Section 1: Getting Started

1.1 Welcome to VirtualX

Welcome to VirtualX, your smart companion for delivering quality lessons in a modern classroom. Whether you’re teaching in a school, remotely, or blending both, VirtualX is here to make your job simpler, faster, and more engaging.

VirtualX is an AI-First Education Platform specially designed to support teachers by helping them create, share, and manage lessons online. The system works on a fully online platform (also available as an app), meaning you can access it from your browser or install it on your phone or tablet as a PWA (Progressive Web App).

🎯 What Makes VirtualX Different?

• ✅ Designed for Teachers First: Everything is made to help you teach easily—no need to use the backend like traditional websites.
• 🤖 AI Features: Use Dragon Mentor AI to help create lesson content, generate quiz questions, and support learners in real time.
• 📚 CAPS-Aligned Curriculum: Easily organise your lessons and content by subject, topic, and grade level.
• 📱 Fully Mobile & Offline-Ready: Continue working even when internet access is limited.

🧑‍🏫 What You Can Do with VirtualX as a Teacher

• Create and customise lessons using a simple drag-and-drop builder.
• Add videos, slides, quizzes, and assignments to your course.
• Interact with learners using announcements, questions, and feedback tools.
• Track learner progress and give certificates or badges once a course is completed.
• Work entirely from the front end (no backend or admin dashboard needed).

💡 Note: All system setup, configurations, and deeper administration are handled by your school’s VirtualX Administrator.

💡 What You’ll Need to Get Started

• A device (smartphone, tablet, laptop, or desktop)
• An internet connection (for initial setup and syncing)
• Your login details (provided by your school administrator)
• Google Chrome or any updated web browser
• Optional: You can install VirtualX as a mobile app for offline use

🖼️ Example Scenario:

Mrs. Khumalo, a Grade 7 Maths teacher, logs into VirtualX using her phone. She selects “Create Course”, names it “Fractions – Term 2”, and drags in three lessons:

• What Are Fractions?
• Equivalent Fractions
• Simplifying Fractions

She adds a video to Lesson 1, a multiple-choice quiz in Lesson 2, and a practice assignment in Lesson 3. She publishes the course and shares the link with her learners. Done—all in under 15 minutes!

✅ You’re in the Right Place

This Teacher Guide will walk you through each step—from setting up your profile, creating lessons, managing students, to assigning certificates. Every action happens from the front-end interface, designed to feel like a social and learning-friendly space.

So, relax, take it step by step—and let’s get teaching with VirtualX!

1.2 Role of a Teacher in VirtualX

As a teacher using VirtualX, your main role is to guide learners through a digital classroom—by creating lessons, sharing resources, tracking progress, and supporting learning from start to finish. Think of VirtualX as your digital chalkboard, homework book, and marking assistant—all rolled into one!

🎓 What You Do on VirtualX

Your job stays the same—teach. But with VirtualX, you now have digital tools to help you do it better, quicker, and in a way that learners understand more clearly.

Here’s what you can do as a teacher:

🛠️ Task	📝 What It Means on VirtualX
Create Courses	Put together full lessons or topics using a drag-and-drop builder
Deliver Content	Add videos, PDFs, questions, or voice notes to explain a topic
Manage Students	View who is in your course, check their progress, and support them
Give Assessments	Create online quizzes or assignments that are automatically or manually marked
Award Certificates	Set up course completion certificates or learning badges
Use AI Tools	Get help from Dragon Mentor AI to write lesson summaries, generate questions, or suggest improvements
Post Announcements	Send updates or reminders to the learners in your class

🧑‍🏫 You’re not just uploading content—you’re guiding your learners step by step, even if they’re working from home or offline.

💻 Where Do You Work From?

• The Front End of the Platform
  You do everything from your dashboard—a clean, easy-to-use page that shows your profile, your courses, your messages, and your learners.
• No Backend Needed
  You don’t need to worry about the admin dashboard or confusing menus. VirtualX is designed so teachers can do it all without ever logging into the backend or control panels. That’s handled by the Super Administrator.

👩🏽‍🏫 Example in Action:

Mr. Mokoena teaches Natural Science for Grade 6. He logs in, clicks on his profile, and selects “Manage Courses.” He opens his topic on The Solar System, sees which learners have completed the unit, and checks their quiz results. He notices five learners didn’t pass. He posts a short voice note reminder explaining the key concepts again. Learners listen and retake the quiz—all from their phones. Simple, effective, and no printing needed!

✅ Summary: Your Superpowers as a VirtualX Teacher

• You’re the content creator
• You’re the lesson deliverer
• You’re the learner guide
• You’re the course assessor
• You’re the motivator and mentor—even when learners are at home

With VirtualX, you’re equipped to teach confidently using the tools you already know—with less admin, more support, and more time for actual teaching.

1.3 Logging In via PWA or Browser

Before you can begin teaching, you need to log in to your VirtualX account. You can do this using a web browser or by installing the app version (known as a Progressive Web App, or PWA).

💻 Option 1: Logging in through a Web Browser

1. Open Google Chrome (or any updated browser).
2. Go to your school’s VirtualX platform URL.
   Example: https://yourschool.virtualx.tv
3. Click on the “Login” button at the top right of the page.
4. Enter your username and password (provided by your school admin).
5. Once logged in, you will land on your Teacher Dashboard.

💡 If you forget your password, use the “Forgot Password” option to reset it via email.

📱 Option 2: Installing the App (PWA)

The VirtualX platform can work like an app—even when you’re offline. Here’s how to install it:

✅ On Desktop:

1. Open your browser and visit the VirtualX website.
2. You’ll see an “Install App” or “+” icon in the browser’s address bar.
3. Click it, then select “Install”.
4. The VirtualX app icon will now appear on your desktop.

✅ On Mobile (Android):

1. Open the school’s VirtualX website in Google Chrome.
2. You’ll see a prompt to “Install App” at the bottom of the screen.
3. Tap it and follow the steps.
4. The app will appear on your home screen—just like WhatsApp or Facebook.

🚫 Note for iPhone users: Safari doesn’t support PWA fully, but you can still bookmark the site or use Chrome for a better experience.

🔐 Login Options

Depending on how your school has set up VirtualX, you might be able to log in using:

• Email + Password
• Google / Facebook Account
• One-Time PIN (OTP) sent to your phone or email

All of these work through Firebase, which keeps your login secure and synced across devices.

🖼️ Example Scenario:

Mrs. Daniels opens Chrome, visits her VirtualX site, and logs in. She notices a message saying “Install App”—she clicks, and now has the VirtualX app on her desktop. The next day, there’s no Wi-Fi at school—but she opens the app, continues where she left off, and teaches her class without missing a beat.

🛠️ Troubleshooting Tip:

• If the login page doesn’t load, check your internet connection.
• If you can’t log in, contact your school admin to reset your account.
• If the “Install App” option doesn’t appear, try refreshing or use Google Chrome.

1.4 Understanding the Teacher Dashboard

Once you log in, the Teacher Dashboard is the first place you’ll land. This is your main control panel—everything you need to teach, manage learners, and run your lessons is found here.

Think of your dashboard like a digital staffroom made just for you. It’s where your courses, students, messages, and updates live, all in one place.

🖥️ What Does the Dashboard Look Like?

Your dashboard is clean and easy to use. You’ll see:

• Your Profile Picture and Info (top left)
• A Navigation Menu (on the side or top)
• A set of Widgets (blocks of information) showing things like:
  • Your courses
  • Announcements
  • Messages
  • Progress charts
  • Earnings (if enabled)

You can drag, resize, or remove these widgets to suit your preference.

🧱 Dashboard Widgets Explained

Widget	What It Shows
My Courses	List of all your courses and their status (published, drafts, etc.)
Course Progress	Overview of learner completion rates
Recent Activity	What learners have recently done (quiz attempts, assignments submitted)
Announcements	Posts shared with learners
Messages	Your inbox for student messages
Earnings (Optional)	Only if you’re paid per course—shows enrolment and income
Achievements	Certificates or badges issued to learners

✏️ These widgets are found in the “Instructor Sidebar” and can be changed under Appearance > Widgets by your site admin.

📋 Sample Layout (Typical Teacher View)

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———————————

| 👤 [Your Profile Picture]     |

|——————————-|

| 📘 My Courses                 |

| 📢 Announcements              |

| 📈 Course Progress            |

| ✉️ Messages                   |

| 🎖️ Achievements              |

———————————

⚙️ What You Can Access from Here

Button / Section	What You Can Do
Create Course	Start a new course with the built-in builder
Manage Courses	Edit lessons, view learners, assign badges
Students	See who is enrolled, reset progress, send messages
Quizzes & Assignments	View results, grade submissions, give feedback
Profile Settings	Change your photo, password, or display info
Logout	Exit safely from your session

👩🏽‍🏫 Example in Action:

Mrs. Masinga logs in and sees that 15 learners haven’t completed Lesson 3. She opens her dashboard, clicks “Manage Course,” posts a gentle reminder in the Announcements widget, and messages the learners who are falling behind. All done in 5 minutes—no emails, no paperwork!

🛠️ Customising Your Dashboard (Optional)

If your school admin has allowed it, you can:

• Drag widgets to arrange them how you like
• Remove widgets you don’t use
• Add new widgets from the Instructor Sidebar (Appearance > Widgets)

🚫 Remember: you don’t need access to the backend for this. Everything happens right here on the front end!

1.5 Navigating the Member’s Area

The Member’s Area is where all your work happens—your digital classroom, admin desk, and learner space combined into one easy-to-use zone.

Once you’re logged in and on your dashboard, everything you need is found inside this Member’s Area. No need to go searching through complex menus—you work from one place, from start to finish.

🧭 Where is the Member’s Area?

As soon as you log in, you’re already inside it. It’s made up of:

• Your Profile Page
• The Left-hand or Top Navigation Menu
• The main screen area with widgets and tools

You can think of it like a central hub where you can jump into anything—courses, students, messages, or settings.

📌 Main Tabs in the Member’s Area

Here’s a breakdown of what each section does:

Tab / Menu	What You’ll Use It For
Dashboard	Quick view of your activities, courses, messages, and alerts
Courses	Create new courses or manage your current ones
Students	View enrolled learners, track progress, and communicate
Quizzes / Assignments	Access assessments for grading and feedback
Messages	View and reply to learner messages in real time
Announcements	Post important updates for all your learners
Profile	Update your personal info, photo, and preferences
Settings	Change your password, notifications, and account preferences

🔒 Note: Only options allowed for teachers will be shown. You won’t see admin-only settings.

🖱️ How to Navigate

• Click on a tab or icon to open that section
• Use the search bar to find a course, learner, or message
• Switch between sections using the menu or your browser’s back button

🖼️ Example in Action:

Mr. Zulu logs into VirtualX. On the left side, he sees his Member Menu. He clicks Courses to add a new one, Messages to check if any students had questions, and Profile to change his photo. It’s all there—quick and simple.

🔄 Switching Between Roles (if applicable)

If you have more than one role (e.g., Teacher and Parent), a role switcher may appear in your profile. Just click it to change views.

🛠️ Quick Tips:

• Always use the Dashboard tab to return to your home screen.
• Use the Announcements tab for notices instead of WhatsApp or emails.
• Use the Search Bar inside each tab (Courses, Students, etc.) to save time.

Once you’re familiar with the Member’s Area, using VirtualX becomes second nature. You’re now ready to start creating your first course.