In this article, we explore the content hierarchy within Sana and highlight some key differences between the various components.
Content hierarchy
Program
A Program can consist of courses (self-paced and lives) and emails. It allows for extensive control over the learner's experience by automating various aspects of the learning journey, such as staggered content assignments and automated enrollment rules. A program can be used for an onboarding program which include a series of steps (courses or lives) that the user shall go through, or to simply break down a longer course into different sections. You can read more about Programs here.
Learner view of a program containing different sections
Sections
You have the option to create Sections inside the Program. This makes it easier for the learner to understand and follow the program-overview, offering a more streamlined and organized experience. Learn more about Sections in programs here.
Course (Self-paced/Live/In-person)
There are three types of courses; self-paced, live courses and in-person events. Courses consist of modules and cards. All of these can exist in a Program.
Self-paced
These courses allow learners to progress at their own pace. You can also set deadlines to ensure that learners complete the course within a specified timeframe.Live
Sana Live is our live meeting tool which lets you run virtual and hybrid training sessions. In a Live, you can schedule multiple live sessions at different dates and times.
In-person events
In person events are events that can be created and managed within the platform. These training sessions are particularly useful for organizations that require in-person, on-site training for their employees.
Modules
What are modules and why use them?
Modules are the main building blocks of your course structure. Think of them as chapters in a book: each module groups related content into a meaningful unit, such as “Introduction to product X” or “Handling customer requests.” Using modules helps you:
Break long courses into clear, manageable sections.
Give learners a sense of progression and milestones.
Keep content organized and easier to maintain over time.
Within a module you can add any cards you normally use (for example, Page, Poll, Question, Reflection, Scenario), so the module becomes a mini learning journey on a specific topic.
When to use modules
Start from learning outcomes. One best practice before you create modules is defining the key outcomes you want learners to achieve by the end of the course. Then:
Turn each outcome (or closely related group of outcomes) into a separate module.
Name the module after the skill or topic learners will gain, e.g. “Configure your first workspace” rather than “Module 1.”
Keep modules focused and predictable. Inside each module, aim for a simple, repeatable pattern, such as:
A short intro or context card (what this module covers and why it matters).
Core content (pages, media, scenarios, etc.).
At least one interactive element (poll, reflection, question, exercise).
A quick checkpoint (questions or an assessment) to confirm understanding.
This consistency makes the course easier to scan and reduces cognitive load for learners.
How to add a module
You can add modules directly from the editor.
Open your course in Create.
At the bottom of your card list, locate the Add card button.
Click the small arrow on the left side of the Add card button.
From the menu that appears, choose:
Add module
(The same menu also includes Import PDF and Generate from file, if you want to build content from existing materials.)
Select Add module. A new, empty module will appear in your course outline.
Give the module a clear, descriptive title (for example, “Intro to product X” or “Handling difficult conversations”).
Start adding cards inside the module (Page, Poll, Question, etc.) to build out the content.
You can then drag and drop cards in the outline to move them into or between modules as needed.
Using placement tests and personalized reviews in a module
Modules also support adaptive elements that personalize the learning experience:
Placement tests and personalized reviews at the beginning/end of a module helps learners skip content they already know and targets individual mistakes as well as knowledge gaps.
To configure these within a specific module:
In the course outline, hover over the module you want to configure.
Click the three dots (more options) next to the module title.
In the menu that appears, choose to enable a Placement test and/or Personalized review for that module.
Use the toggles to turn these features on or off as needed.
Learners will then see the placement test at the start of the module and receive a personalized review at the end, based on how they performed.
Cards
A card in Sana is a way to add content, similar to a slide in a PowerPoint presentation. These cards make up all the content you want to have in a course or Live, and there are multiple interactive cards designed for active participation and knowledge retention.
Within a card, you can have content blocks, e.g., texts or images.