Activity Sequences

What Activity Sequences Are

An activity sequence is a multi-step learning path where students work through a series of activities in a defined order. Think of it as a playlist of learning experiences: read an explanation, answer some questions, write some code, solve a Parsons problem, then reflect. Each step can be a different content type, and you control whether students must complete one step before moving to the next.

Fifteen Step Types

Activity sequences support a wide variety of step types, letting you mix and match to create the learning experience you want:

Reading passages, embedded videos, multiple-choice questions, open-ended prompts, code exercises, worked examples, Parsons problems, fill-in-the-blank code, matching exercises, rating scales, numeric entry, line-select (find the bug), matrix grids, ranking tasks, and reflection prompts.

This flexibility means you can build everything from a simple "read then quiz" sequence to an elaborate scaffolded lab that walks students through a concept from first principles to independent application.

Three Gate Types

Gates control whether students can skip ahead or must work through steps in order:

• None — All steps are unlocked from the start. Students can complete them in any order. Use this for review activities or optional practice where enforcing order does not matter.
• Completion — A step unlocks only after the previous step is submitted. Students must attempt each step but are not required to get it right. This is good for guided tutorials where you want students to engage with each step without the pressure of correctness.
• Mastery — A step unlocks only after the previous step is completed correctly (or marked Satisfactory). This is the strictest mode, appropriate for prerequisite chains where understanding step N is genuinely necessary before attempting step N+1.

Backtracking

The allow_backtrack option controls whether students can return to earlier steps after completing them. With backtracking enabled, students can review and revise their earlier work. With it disabled, each step is locked once submitted — useful for assessment sequences where you do not want students to change answers after seeing later questions.

When to Use Activity Sequences

Sequences are most valuable when the learning goal involves building understanding incrementally. A standalone quiz tests knowledge; a sequence builds it. Use sequences for lab exercises, scaffolded problem sets, concept introductions that move from examples to practice, and any situation where the order of activities matters pedagogically.

Keep sequences to a reasonable length — five to ten steps is usually the sweet spot. Longer sequences can feel like a slog, and students lose motivation if they cannot see the end.