Submit cards transform passive learning into active practice by prompting learners to provide tangible evidence of skill application. Instead of just knowing what to do, learners demonstrate they've actually done it—whether that's recording a practice pitch, photographing a completed checklist, or submitting proof of a real-world task. This article explains how to configure Submit cards, what learners experience, and how to use submission data to measure genuine behavior change.
Table of Contents
What Are Submit Cards and Why They Matter
Purpose and Philosophy
Submit cards are a very powerful tool for performance activation, they create accountability moments where learners must apply what they've learned in real-world contexts. While other card types check understanding or present information, Submit cards specifically drive behavior change by requiring learners to take action and provide evidence.
Submit cards support two submission types:
Image submissions – Learners take photos or upload images from their device
Audio submissions – Learners record themselves or upload pre-recorded audio files
Why Submit Cards Drive Results
Traditional training often stops at knowledge transfer. Submit cards ensure learners actually do the thing:
Sales teams record practice pitches and objection handling
Retail staff photograph visual merchandising displays they've created
Healthcare workers submit photos of properly completed safety checklists
Service teams record customer interaction role-plays
Field technicians photograph completed equipment setup
According to 7taps clients, this approach makes employees feel 42% more confident when it's time to perform—because they've already practiced in a low-stakes environment.
What Makes Submit Cards Different
Submit cards create a commitment device. Learners can't just click through, they must pause, complete a real task, and provide proof. This:
Increases retention through active practice
Builds confidence before high-stakes situations
Provides you with concrete evidence of skill application
Identifies who needs additional support
Creating a Submit Card: Configuration Options
Basic Setup
To add a Submit card to your course:
Choose the Submit card from the card menu on the right side
Select whether you want Image or Audio submissions
Enter your prompt text
Writing Effective Prompts
Your prompt should:
Explain exactly what to submit (not just "submit a photo")
Connect to the learning objective from the preceding cards
Set clear quality expectations when relevant
Examples of effective prompts:
✅ Good: "Record yourself delivering your elevator pitch using the 3-point framework from the previous card. Aim for 60-90 seconds."
❌ Weak: "Record your pitch."
✅ Good: "Take a photo of your completed pre-shift safety checklist. Make sure all items are visible and checked off."
❌ Weak: "Submit a photo of your checklist."
Image vs. Audio: Choosing the Right Format
Use Image Submissions When | Use Audio Submissions When |
Visual proof of completion is needed | Verbal communication skills are being practiced |
Physical setup or arrangement matters | Tone, pace, or delivery needs assessment |
Documenting written work or checklists | Recording explanations or reasoning |
Capturing environmental context | Practicing scripts or presentations |
Showing before/after states | Demonstrating active listening responses |
The "Required to Proceed" Setting
When you click the Settings gear icon on a Submit card, you'll see a toggle for "Required to proceed":
Toggle ON: Learners must submit a file before they can advance to the next card
Toggle OFF (default): Learners can skip the submission and continue through the course
When to require submission: High-stakes skill practice, courses where application is the entire point, when you need 100% participation data.
When to make it optional: Exploratory courses, when submission barriers might be high, when you want to gauge voluntary engagement.
The Learner Experience: What Happens When They Submit
Learners can re-answer Submit cards freely — no reset required. The most recent submission is what gets recorded.
What Learners See
When a learner encounters a Submit card:
They see your custom prompt explaining what to submit
Below the prompt, they see a submission interface with either a 📷 "Upload a photo" button (image cards) or 🎤 "Record or upload audio" options (audio cards)
Image Submission Flow
Grant camera/photo permissions (if not already granted)
Take a new photo or select from existing images
Preview the image before submitting
Submit
Audio Submission Flow
Learners see two options: "Select from device" (upload a pre-recorded file) or "Record audio" (record directly in 7taps, max 3 minutes).
What Learners Can't Do
Learners cannot see others' submissions
Submissions are not accessible to learners after the course — only course creators can view them in analytics
Technical Specifications and Limits
Image Submission Limits
Maximum file size: 10 MB per image
Supported formats: JPG, PNG, HEIC
Number of images: One image per Submit card
Audio Submission Limits
Maximum recording length: 3 minutes
Maximum file size: Under 25 MB for pre-recorded files
Supported formats: MP3, M4A, WAV, and most standard audio formats
Number of recordings: One audio file per Submit card
Storage and Retention
Submissions are stored indefinitely as long as the card and course exists
Deleting a Submit card permanently deletes all submissions for that card
Deleting a course deletes all associated submissions
Viewing and Analyzing Submissions
Where to Find Submissions
All learner submissions appear in your course analytics:
Open the course containing Submit cards
Navigate to the Analytics tab
Find the Submit card section
View all submissions organized by learner and timestamp
What You Can See
For each submission, you can view:
Learner name or ID (if tracking is enabled)
The actual submission (image or audio playback)
Context from the rest of their course completion (quiz scores, other responses)
Date submitted — included in CSV and PDF exports
Audio submissions are automatically transcribed. When a learner submits an audio response, the transcript appears directly in course analytics alongside the recording — no manual work needed. If no speech is detected or transcription fails, analytics shows a clear status rather than leaving the entry blank.
All transcripts export to CSV alongside the learner name and submission date. That makes it straightforward to read through responses at scale, share with managers, or bring into your own analytics and AI tools for deeper analysis — without listening to every recording individually.
Using Submission Data for Coaching
Submit cards create coaching opportunities that weren't possible before. Review recorded pitches to spot who's using the new framework vs. reverting to old habits. Review submitted photos to verify compliance across locations. Schedule regular submission review sessions and share anonymized insights in team meetings.
Strategic Use Cases for Submit Cards
Sales Enablement: Practice Before Performance
Course teaches a framework → Submit card prompts: "Record yourself delivering the positioning statement using the framework. Target 90 seconds." → Review to identify who's ready and who needs coaching before customer-facing situations.
Retail: Visual Merchandising Verification
Course shows proper display setup → Submit card prompts: "Photograph your completed display." → Review photos to verify compliance and identify locations needing correction.
Customer Support: Soft Skills Practice
Course teaches empathy phrases → Submit card prompts: "Record yourself responding to this customer scenario using at least 2 empathy phrases from the lesson." → Review tone, pace, and phrase usage.
Leadership Development: Feedback Practice
Course teaches the SBI model → Submit card prompts: "Record yourself delivering feedback using the SBI model. Keep it under 90 seconds." → Managers self-assess before real conversations.
Best Practices for Maximum Impact
1. Set Context Before the Submit Card
Explain upfront that practice is coming. Teach the skill first. Use a Rate card before and after to measure confidence shift.
2. Make Prompts Specific and Action-Oriented
❌ "Submit something related to today's topic." ✅ "Record yourself role-playing a customer objection response using the 'Acknowledge-Reframe-Evidence' technique from card 3."
3. Lower the Stakes for First-Time Users
Start with optional submissions. Use low-pressure scenarios. Provide examples of good submissions when possible.
4. Close the Loop: Follow Up on Submissions
Review a sample weekly. Share anonymized insights in team meetings. Send individual coaching messages to people who need support.
5. Combine Submit Cards with Learning Paths
Use Submit cards across multiple courses in a Learning Path to capture practice at different points in time — e.g., handling Objection A at week 2, Objection B at week 3.
6. Respect Privacy and Psychological Safety
Tell learners who will see submissions (only course creators) and how they'll be used (coaching, not evaluation). Never publicly criticize submissions.
Common Questions About Submit Cards
Q: Can learners re-answer a Submit card?
Yes — no reset needed. Learners can re-answer as many times as they like. The most recent submission is what gets recorded.
Q: Can I see who skipped a Submit card?
Yes, in analytics — you'll see who submitted, who viewed but didn't submit, and who didn't reach the card.
Q: What if a learner doesn't have a camera or microphone?
For images: upload an existing photo. For audio: upload a pre-recorded file from another device. If "Required to proceed" is ON and they can't submit, they'll be stuck — consider this when deciding whether to require submissions.
Q: Can I set a minimum or maximum duration for audio recordings?
Not currently. The 3-minute maximum is enforced by the platform. Guide learners in your prompt: "Keep your response between 60-90 seconds."
Q: Do submissions count toward course completion?
Yes, if "Required to proceed" is ON. If OFF, learners can complete without submitting — analytics will show who skipped.
Q: Can learners see each other's submissions?
No. Submissions are only visible to course creators in analytics.
Q: What happens to submissions if I delete the course?
All submissions are permanently deleted. Download submission data before deleting.
Q: Can I download all submissions at once?
Yes — in the course responses tab you can download a single zip file with all submissions.
Q: Why can't learners submit video?
Video files create upload delays and storage issues across devices. Audio captures most of the value without the overhead. If video is essential, ask learners to upload to a shared drive and submit a link via a Form card.
Getting Help
Click the Help button in your 7taps dashboard or email support@7taps.com