How to build active content in the Edovo Editor (courses and interactive resources)
How to build active content in the Edovo Editor (courses and interactive resources)
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
The Edovo Editor is where you build active learning materials: courses and interactive resources (not passive learning materials)
Accepted file formats: MP4, MP3, PDF, JPEG and PNG
Accepted file formats for icons: JPEG and PNG, measuring 500px X 500px
Videos must be compressed to Edovo Presets
There is a unique preview process to preview content from the incarcerated learners’ perspective
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.
Want to upload a stand-alone resource (aka passive learning experiences) rather than active learning content? Check out this article.
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:
How to title and describe your content to make learners want to click "Start"
What makes a great transcript description for parole boards and case managers
How to upload a series icon that says, “I’m polished and professional—and tablet friendly”
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
Design your interactions: Quiz & page toolsMake 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 & supportMake 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)
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.
Your next reads
A practical guide to the Edovo Editor: How to build, preview, edit and publish active content
The Edovo Edge: Research-backed methods for real results
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