Create variables in Content Designer

In Content Designer, each rating element can be linked to a variable. This allows you to track and analyze student interactions systematically and compare data across activities and courses.

You can create variables by going to Site administration > Grades > Variables and clicking Create variable.

Create variables

When creating a variable, you define several properties to ensure clarity and usability in reports and analytics.

• Full name

  The full name is a label that describes the variable’s purpose, helping educators understand its meaning in reports.
  ​Example: If tracking engagement, the full name could be Learning Experience.

• Short name

  The short name is a unique, concise identifier for the variable. It must be distinct and is used internally and in reports for simpler referencing.
  ​Example: If the full name is Learning Experience, the short name could be LX.

  This field is mandatory.

• Description

  The description explains what the variable measures and its purpose, which helps others understand its role in reporting and analysis.

• Type

  The type defines how the variable is categorized and used:

  • Not specified – For general-purpose variables.

  • Course role – Links the variable to a specific role in the course (e.g. Student, Teacher) using the roles available in the course.

  • Custom category 1–10 – Allows custom classification. These category names can be adjusted via language customization.

  This field is mandatory.

• Course categories

  Here you select which course categories the variable applies to. This restricts its use to specific categories if needed.

• Status

  The status determines if the variable is currently active:

  • Active – Available for selection in elements and included in reports.

  • Archived – No longer available for new elements but remains in existing ones and in reports. You can restore or delete archived variables when managing variables.

  This field is mandatory.