Now that we’ve nailed down our mindset and goals, we're ready to start creating! But before you design anything, you'll need to understand the architectural structure of a Gnowbe program.
The Hierarchy of Content: Your Building Blocks
In Gnowbe, content is organized into a very specific, mobile-friendly hierarchy. Let's look at the three main building blocks you will be working with: Programs, Sessions, and Actions.
1. Programs (The Book)
The Program is the overarching container for the entire learning experience. When a learner opens Gnowbe, they select a Program card to begin their journey.
What it includes: The title, cover image, overall description, and all the structured content within.
Example: "The Ultimate Guide to Customer Service" or "New Hire Onboarding 2026."
2. Sessions (The Chapters)
If the Program is the book, Sessions are the individual Chapters. A Session is a focused micro-lesson designed to be completed in one sitting—typically taking 10–15 minutes.
What it includes: A cohesive set of actions tackling one specific sub-topic or theme.
Example: "How to Handle an Angry Customer" or "Setting Up Your Company Email."
3. Actions (The Paragraphs & Interactions)
Actions are the individual interactive elements that make up a session. Every time a learner advances to the next screen—whether to watch a video, answer a quiz, or share a reflection—they are engaging with a new Action.
What it includes: Actions can be passive (reading text, watching a video) or active (answering a quiz, uploading a photo, or sharing a reflection).
Example: A 1-minute welcome video (Action 1), followed by a key tip (Action 2), and ending with a quick knowledge check (Action 3).
Aligning Goals with Program Structure
In Article 2, we talked about setting clear, measurable goals. Now, let's look at how to map those goals directly onto Gnowbe's structure to bring your program to life.
A great rule of thumb is to let your primary goal dictate the Program, dedicate each Session to one specific learning objective, and use the Actions to build out the interactive teaching moments.
Example Scenario
The Program: A Barista Onboarding Program ☕️
Primary goal: Get new hires comfortable with the espresso machine.
-
Session 1
Objective: Identify the parts of the machine- Action 1: A 60-second video explaining the grinder and steam wand.
- Action 2: A quick image gallery showing close-ups of the group head, drip tray, and portafilter.
-
Action 3: An MCQ quiz asking the learner to correctly identify the portafilter from a visual lineup.
-
Session 2
Objective: Pull the perfect shot of espresso- Action 1: A short video demonstrating the tampering process.
- Action 2: A text action highlighting common mistakes to avoid.
- Action 3: An activity asking the learner to take a photo of their tamped espresso grounds and share it on the Group Board.
By understanding this simple anatomy—Programs holding Sessions, and Sessions built out of Actions—you now have the blueprint to build incredibly organized, effective microlearning!
👉 4: Your Gnowbe Creator Environment Explained