How do I update a running cohort without breaking it?

Open the cohort from your work area, go to the Materials tab and click a milestone. You can rename it, add or edit tasks, and attach materials for this cohort only. The editor keeps the scope in front of you: Save for all 26 students.

Will changes to this cohort affect future cohorts?

No. Nothing on the Materials tab changes the programme journey. If a change should also reach future cohorts, add it to the journey too, or use Save this cohort as the programme journey.

A student joins after my change. Do they get it?

No. A student taken on later is seeded from the journey, not from this cohort's modified state. Add the change to the journey as well if it should apply to them.

How do I upload course materials without emailing everyone?

Attach with the paperclip (upload, pick from your files, link, or SharePoint). The attachment goes live quietly; you are then asked Tell 26 students this is live? and can choose Attach only to keep setting up without notifying anyone.

Updating a live group safely — Pacten Guides

2026-09-24

Your workspace may call a group a Cohort, a Class, or a Trip — same features, your sector's words. Quoted buttons below are shown as a cohort-based workspace renders them.

Where: open the group from your work area → Materials tab → click a milestone to open its editor.

What you can change

Rename a milestone — the pencil next to its name ("Rename for the whole cohort"). The journey keeps its own name.
Add a task — the "Add task" button. Choose its type (Resource, Submission, or Checkpoint), write the instructions participants see, and decide whether it's visible on their hub.
Edit or remove a task — pencil and ✕ on each task row.
Attach materials — the paperclip: upload a file, pick from your files, link, or SharePoint.

Knowing who's affected

The scope is kept in front of you throughout. The editor header shows "COHORT · all 26 students"; save buttons say it outright — "Add for all 26 students", "Save for all 26 students". Editing an existing task asks you to confirm first: "Change this for all 26 students? …will be rewritten on every student's copy, including anyone who has already opened or completed it." And when you attach material, the attachment itself goes live quietly — the confirmation guards the email: "Tell 26 students this is live?" with a "Send the email" or "Attach only" choice, so you can keep setting things up without notifying anyone yet.

Nothing you do here changes the programme journey — future groups are unaffected. The editor's footer restates this on every visit.

Two timing rules worth knowing

Additions reach the people in the group today. A participant who joins after your change is seeded from the journey, not from this group's modified state — so if a new task should also apply to future joiners, add it to the journey too (or use Save as programme journey when the group's structure should become the new blueprint).
When the journey has moved ahead of this group, a banner appears at the top of Materials: "The programme journey has changed since this cohort started." Press "Review changes" to see exactly what would be added — it only ever adds: nothing is removed, no dates move, and anything changed just for this group stays as it is. You confirm with the preview ("See exactly what changes") before applying to everyone.

Related guides

Frequently asked questions

How do I update a running cohort without breaking it?: Open the cohort from your work area, go to the Materials tab and click a milestone. You can rename it, add or edit tasks, and attach materials for this cohort only. The editor keeps the scope in front of you: Save for all 26 students.
Will changes to this cohort affect future cohorts?: No. Nothing on the Materials tab changes the programme journey. If a change should also reach future cohorts, add it to the journey too, or use Save this cohort as the programme journey.
A student joins after my change. Do they get it?: No. A student taken on later is seeded from the journey, not from this cohort's modified state. Add the change to the journey as well if it should apply to them.
How do I upload course materials without emailing everyone?: Attach with the paperclip (upload, pick from your files, link, or SharePoint). The attachment goes live quietly; you are then asked Tell 26 students this is live? and can choose Attach only to keep setting up without notifying anyone.