> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://learn.playlab.ai/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Curating a great Collection

> Best practices for picking apps, naming, describing, and structuring a Collection that recipients will actually use.

A Collection is only as useful as the curation behind it. The patterns below come from how partners ship Collections to district networks and how educators bundle resources for colleagues.

## Pick a clear purpose

Every Collection should answer one question for the recipient: *what is this for?*

The strongest Collections have a tight, specific scope:

* "Onboarding apps for new Algebra 1 teachers"
* "Writing tools aligned to ELA grade 6 standards"
* "Classroom tools for the spring AI literacy unit"

Avoid catch-all Collections. A bundle named "Useful apps" tells recipients nothing about when to use it. A bundle named "Apps for the first week of school" gives them a job to do.

## Aim for 5 to 12 apps

The sweet spot for most Collections is 5 to 12 apps. Smaller bundles can feel thin; larger ones overwhelm. If you have more than 15, ask whether you really have one Collection or several.

A few exceptions:

* **Onboarding bundles** can be smaller (3 to 5 apps) to keep the entry point simple
* **Curriculum bundles** can be larger if structured around units or weeks

## Write a description that orients the recipient

The Collection description is your chance to set context. Aim for two to four sentences that cover:

1. **Who it's for:** the audience or role
2. **What's inside:** the kind of apps and the goal
3. **When to use it:** situation, unit, or pacing if relevant

Example:

> Apps for the first three weeks of the spring AI literacy unit. Includes tools for prompt engineering practice, source evaluation, and a reflection journal. Suitable for grades 8 to 12.

## Order matters

Drag the apps in your Collection into a sensible sequence. Recipients scan top to bottom. Put the entry-point app first. Group related apps together. Save edge cases or supplementary tools for the end.

## Test before sharing

Before sharing a Collection externally, do two checks:

**Open it as a recipient would.** Switch to a workspace where you have member-level access and add the Collection. Confirm the apps work, the order makes sense, and the descriptions read clearly.

**Read the descriptions cold.** If you cannot tell what an app does from its description alone, rewrite it before shipping the Collection.

## Plan for updates

Collections live longer than apps. When you ship a Collection to partner districts, you are committing to maintain it. Set a cadence:

* **Quarterly review.** Check that every app still loads, still aligns to the goal, and still reflects current pedagogy
* **Annual refresh.** Cut apps that no recipients use, add apps that fill gaps reported by recipients
* **Versioned communication.** When you make significant changes, send a note to recipients so the change isn't a surprise

## Examples by use case

**Starter packs.** "Welcome to Playlab" Collections with 4 to 6 apps that get a new teacher productive in their first week.

**Curriculum sets.** Bundles aligned to a unit, course, or grade-level scope and sequence. Often 8 to 15 apps with a clear order.

**Department resources.** Subject-specific apps for one department across schools. Useful for district admins shipping to math, ELA, or special education teachers.

**Pilot bundles.** Apps for a research pilot, intervention, or new program. Smaller and tightly scoped, often paired with a feedback loop.

**Conference companions.** Apps to run alongside a workshop, training, or PD session. Time-bound, with clear instructions in each description.

## Key points

<Info>
  * Aim for 5 to 12 apps with one clear purpose
  * Write a description that names the audience and the use case
  * Test the Collection as a recipient would before sharing externally
</Info>

## FAQ

<AccordionGroup>
  <Accordion title="Should I include apps from outside my org?">
    You can. Apps shared with you can be added to your Collections if your access permits. Recipients still get access through your Collection. The original owner is unchanged.
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="What if I want different apps for different recipient orgs?">
    Make multiple Collections. There is no per-recipient customization on a single Collection. Multiple targeted Collections beats one sprawling bundle.
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="How do I retire a Collection?">
    Unshare it from each recipient, then delete it from your org. Recipients lose access on unshare; activity history is preserved.
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Can I get feedback from recipients about which apps they use?">
    Yes. The Collection's activity view shows aggregate usage per app per recipient org. Use that data to identify which apps are working and which can be cut.
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Should every app in a Collection be polished?">
    Yes. Recipients trust your name on the bundle. An unfinished or low-quality app reflects on the Collection and on you.
  </Accordion>
</AccordionGroup>

***

Last updated: 06-01-2026

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