Adding a Short Description to Learnlists

Overview

The short description is a brief summary field (up to 400 characters) that provides a quick overview of what a Learnlist covers. It appears in search results, tile previews, and other contexts where space is limited.

A well-written short description helps learners quickly understand whether a Learnlist is relevant to their needs without reading the full description.

Functionality Breakdown

Purpose of Short Descriptions

• Provide a quick summary for learners browsing content

• Appear in search results alongside the Learnlist name

• Display on tiles and cards where space is limited

• Help with content discoverability

Character Limit

Short descriptions are limited to 400 characters. This constraint ensures descriptions remain concise and scannable.

Multilingual Support

Like other Learnlist fields, short descriptions:

• Can be translated into multiple languages

• Support your platform's configured languages

• Display in the learner's preferred language

Where Short Descriptions Appear

• Search results

• Learnlist tiles/cards

• Channel listings

• Quick previews

• API responses

Pre-requisites

Role Requirements

To add or edit short descriptions:

• Owner – Full access within their company

• Admin – Administrative access within their company

• Learning Designer – Can create and manage learning content

• Curator – Can curate and manage content

Feature Availability

The short description field appears when enabled for your platform. If you don't see this field, contact your Customer Success Manager.

Quick Start Guide

Adding a Short Description

1. Navigate to Manage in the sidebar

2. Select Learnlists

3. Click on the Learnlist you want to edit

4. Find the Short Description field (usually near the main description)

5. Enter a brief summary (up to 400 characters)

6. Save your changes

Writing Effective Short Descriptions

Do:

• Focus on the key learning outcomes

• Mention the target audience if relevant

• Use action-oriented language

• Be specific about what learners will gain

Don't:

• Simply truncate the full description

• Use marketing jargon

• Include line breaks or complex formatting

• Exceed the character limit

Example Short Descriptions

Good example:
"Learn the fundamentals of project management, including planning, execution, and stakeholder communication. Ideal for new managers and team leads."

Poor example:
"This is a Learnlist about project management that covers various topics related to managing projects effectively in a professional environment..."

Translating Short Descriptions

If your platform supports multiple languages:

1. Edit the Learnlist

2. Switch to the target language using the language selector

3. Enter the translated short description

4. Repeat for all supported languages

5. Save your changes

FAQs

Q: Is the short description required?
No. It's optional, but highly recommended for better content discoverability.

Q: What if I don't add a short description?
The system will typically display the beginning of the full description (truncated) in contexts that would normally show the short description.

Q: Can I use HTML or formatting in the short description?
No. Short descriptions are plain text only. Any formatting will be stripped.

Q: Does the short description affect search results?
Yes. The short description is searchable, so including relevant keywords can help learners find your Learnlist.

Q: Why don't I see the short description field?
This field may need to be enabled for your platform. Contact your Customer Success Manager or administrator.

Troubleshooting