Lesson types, content formats, and free previews

Overview

Lessons are where learning actually happens. StretchCode gives you control over three things per lesson: its type, its content format, and whether it's a free preview. Used well, these turn a flat list of pages into a varied, discoverable course.

The four lesson types

Each lesson is labeled as one of four types. The type is metadata that sets learner expectations and lets you mix formats within a module:

• Lesson — the default. General instructional content.
• Video — a lesson centered on a video. Embed your player in the body and use this type so learners know what to expect.
• Exercise — a hands-on task or assignment. Use it for practice steps, worksheets, or "try it yourself" prompts.
• Reading — reference material or supplementary reading.

Mixing types keeps a module engaging — for example, a reading to set context, two lessons to teach, and an exercise to apply the skill.

Content format: Markdown vs HTML

Every lesson body is stored in one of two formats:

• Markdown (recommended) — write headings, lists, links, bold/italic, code blocks, and blockquotes using simple syntax. It renders cleanly and consistently, and it's the easiest format to maintain.
• HTML — use when you need custom markup the Markdown renderer doesn't cover, such as embedded players, tables with specific structure, or bespoke layouts.

Choose the format that matches your body. If you paste HTML into a Markdown lesson (or vice versa) it will render incorrectly, so set the format to match what you wrote.

Markdown quick reference

1. Use ## and ### for section headings within a lesson.
2. Use - or 1. for bulleted and numbered lists.
3. Use fenced code blocks (triple backticks) for code samples.
4. Use > for callouts and tips.

Estimated duration

Set an estimated minutes value per lesson. StretchCode uses it to show learners how long a lesson takes and to sum a realistic total for the course. Keep estimates honest — inflated times frustrate learners, and understated ones erode trust.

Free previews and conversion

A lesson marked free preview is readable by anyone, including anonymous visitors who haven't signed in or enrolled. Every other (non-preview) lesson stays locked to enrolled learners.

This is your primary conversion mechanism for public courses:

1. Pick your single most compelling lesson — usually the first, or a high-value "aha" lesson.
2. Mark it free preview.
3. On the course page and lesson player, prospects see the preview content plus an Enroll call to action; the rest of the outline is visibly locked.

When someone who isn't enrolled opens a non-preview lesson, StretchCode returns a locked response (they're prompted to enroll) rather than showing the content.

A realistic example

In Photography Basics, lesson 1 ("How your camera sees light", a reading, free preview) is open to everyone. Lessons 2–10 are locked. A visitor reads lesson 1, hits the enroll prompt at the bottom, signs in, and enrolls — now the full outline unlocks and their progress starts tracking.

Tips

• One strong free preview usually converts better than several weak ones — quality over quantity.
• Use the exercise type deliberately; courses that ask learners to do something complete at higher rates.
• Keep video lessons short and pair each with a brief text summary so learners can skim later.
• Match content format to your body exactly to avoid broken rendering.

FAQ

Can anonymous visitors take the quiz or track progress? No. Previews are read-only for non-enrolled visitors. Enrolling (which requires an account) unlocks progress tracking, quizzes, and certificates.

Does a free-preview lesson count toward completion? Completion is measured across all published lessons for enrolled learners. Preview status only controls who can read a lesson; it doesn't change how completion is calculated once someone enrolls.