It’s been months in the making – from brainstorming to technical speccing, designing and developing to beta testing, bug fixing and interface refining – and we’re finally at the point where we can proudly present to you our latest WordPress plugin.
Meet Sensei
Sensei, previously code named LMS, helps you create online courses from within WordPress. Sensei aims to capture the core features of a learning management plugin, while not bloating it with features other existing plugins can handle. Sensei integrates perfectly with themes and plugins!
Headlined by our senior developer Jeff Pearce, with experience in building learning systems, Sensei has been through many iterations in ensuring code stability, load performance, extendability and backend usability.
Theming & WooCommerce compatibility
Sensei, like WooCommerce, comes with default frontend styling that should be compatible with any well-coded WordPress theme. We also plan on including custom styling for this plugin in certain future theme releases. We’ve already re-visited the Definition theme, that we actually commissioned Chris Rowe to specifically design around the LMS idea, and included slick styling for Sensei.
Given the sheer size that WooCommerce has grown by we wanted to ensure a close connection between both plugins. With WooCommerce running on your site and Sensei installed you can quite easily assign a product to a course and subsequently charge learners for course material.
Support & updates
We take product support very seriously at WooThemes and really plan to excel in the support of Sensei as we learn how our customers use this plugin and align it to their needs even closer in the coming weeks.
Similarly to WooCommerce, and dependant on it’s uptake, we plan to extend Sensei through extensions – with very competitive pricing and free additional modules for existing Sensei users.
Pricing & our introductory offer
We’ve being debating a price point that justly covers the amount of functionality Sensei covers, whilst complementing the pricing of our other WordPress products and making it accessible to all potential customers. We’ve decided on an introductory pricing starting at $79. This discounted price will be effective for the next 30 days, after which we will most likely be increasing the price to $99 for a single site license.
Get your copy of Sensei today, explore it’s countless possibilities, and report back to us with your experiences as we take online learning to the next level with WordPress.
To trial the course section of the demo use the username “student” and password “sensei” on WordPress login.
About
I was desparetely waiting for the release, congrats Woo. I’m off to test this brand new LMS 😉
Guys – was a pleasure helping you test this.
I think it’s really important to point out this is very much v1. In the version I tested, I felt there were limitations in what could be added lessons which no doubt extension developers will plug in the coming weeks.
If that’s been changed already – you should definitely point that out.
Looking forward to seeing this evolve.
Best wishes,
Mark
And thanks to you for helping us test! We’re also looking forward to seeing it evolve so keep the feedback coming, that way we can make it better and better!
Hi Mark,
Thanks for your detailed and informative feedback and suggestions during development. We very much appreciate it. 🙂
During the final sprint on Sensei (I believe this would be the version after you tested), Sensei took on many enhancements and code optimisations to take it to the next level in terms of a V1.
Looking forward to seeing how Sensei is used in the wild and receiving feedback from everyone.
Thanks, as always, for your comments and feedback. 🙂
This is a fantastic accomplishment. Congrats! I was just at the SanTan this weekend (wcphx) and it wasn’t the same without you guys!
My liver feels better sans SanTan though. 🙂
Bonus comment Adii =)
Can’t wait to implement this in my tutorial site project.
Best news ever!
I am going to try it today!
Is it possible to change the terminology within the plugin? e.g. could I update ‘lectures’ to ‘lessons’ ?
Hi Sandie,
You sure can! 🙂
The text is translatable, which means it can be customised via a translation file.
If you’d prefer, you could also use the Sensei templating system to customise the text. 🙂
A localisation file should be able to easily take car of that Sandie
Guys, this looks brilliant, congrats.
Thanks, Rob! Much appreciated!
This plugin comes at a perfect time. I have a website project coming up where I need to charge for online courses.
Thanks so much!
This looks great !
Question: what does somebody see when not logged in / hasn’t bought a course ?
Do they see teasers, a sign-up-now message or nothing at all ? In other words, can you set up protected and non-protected content ?
Because the demo only shows the site when logged in.
Thanks
Hi There,
The demo requires a login, as we’d like visitors to the demo to interact with the courses, take the quizzes, etc. 🙂
By default, courses are free and open. They can, however, be restricted to be only available after purchasing the course, via the WooCommerce integration.
Course content is only visible once a course is being taken (either free or paid, you’d click the “take this course” button). Prior to taking a course, the course image, title and excerpt are available in the “Courses” listing. 🙂
Where do I find my Developer Club Subscriber Coupon Code?
Indeed.
Please e-mail us to request those.
Guys, this really rocks! Is exactly what I need it, great job, congratulations to any one involve in it’s development…
I would like to use right away but can’t find my club subscriber discount coupon, Where is it?
Thanks
Very well done, this is a fantastic plugin! In a time and age where online education is becoming more and more sought after, this will open up possibilities to so many institues, individuals and companies! Well done Adii, Matty, et al!
Cool. Looking forward to testing this.
Fantastic! And perfect timing 🙂
I hope you guys enjoy a little break and enjoy your achievement before the feature requests start flooding in… But let me just leave this here:
The ability for enrolled students to upload files (ie: assignments) for evaluation would be great 🙂
Thanks again. This is some good work.
You could definitely do this with Gravity Forms.
Thanks for the kind words 🙂 and for the ideas, I can’t give future plans away just yet, but we will keep that in mind!
Not really responsive I see. I see the theme Definition is responsive, however the plugin does not appear to conform properly to screen resolution changes. Will this change? The ability to offer courses in a responsive format is very attractive to us.
Hi there,
Can you let me know which areas are affected for you? If there is an issues I’d like to let our design team know.
Thanks,
Just go to your demo site and move your browser window in to minimize the width. You’ll see what I mean. Progress bars, etc.
Yes, Sensei does currently have some responsive restrictions, and it will certainly be addressed within the next couple of updates. 🙂
Major congrats to the team.
I’m presently creating a new training course site and would really like to know:
1. Can I create a course with all the course outlines in tabs. Right now I’m using Woo Commerce and I don’t wish to show a product image etc, but may wish to show reviews.
If you view my beta site you’ll see what I mean:
http://www.betasite02.co.uk/product/cipdcertificate-in-human-resource-practice/
You could use this WooCommerce extension to do that:
http://woocommerce.com/products/woocommerce-tab-manager
This plugin is COOL. Congrats!
Super job guys, if this can grow with each release it should be a real gem. Well done
How I can create my own extensions to Sensei, use them, test them and sell them? Is or will be a guide for developers?
Hi there
We are planning to build extensions for Sensei and that means that you could build your own. When we do get to that there will be comprehensive developer documentation, for now though the developer docs are limited to integration with your theme and customization of the templates.
Thanks!
Super job woo team!
I do hope someone is planning on developing a subscription service for generic white label WordPress lessons that I can load into Sensei and provide to my clients when they email me saying thibk like “I have forgotten how to add a features image to their blog posts”
Email me at dalewright dot co uk if you are or would like to partner on developing such a service
Great work everyone!
Try wp101 – always helpful with videos and I have no association with them at all
Hi Dale, I’m not sure on your email address since it’s not listed on your site yet. Can you email me at laura (at) chemistrycommunications.com? I’d like to chat about this. Cheers!
How does this plugin play with Woocommerce Subscriptions + Groups Extension (for membership websites)? Instead of paying for individual lessons, I basically just want people to have access to everything based on membership. Seems like it should work, but just want to make sure before making the plunge. Thanks!
Can you tell me how this would work with user control? RIght now I use WishList Member for purchasing and access control … would this work the same or do I need the WLM plugin in addition to get the same functionality with a nicer backend?
Hi there
Sensei works on the assumption that if any membership plugin uses standard WordPress functions for the membership stuff like registration etc, then it should play nice without a problem. For example, some membership plugins use shortcodes in the WP editor to separate different levels of content, that is still possible in Courses and Lessons because Sensei uses the native WordPress editor, but you can’t have things like different Quiz Questions for different membership levels (yet)
Hope that answers your question!
I just wanted to know if it would replace it … like is woo-comm + sensei a full course plugin where you can go from purchase to purchase confirmation to activation to adding people on the mailing list to upgrading them to other packages, etc. Because that is what WLM is doing, it is acting as the registration component that takes the paypal confirmation, adds them to a course, puts them on the mailing list, and then activates that content for them.
Also, I would be curious to know if this has the ability to have a single user point of login to see all the courses purchased … ?
Documentation? I’m getting lost setting things up and it isn’t operating as I would expect. I understand it’s V1 but some kind of docs would be good since you are charging for the product. Thanks.
Documentation can be found here http://woocommerce.com/support/theme-documentation/sensei/ if you have any issues just pop over to our support centre and simply submit a ticket, we will get you fixed up asap http://support.woothemes.com 🙂
Hello
This $79 is a one time fee or are there recurring charges as well?
Also when I click on DEMO link its asking me for login. Is it possible to show all the courses to guests and allow them to take quiz and then have a popup or something which will inform that if they dont create an account the progress will be lost?
Regards
Hi there
Sensei does allow for not logged in users to view a ‘preview/excerpt’ of a course or lesson if they aren’t logged in, but for the purposes of really showcasing what it can do we’ve made the demo work for a logged in user. Quiz answers need to be saved to a user, so right now saving it to a ‘guest’ user isn’t possible.
Thanks,
Guys, this is pretty steep. WP Courseware has more features and sells for $47. I think I’ll pass on Sensei and save some money. Sorry.
Looks like a great addition, will take a look at the demo.
I’ve been waiting for this since it was announced as being a theme. Whilst being a theme would have meant I get it with my membership, I see why it is much better to have it as a plugin, allowing any theme to be used.
I did notice a couple of problems on the demo, the slide with the video doesn’t play nicely as responsive, part of the right side gets covered up. Also, I was unable to make the same video full screen.
This is definitely something I am seriously considering, as it will allow us to work on something we’ve been discussing (and not doing) for far too long.
Wow guys….this is AWESOME!! I happen to have a new client that can really use this….it’s just perfect. Congrats and keep up the great work.
That is awesome to hear, Maria! Let us know how your experience with Sensei goes!
What if I wanted to include pictures, pdf doc downloads and only audio teaching?
I know there is room for a video link but how can someone us the plugin for an audio teaching course, including notes?
While there aren’t custom fields for downloads, or audio & pictures, you can simply insert photos into a lesson just like you do when writing a post or page.
For PDF downloads you can simply upload those to WordPress via the add media button, and then you can link text to the download or create a button for the download. For example, the shortcodes included in our themes would allow you to create a download button for the PDF.
For audio, check out the many audio plugins that exist for WordPress. That might make managing the audio easier for you. You can again embed audio into a lesson as well, just like uploading and inserting pictures.
ok… thanks Ryan, this is helpful.
Will they be able to view pdf before buying the course? Obviously we don’t want that.
Guys,
This looks great, very fluid and easy to navigate.
I wish you all the very best with this and hope i have a need to use it shortly 😀
Freddie.
Thanks for the kind words Freddie! When you do use it on a project submit it to the showcase so we can show it off 😉
Is this a WOOTHEME plugin only? or can we use it on a nonWT theme.. also, is it multisite compatible? Can we add the lessons to every site in a network?
It’ll work in any theme, WooTheme or not. 🙂
It works on a single site, but that doesn’t matter if it’s a normal WordPress install or a WPMS install.
If I am correct, what it seems like you are after is adding a lesson one time and having it go to all sites using Sensei? Or at least, something similar?
That isn’t possible as each site would run on it’s own data, even when using Sensei. So that data would have to be exported from the original site and imported on each subsequent site.
Elaborating on that concept. I could see an integration with multisite in this scenario:
You have a teaching site with multiple teachers. You want to offer different course for each teacher in their own respective subsites of the main site.
I don’t even know if woocommerce has the capability to manage something like this, but it could also be valuable for user management. You could have one user account to switch between sub-sites.
Is that possible? Would each teacher be able to setup their own courses, and lessons? Would they be able to have their own woocommerce sandbox on the subsite? Or would it all funnel into one parent site store?
I’d love to think of this in that realm as I think it would open a lot of opportunities for entrepreneurial developers. 😉
Hi there
That kind of multisite scenario isn’t supported out of the box, but…I can see no reason why an extension couldn’t be developed to handle that 🙂
Add your idea’s here – http://ideas.woocommerce.com/forums/191508-sensei – so it can potentially make it into core!
awesome!
…and please please make Woocommerce fully compatible with a multisite install…its so close already!
rock on.
Does it handle self-hosted webinars (video and audio) – mainly interested if the plugin can, for instance, handle paid-video content/lessons with HTML5 and fallback (responsive)?
Thx
The video field should support a file hosted anywhere as long as you can get an embed code for it! 🙂
I read that as a no!? Would you / could you clarify Ryan?
Isn’t the essensce of embedding off site hosting? How would I get an embed code for a video uploaded directly onto server or via Dashboard.
And what about responsiveness on selfhosted. I read that as a no as well?
This is pretty important stuff for people that want to have protected (walled) paid content. I’m pretty sure we agree on the latter part: that it’s important. So how does the plugin deal with it..?
Thx
WP doesn’t support self hosted videos by standard, so you’ll need a plugin to add that functionality. It should then also work with this plugin.
http://wordpress.org/extend/plugins/search.php?q=video&sort=
May this hopefully be the end of the Blackboard course system that I grew to loathe in College!
I had to use Moodle, but any WordPress solution would be a giant breath of fresh air! 😛
Congrats! Very good job!
The need of a good, extendable and stable LMS system are high. This comes in hand.
Great to see this at last! Thank you. I’m looking forward to using it.
Finally! So exciting!
Does anyone know if it includes a discussion forum for students?
And will it work with third-party membership plugins?
Thanks! 🙂
It doesn’t, but you can easily incorporate a forum into WP. Works with S2 from what I’ve tested.
Hi there
It uses comments on individual lessons as a basic form of interaction, however you could easily use one of the existing WP forum plugins to handle discussion forums.
Yes it will work with third party membership plugins, as long as they follow WP standards and don’t have their ‘own way’ of handling user data and permissions.
Thanks,
Its So Cool Plugin, Fantastic work i like it…
Its so useful to all coaching classics to develop their business…..
Grabbed my copy within 5 minutes of receiving the email. Works fine with S2Member so far.
Would be GREAT to be able to click user in analysis section to see individual lesson scores and progress. An average score is one thing, but not much help if different quizzes have different weights.
Also would be AWESOME to have a notification feature when a user finishes. Example – 8 sessions with the final session being completion of the program. Email goes out to admin designated email address that user xyz has completed the training course.
These are some fantastic ideas! Be sure to add any more to the Sensei ideas site here: http://ideas.woocommerce.com/forums/191508-sensei
Really pleased that it works well with S2Member, let us know if you have tested it with any of the other membership plugins.
Thanks,
I work in academia teaching economics, however, needed a WordPress LMS for a personal project. In September of last year I purchased a plugin called WP Courseware which this seems to be modeled after. Did you take over WP Courseware from the previous company? If so, should I contact Woo Themes for support going forward?
Hi Robert
WP Courseware is owned by a separate company, we’ve modelled our plugin after the requirements of online learning systems in general. You’d have to contact the developers of that plugin for support.
Thanks,
You’re telling me that this isn’t WP Courseware? I’m a little shocked that you’re basing your releases from other existing products without adding anything new or valuable. For a company of your size and stature, this seems unacceptable.
I’m sure you’re shocked when walking into a tyre shop only to find out every brand in there had the audacity to also make their tyres round and out of rubber.
…says the guy who charges clients for websites he “designs” but creates with themes others thought up.
Yes, where are the hologram teachers and sorority girls. 😛
We have studied both of those plugins and the other that was released this week. On the surface they all seem the same. Course, lessons, exams etc. However, if you look close those little differences will have a huge impact in the future. Each has it’s own way of organizing and tracking content.
Each has different strengths. I honestly don’t know which is best for us, but I do know they are very different.
BTW: Sometimes less is more.
They did something similiar with woocommerce which was forked from jigoshop and then called it their own, without any acknowlegment of the work already done. That’s why I’ve moved to Catalyst.
Would be helpful to put information on how to do video courses – specifically where to store the videos so that they would be private unless paid for. Very interested in this plug-in as I was going to start doing some online courses this year!
I would highly recommend using a service like Wistia, Vimeo Plus or Pro, and compare their features. I do think all those services offer the ability to only show videos on allowed domains, not allow anyone else to embed them, etc…
With that, you can easily then embed the videos in a lesson and then charge for access to that lesson where they can then watch the video.
yes… that is what we’ve been using for years, Vimeo Plus, it works perfect to sell protected videos online.
In our case:
Woocommerce + Groups + Groups for Woocommerce + Vimeo Plus.
It works like a charm 🙂
Thank you, Ryan. I’m looking to start an online training store this year, so this is really helpful.
May I add that I’m so impressed with your new look and all the products you now have. I’m a woo customer that has wandered off, but now I’m wandering back!
I would choose Vimeo. Not only do you have the domain limits Ryan mentioned you can also use passwords. But, I think the most useful feature of Vimeo is you can swap out video files. This allows you to change/update the content without changing the link or embed code.
Hey
Is there anyway we can categorize COURSES in Sensei? I just couldnt see this in the video..
I plan to add courses of different kind of topics so I will need categorization of courses for easier navigation.
Also I want to ask if this $79 price will be aone time fee or will there be recurring fee to get updates? I expect additional plugins to be free or paid depending on complexity but I want to clarify the recurring fee for main software
Regards
There is currently no way to categorise your courses – you can post an idea our ideas board where we keep track of popular requests: http://ideas.woocommerce.com/forums/191508-sensei
The $79 price tag (which will go up ro $99 after the launch promotion) is a once-off fee.
Please let us know if this plugin works with wishlist member. that would be awesome!
I have this question, too. Has anyone used Sensei with Wishlist?
What are “Courses” and “Lessons” considered – categories, pages, posts?
Both ‘Courses’ and ‘Lessons’ are post types, so they function like WordPress posts in terms of how they are managed.
Hugh, if courses and lessons function like WordPress posts, why do you state “There is currently no way to categorise your courses”. Would you explain? Thanks – looking forward to it.
A post in WordPress, which is a post type itself, has a taxonomy called categories, thus we’d need to add that ability to our custom post types.
The Lessons or Courses post types would need the ability to have taxonomies. Which I assume is planned for future updates to Sensei.
Please, one of our smarter devs correct me if I’m wrong. 😉
In order to follow a lesson, is it possible to do just that without being a registered student? In other words, can lessons be made available to anonymous visitors?
Yes… it’s possible.
This looks like a great start guys but long way to go to replace the LMS products out there. We looked into fixing a custom WP plugin that had very badly interfaced with moodle and looked into other WP options and found out about the development of this.