In your platform, timezone displays to administrators and learners in various places. This article will help you understand how and where timezone displays.
Use Case Information
For admins, the ability to configure timezone settings ensures that all scheduled tasks, such as course releases, due dates, and events, are accurately aligned with the way you want times to display. This eliminates confusion and reduces the risk of errors associated with time-sensitive operations, ultimately leading to smoother platform management.
On the learners' side, having content displayed in their local timezone fosters a more intuitive and personalized learning experience. Learners can see assignment deadlines, live session timings, and new content releases adjusted to their local time, which helps them manage their schedules more effectively.
Where Times Display for Learners
There are several areas within the platform where learners are impacted by and can view timezones:
-
Catalog - Calendar view
-
Detail Page - Meeting Tabs
-
Detail Page - Purchase/Enrollment widget
-
Learner Dashboard: Learner Access widget - Event tab
- Meeting page in a course (when pre-post is enabled)
-
Assignment Due Dates in a course
How to Set Default Platform Timezone
Setting a default platform timezone makes sure there is a fallback if you do not want dates and times to adjust to local timezones or event timezones. This should be something you check before launching your site. Below are the steps to set the default timezone for your platform:
- From your homepage, select Settings > Setup.
- In the left menu, select Primary Site Settings.
- From the Timezone dropdown menu, select the timezone to set universally.
- Click Save.
Note
In the event management interface for admin, the calendar view for all ILT and VILT meetings are displayed in the user's local time. It does not matter if the toggle Automatically change Dates & Times to local timezone? is enabled or disabled.
Auto Local Timezone
Enabling this feature overrides your default platform timezone and displays times in a user's local timezone. To make sure learners and admin see content details in their local time zones, follow these steps:
- From your homepage, select Settings > Setup.
- In the left menu, select Primary Site Settings.
- In the Timezone field, enable the Automatically change Dates & Times to local timezone? toggle.
- Once the option is enabled, users will see content in their local timezone, instead of the platform's set timezone, wherever dates & times are present.
- Click Save.
Note
Timezones are determined by the user's geolocation.
Timezone for ILTs
Of course you want to ensure that learners attend your events on time, so let's make sure the timezone is clearly communicated to all attendees.
How Timezone Displays for Learners:
ILTs have another level to them, which is Location Timezones. We've added a column to explain what your learner's will see if you choose to set Location Timezone.
Auto Local Timezone Status | Location Timezone Status | Result |
---|---|---|
If the Automatically change Dates & Times to local timezone toggle is disabled ❌ | Location Timezone Blank | The event displays the platform timezone. |
If the Automatically change Dates & Times to local timezone toggle is disabled ❌ | Location Timezone ON | The event displays in the meeting location's timezone. |
If the Automatically change Dates & Times to local timezone toggle is enabled ✅ | Location Timezone Blank | The event displays times in the user's local time. |
If the Automatically change Dates & Times to local timezone toggle is enabled ✅ | Local Timezone ON | The event displays time in the user's local time. |
Updating Timezone for ILTs in Manager Interface:
- From your homepage, select Events > All Events.
- Using the content creation flow, follow the prompts to begin building your In Person event.
- Once you name your event and select your date and time, click Save.
- In the Event step, click Edit.
- Either add a new location or select a location saved in the Location dropdown menu.
- Click Edit Location.
- Scroll down to the Timezone field and select your desired timezone from the dropdown menu.
- Location timezone overrides school timezone in both the meetings tab and the purchase widget. The setting Automatically change Dates & Times to local timezone overrides both school and location timezone.
Note
When editing the location timezone, the hours will not adjust for you. Always be sure to check the hours of your meeting if you are adjusting timezones.
- Location timezone overrides school timezone in both the meetings tab and the purchase widget. The setting Automatically change Dates & Times to local timezone overrides both school and location timezone.
- Click Save.
Timezone for Webinars
Effectively managing time zones is crucial for scheduling webinars, so let's get you the tools you need to navigate this process seamlessly.
How Timezone Displays for Learners:
VILTs have another level to them, which is Timezones that can be set at the events level. We've added a column to explain what your learner's will see if you choose to set Timezone at the events level.
Auto Local Timezone Status | Event Timezone Status | Result |
---|---|---|
If the Automatically change Dates & Times to local timezone toggle is disabled ❌ | Event Timezone Blank | The event displays times in the platform timezone. |
If the Automatically change Dates & Times to local timezone toggle is disabled ❌ | Event Timezone ON | The event displays times in the VILT's selected timezone. |
if the Automatically change Dates & Times to local timezone toggle is enabled ✅ | Event Timezone Blank | The event displays times in the user's local time. |
if the Automatically change Dates & Times to local timezone toggle is enabled ✅ | Event Timezone ON | The event displays times in the user's local time. |
Updating Timezone for Webinars in Manager Interface:
- From your homepage, select Events > All Events.
- Using the content creation flow, follow the prompts to begin building your VILT event.
- Once you name your event and select your date and time, click Save.
- In the Event step, click Modify Dates and select the timezone for this event.
- In the Timezone field, select your desired timezone from the dropdown menu.
- Click Save.
Timezone for Assignments
You can set specific due dates and times for learners to submit their assignments.
Tip
For more information on how to create an Assignment page in your course, see this article.
How Timezone Displays for Learners:
Auto Local Timezone Status | Result |
---|---|
If the Automatically change Dates & Times to local timezone toggle is disabled ❌ | The assignment due time displays in the platform timezone. |
if the Automatically change Dates & Times to local timezone toggle is enabled ✅ | The assignment due time displays times in the user's local time. |
Updating Timezone for Assignments in Manager Interface:
- From your homepage, select Courses > All Courses.
- Click on the title of the course you wish to alter.
- On the Assignment page in your course, enable the toggle Assignment has a due date?.
- Click on the date picker field to enable the calendar.
- After selecting your due date, you can also choose the specific time by which the assignment needs to be submitted.
- Click Save.