8.1 Creating Course Cards
In VirtualX, each course has a Course Card—a small visual block that shows the course name, subject image, teacher name, and sometimes the grade or price (if selling). These cards appear in the Course Directory, which is like the digital bookshelf learners scroll through to find their subjects.
As a teacher, your course card is the first thing learners see, so it should be neat, attractive, and easy to recognise.
🖼️ What is a Course Card?
A Course Card includes:
- 🏷️ Course title
- 🖼️ Featured image (subject graphic or class icon)
- 🧑🏫 Teacher name or avatar
- 🏫 Grade or category
- 🔘 Action button (Join, Continue, etc.)
💡 Course cards help your lessons stand out and look professional in the learner dashboard or course list.
🛠️ How Are Course Cards Created?
Course cards are designed automatically when you create or edit your course, but they can be customised using the Web Builder (by you or the site admin).
🧑🏫 As a Teacher (Basic Setup):
When creating your course:
- Go to Dashboard > Create Course or Edit Course.
- On the first step (Course Title & Description), look for:
- Course Title – Keep it short and clear (e.g. Grade 8 Maths – Term 2)
- Course Image / Featured Image – Upload a picture (PNG or JPG, 16:9 ratio recommended)
- You can use subject icons, classroom visuals, or simple school-themed graphics
- Choose the Category (e.g. Grade 8 > Mathematics)
- Save or publish your course.
✅ Your Course Card will now show in the Course Directory with your chosen image and title.
🎨 Using Web Builder for Visual Customisation (Admin/Advanced Use)
If your school allows front-end visual editing using Web Builder:
- Ask your admin to give you access to the Course Grid Template in the Web Builder.
- You (or the admin) can:
- Change the layout of cards (square, landscape)
- Add custom backgrounds, hover effects, or filters
- Adjust font styles or button colours
- Once saved, this affects how all course cards appear in your school’s Course Directory.
🛠️ Most teachers won’t need to do this—but it’s useful if your school wants branded visual consistency.
📌 Course Card Example
| Element | Sample Content |
| 📘 Title | Grade 6 Natural Science – Energy |
| 🧑🏫 Instructor | Mr. Dlamini |
| 🖼️ Image | Light bulb graphic with green background |
| 🎯 Category | Term 2 – CAPS Curriculum |
| 🔘 Action Button | Continue Course |
🧑🏽🏫 Example in Action:
Ms. Maseko creates a Term 3 English course. She uploads a clean image with an open book and blue background. She titles it “Grade 9 English – Poetry & Language”. When learners visit the course list, her course card stands out—and learners know exactly what to click.
💡 Tips for Great Course Cards
| Tip | Why It Works |
| Use high-quality images | Avoid pixelation and poor layout |
| Stick to one colour scheme | Looks clean and professional |
| Keep the title short | Easy to read on mobile or tablet |
| Match image to subject | Helps learners identify courses quickly |
| Avoid personal photos | Keep it classroom-friendly and brand-safe |
✅ Summary
Your Course Card is your course’s first impression—make it simple, clean, and subject-focused. With or without the Web Builder, you can control how your learners see and select your course on VirtualX.
8.2 Adding Instructor Profile Cards
On VirtualX, each teacher has a Profile Card that shows in course listings, directories, or inside course pages. It introduces who you are as an instructor—helping learners and parents recognise your role, trust your guidance, and engage more confidently in your classes.
Think of your Instructor Profile Card as your digital name tag and mini CV rolled into one.
🧑🏫 What’s an Instructor Profile Card?
It’s a visual box that includes:
- 👤 Your name
- 🖼️ Profile photo
- 📘 Subjects or courses you teach
- 📝 Short bio or “About Me” section
- 📫 Contact details (if enabled by admin)
- 🎓 Qualifications or role (optional)
These cards appear:
- Next to your course on the Course Page
- In the Instructor Directory (if enabled)
- On your Public Profile Page
🛠️ Steps: How to Set Up Your Instructor Profile Card
- Login to your VirtualX account.
- Go to your Dashboard > Profile.
- Click on “Edit Profile” or “Profile Settings”.
- Complete the following fields:
- Display Name: Your full name (e.g. Mrs. Thandi Mbatha)
- Profile Picture: Upload a clean, professional photo
- About / Bio: Write 2–3 lines about your teaching style or subject focus
Example: “Grade 7–9 English teacher passionate about literacy and learner growth.” - Subjects / Categories: Add tags like English, Grade 8, Term 3
- Contact (Optional): Email or school contact point (if allowed)
- Click Save / Update.
✅ Your profile card is now live and will appear with any course you publish.
📋 What Learners and Parents See
- Your photo and name
- The courses you’re linked to
- Your short bio
- Option to message you directly (if messaging is enabled)
👀 Learners feel more comfortable engaging when they know who’s teaching them. Parents appreciate knowing who is responsible too.
🧑🏽🏫 Example in Action:
Mr. van der Merwe, who teaches Grade 6 Mathematics, uploads a clear photo, writes:
“Helping learners build confidence in Maths through everyday examples and interactive tasks.”
His profile now appears under his course, and learners can message him with questions directly from his card.
📌 Instructor Directory (If Enabled)
If your school uses the Instructor Directory:
- All published teachers are listed by grade, subject, or surname.
- Learners and parents can search by keyword.
- Profile cards become clickable, opening to your detailed teacher profile page.
🧩 This feature is helpful in large schools, subject rotations, or cross-grade teaching setups.
💡 Tips for a Great Profile Card
| Tip | Why It Helps |
| Use a clear, friendly photo | Builds trust and recognition |
| Keep your bio short | Learners read quickly—make it count |
| Mention grade or subject | Helps parents know who teaches what |
| Update regularly | Stay current with terms, topics, or role changes |
✅ Summary
Your Instructor Profile Card is your teaching signature—it shows professionalism, builds trust, and helps learners and parents connect with the real person behind the screen.
8.3 Understanding Filters in Member/Course Directories
The Course Directory and Member Directory on VirtualX help learners, parents, and fellow teachers easily find subjects, courses, and instructors using filters. These filters sort and organise all available content—so learners can find the right course, and parents can see who teaches what.
As a teacher, understanding how these filters work helps you:
- Ensure your courses show up correctly
- Check that your name appears in the right categories
- Support learners in navigating the platform with ease
📁 What Are Directories?
- Course Directory: A list/grid of all available courses on the platform
- Member Directory: A list of all instructors (and sometimes learners or parents, depending on role settings)
Both of these sections include filter options—drop-downs or checkboxes that users can click to refine their search.
🧭 Where to Find the Filters
- Go to the main Course or Members page.
- At the top or left-hand side, you’ll see filters like:
- Subject / Category (e.g. Maths, English, EMS)
- Grade (e.g. Grade 4, Grade 9)
- Term / Phase (e.g. Term 2, Senior Phase)
- Instructor (if filtering by teacher)
- Search Bar – type a keyword (e.g. “Algebra”, “Mr. Dube”)
✅ Filters work in real time—only matching results will appear.
🧑🏫 What Teachers Need to Know
When you create or edit a course:
- Choose the correct category (e.g. Grade 7 → Natural Science)
- Add appropriate tags if your school uses custom filters (e.g. Term 3, Exam Prep)
- Make sure your profile name and bio are updated so learners can find you easily
- If your profile card is linked to multiple courses, you’ll show up in more filter results
🔍 If learners say they “can’t find your course”, the filter or category might be missing or incorrectly selected.
🧑🏽🏫 Example in Action:
Ms. Mhlongo teaches Grade 6 Life Skills. She notices her course doesn’t appear under the “Grade 6” filter. She checks her course settings and sees the category was accidentally set to “Grade 5”. She edits it, updates the category, and now her course shows correctly in the directory.
📋 Common Filters on VirtualX
| Filter Type | Example Options |
| Grade Level | Grade R–12 |
| Subject | Maths, English, Life Sciences, EMS |
| Term / Phase | Term 1, Senior Phase, FET |
| Instructor | Mr. Khoza, Mrs. Pillay |
| Course Status | Ongoing, Completed, Enrol Now |
💡 Tips for Better Filter Visibility
| Action | Why It Matters |
| Use correct categories when creating a course | Ensures it appears in the right subject/grade |
| Keep your instructor profile up to date | Helps learners find you in the member directory |
| Add tags where possible | Makes it easier to match search terms |
| Test your course search | See what learners see and fix issues quickly |
✅ Summary
Filters are the learners’ and parents’ GPS inside VirtualX. When used correctly, they help people find your courses and profile faster—making sure no one gets lost on the way to learning.
