exactly how to steer clear of them. From media upload errors to hyperlink limitations, we’ve got your back with real answers and practical fixes—no guesswork, no wasted time.


The Top Mistakes (And How to Avoid Them)

Before you hit publish, let’s save you some headaches.

In this video, you’ll learn:

  • The most common content mistakes we see—and how to avoid them

  • Why your video might not be playing (hint: it’s not personal, it’s formatting)

  • What happens if you preview media the wrong way

  • Why separate caption files don’t work, and what to do instead

  • How to design with learner flow in mind so no one gets lost

  • What to check before publishing so you don’t have to redo your whole course

We’ve seen it all. And we’re here to help you skip the pitfalls and build smooth, frustration-free content from the start. Ready to avoid a support ticket or two (and your time)? In the following video we’ll cover:

  • Mistake #1: Previewing media in the Editor

  • Mistake #2: Video upload failing

  • Mistake #3: Submitting separate caption files

  • Mistake #4: Trying to link within lessons

  • Mistake #5: Not understanding how learners engage with content


We’ll also cover the most classic of classic mistakes—the one we all stumble into (yep, even us… more than once). Click play to uncover the #1 Editor “oops” and how to dodge it like it’s last week’s mystery meat in the cafeteria.



Mistake-Proof Your Content Checklist

Before you email us to publish, run through this list to sidestep the most common “wait, what just happened?” moments in the Editor. A few quick checks now can save you from a lot of rework later.


Recap

The best content is intentional—and error-free. By knowing where creators typically trip up, you can skip the stress, streamline your process, and make sure your course is clean, clear, and ready to deliver an excellent Learner experience.

Step 4: Design like a pro (even if you’re new to the Editor)

You’ve got the structure down. You’ve avoided the classic missteps. Now it’s time to take your content from good to great. From film-based course structure to assessment writing, we’ll show you how to apply best practices without getting lost in the weeds. 

Building a great course or resource isn’t about dumping everything you know onto a page—it’s about crafting a meaningful experience for your learners. One that’s clear, engaging, and built for brains under pressure.

In attached PDF found below, you’ll learn:

  • How to start with purpose and explain why it matters

  • What a strong structure looks like (and why consistency builds trust)

  • How to turn a passive video or book into an active learning experience

  • Best practices for pacing, relevance, reflection, and trauma-informed design

  • Real tips for writing good quiz questions, using video well, and avoiding plagiarism pitfalls

Whether you’re just starting or looking to level up your course design, these tips are your go-to guide for building with care and clarity.


Step 5: Preview and edit your active learning content


Because every great lesson deserves a dress rehearsal

You’ve built something powerful—now it’s time to test it out before learners hit “Start.” In this step, you’ll learn how to preview your active learning content in a secure demo environment, check for errors, and learn how to handle updates the right way. A few simple steps now can save learners from confusion later (and save you from having to redo your work).

Your cheat sheet for this step

  • Duplicate your course and label it clearly for preview

  • Use our demo environment to test how it appears on a Learner’s device

  • Don’t forget to check for red warning boxes—those mean “fix me!”

  • If you need to make changes—big or small—you’ll need to duplicate the original, edit the new version, and submit it as a brand-new item for publishing.

  • Live materials can’t be edited directly. This ensures a stable experience for learners and preserves the integrity of progress data. It’s not impossible—but it is a process. 




Step 6: Publish your content and analyze learner engagement


You’ve previewed, edited, and finalized your course—now it’s time to hit publish and get your work in front of learners!

To publish your content, just email content@edovo.org with the following details:

  • The final title of your course or resource

  • The list of facilities where you'd like it published
     (If you want national reach, just say “all facilities.”)

What happens next:

  • You’ll receive a confirmation email when your content is in our publishing queue

  • Once it clears final screening, review, and is officially published, you’ll receive a second confirmation email letting you know it’s live

  • That email will also include a link to your Data Analytics Dashboard, where you can track learner engagement and impact

Publishing on Edovo means your content is now available—directly on secure tablets—to incarcerated learners across the country!

TL;DR

You don’t have to be a tech whiz or a senior instructional designer to build great content on Edovo—but it helps to think like one. By using clear structure, thoughtful pacing, and engaging tools, you can turn your expertise into transformational learning that works—on tablets, in facilities, and for justice-impacted adults who deserve second chances done right.

You don’t have to go it alone.

We’ve helped national brands such as LinkedIn, MasterClass, and Grow with Google, and grassroots leaders alike turn great ideas into transformative, tablet-ready learning. Want that kind of backup? Read our Professional Services article to see how we can help.