To add content topics to your VIULearn course, you can either upload supported files from your computer, or create HTML (website) pages directly inside VIULearn. Before you can add any files to your course content, you will need to set up at least one course module.
Any content uploaded, embedded, or linked to on VIULearn is subject to Canadian copyright law. Please ensure that your content is either appropriately licensed, falls under Fair Dealing, or is your own. Please make sure to advise your students of appropriate use and sharing of copyright protected content.
If you have any questions or concerns, please contact the Copyright Office at copyright@viu.ca and review the copyright Instructors Guide.
Upload Files to VIULearn
VIULearn supports drag and drop for uploading one or multiple supported files into a content module. Once your content is uploaded, you can drag and drop to move items and modules within Content. If you are working on a small screen or tablet, or if you're not comfortable with drag and drop, you can also add files through the Upload/Create Button.
- Navigate to a module in Content.
- Open the location on your computer where your files are located (in Windows Explorer or Finder).
- Select the files you want to add to your course.
- Click and drag to bring the files into content. It may take a few moments for your files to upload.
- You can now rearrange your files by clicking the dotted lines to the left of the title and dragging the content to another location within this module or to another module.
- Click Content from the course navigation bar.
- Click on the Module or Sub-Module where you want to add the file to.
- Click the Upload/Create button. From the dropdown menu, select Upload Files.
- If you would like to upload a file that is being stored on your computer, select My Computer. If you would like to add a file that has already been uploaded to your course, select Course Offering Files. In most cases, you will be uploading a file that has been stored on your computer.
- Click the Upload button. Find and select the file you wish to upload.
- Once your file has finished uploading, click the Choose Destination button if you wish to change where this file is saved in your Manage Files area. Otherwise, click the Add button to add the file to your Content Module.
What Files Can I Upload?
Supported File Types
VIULearn supports all of the following file types. Text documents (such as Word or PowerPoint files) will be converted into PDF files for online viewing, but you and your students can still download these files in their original format.
| Extension | File Type |
|---|---|
| HTM, HTML, MHT, MHTML | Web Document |
| RTF, PPT, PPS, PDF, DOC, DOCX, PPTX, XML, XLS, TXT, WPD, XLSX | Text Document |
| JPG, JPEG, PNG, GIF, BMP, TIF, TIFF | Image |
| SWF, MPG, MPEG, RM, MP3, MP4, M4V, M4A, AVI, WAV, RAM, ASF, MOV, RA | Media |
File Size Limits
VIULearn has a system-wide file size limit of 2GB. When adding materials to your course, you can upload individual files up to 2GB in size. However, we do not recommend this as a practice for two reasons:
- The larger your overall course file size is, the longer it will take for things in your course to load. Students on poor or intermittent internet connections will have trouble accessing your course if there are numerous large files.
- If your overall course is larger than 2GB in size, you will not be able to export and import your course as a whole. Course backup files must be no larger than 2GB in total in order to be imported into VIULearn. If you have a number of large files in your course, you may need to exclude these from any course backup.
To keep your course file size manageable, we recommend media files be uploaded to VIUTube instead of directly to VIULearn.
Create Files in VIULearn
VIULearn files are HTML pages where you can add text, links, and embedded media. When deciding whether to create a file in VIULearn or upload a document (such as a PDF), here are some things to consider:| Reasons TO Create a File | Reasons NOT to Create a File |
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- In your course, select Content in the navigation bar.
- Navigate to the module where you want to add the file.
- Click the blue Upload/Create button and select Create a File.
- Enter a title for your file.
- Enter your content in the box provided. You can use the tools along the top of the content area to format your content.
- To save and publish your file, click Save and Close.
Sometimes after you have created a File, there are edits or updates that need to occur.
- Click Content from the course navigation bar.
- Click on the Module or Sub-Module where the File you wish to edit is located.
- Click on the arrow to the right of the File and select Edit HTML.
- Once you have entered the editing screen, edit as necessary.
- You have the option of notifying students that you have changed or updated your File. If you wish to do so, click the checkbox next to the Notify students that the content has changed.
- Once you have finished making your changes, click the Save and Close button.
Accessibility Checker:
When creating Files in VIULearn, consider using the Accessibility Checker. The Accessibility Checker will review the HTML file you have created and will flag for you any elements in the file that make it difficult for a screen reader or person with low vision to read your file. The Accessibility Checker will look for things like captions, alt text on images, use of headings and other HTML formatting elements, and colour contrast between font and background.
To learn more about making your course materials accessible, CIEL's Curriculum Teaching and Learning Specialists have created Designing for All: A toolkit for maximum learning impact.
- Click Content from the course navigation bar.
- Click on the Module or Sub-Module where the File you wish to check is located.
- Click on the arrow to the right of the file and select Edit HTML.
- Click More Actions (... icon) on the right hand side of the HTML editor bar.
- Click the Accessibility Checker button (icon with an eyeball and a checkmark underneath it).
- If there are any accessibility issues that can be detected in your file (text hard to read due to color choices, headings used in an non-sequential order, etc) you will see these warning displayed on screen. If your file does not contain any detectable accessibility issues, you will see a "No accessibility issues detected" message.