FAQ: What Happens If I Take a Course Without Being Assigned?
What Empath tracks and blocks when a member opens a course they are not assigned to, and how to get that course counted.
If you are not assigned a course, Empath does not record your progress and does not score your knowledge checks. That is true whatever your company's settings are. The settings only change how easily you can get assigned.
What you see depends on one setting
Your admin controls this under Admin > Account Settings > Learner Controls. The setting is Allow self-assignment, and it is off by default.
Self-assignment off: you must request assignment
When you open a course you are not assigned to, Empath shows a "You're not assigned" message. It says you cannot access knowledge checks and your progress will not be tracked.
If you select Ok, I understand, some content still lets you view it. You are blocked at knowledge checks, which show "You're not assigned. Only users assigned to this course can take the quiz." Nothing you watch is saved, and it does not appear on your report card or dashboard.
To get assigned, select Request Access, then Request assignment. To choose who receives the request, select the edit icon, pick one or more managers, and select Send Request. Only the managers you select are notified. When one approves, refresh the page. Progress and knowledge checks track from then on. See How Do I Request Access to a Course in Empath?
A manager can also assign content to you at any time without a request.
Self-assignment on: assign it yourself
You do not need approval. You see a button that reads Get Started, Start Learning, or Assign Course. Select it and the content is assigned to you. Your progress reports as self-enrolled.
Some content opens right away. When it does, Empath still shows the assignment message warning that unassigned content will not track. Assign it to yourself from there. If you skip it, nothing is tracked or scored.
Exceptions
Some SCORM content has its own rules built into the package, and it must be assigned before you can use it. A manager assigns it under the default settings. If self-assignment is allowed, you can assign it to yourself. Empath cannot change how that content works. It is most often HR-style mandated training.
Viewing before you were assigned
Do not count on anything you watched before assignment being recorded. It may occasionally appear, but Empath does not support it.
Why you might not see the content at all
If Hide unassigned content is on in Learner Controls, members see only content assigned to them. Self-assignment only helps when this setting is off, because members cannot find unassigned content to add.
For how assignment and progress tracking work in full, see How Does Assignment and Progress Tracking Work? For the manager's side of a request, see Where Do I See Course or Pathway Assignment Requests from Employees?
Support
If someone in your organization can access Empath, use the in-app chat bubble. If you cannot access Empath at all, email support@empathmsp.com.
Include your email, the course name, what you expected, what you saw, and a screenshot or recording.