8.1 Staying Organised with Notifications
VirtualX helps you stay organised by sending notifications for all your important course updates. These alerts help you:
- 📅 Keep track of quiz and assignment deadlines
- 📬 See new messages from your teacher
- 🧠 Know when feedback or marks are posted
- 🎯 Never miss a lesson or activity
🔔 Think of notifications as your personal assistant—they remind you what to do, when to do it, and what’s coming next.
🛠️ Where to Find Notifications
You can view all your notifications in one place:
✅ On Desktop or Laptop:
- Log in to VirtualX
- Look at the top-right corner
- Click the 🔔 bell icon
- A list will drop down showing your latest alerts
✅ On Mobile:
- Tap the ☰ menu or the bell icon
- Tap any notification to open the related lesson, quiz, or message
📩 Types of Notifications You May Receive
| Type | Example |
| 📘 Course activity | “New lesson unlocked: Unit 3 – Cell Structure” |
| 🧪 Quiz reminder | “Quiz 1 is due tomorrow” |
| 📄 Assignment update | “Your project has been graded – View feedback” |
| 📢 Announcement | “Class will meet at 3PM today for a Zoom session” |
| 🎓 Achievement | “You’ve earned a badge: Completed 100% of course” |
💡 Tips to Stay Organised with Notifications
| Tip | Why It Helps |
| Check notifications every day | You’ll never miss a deadline |
| Open messages as soon as you see them | Act fast on tasks or instructions |
| Clear old notifications | Keeps your panel neat and focused |
| Turn on browser or phone alerts (if allowed) | So you don’t miss updates even when offline |
| Ask your teacher if you didn’t understand the message | Better to ask than to guess wrong |
🧑🏽🏫 Example in Action:
Kagiso logs in and sees a red dot on the bell icon. He clicks and reads:
“📄 EMS Assignment 2 has been marked – Score: 18/20.”
He taps the message, opens the assignment, and reads the feedback from his teacher.
✅ Summary
Notifications are the easiest way to stay organised on VirtualX. They guide you, remind you, and help you stay on track with everything happening in your courses. Make it a habit to check them daily—you’ll always know what’s happening next.
8.2 How to Avoid Missing Deadlines
VirtualX is designed to help you learn at your own pace—but some things, like quizzes, assignments, and course completions, still have deadlines. Missing these deadlines can affect your:
- 📉 Marks
- 🧾 Certificate eligibility
- 💬 Teacher feedback
- 😟 Confidence and progress
⏳ Finishing your work on time keeps you in control and makes learning much less stressful.
📅 Common Deadlines You Should Watch
| Task | When It’s Due |
| 🧠 Quizzes | Usually a few days after the lesson or topic ends |
| 📄 Assignments | Date is set by your teacher (shown in the instructions) |
| 🎓 Course Completion | Often at the end of a term or project block |
| 📢 Live sessions | Join at the scheduled time (not later) |
🛠️ Tips to Avoid Missing Deadlines
✅ 1. Check Notifications Daily
- Use the 🔔 Notification Panel to see upcoming tasks
- Read any alerts about changes or new due dates
✅ 2. Use the Course Calendar (if enabled)
- Some schools activate the built-in calendar view
- This shows all tasks, due dates, and events in one place
✅ 3. Finish Lessons Early
- Don’t wait until the last day to start a quiz or assignment
- Use small chunks of time daily to stay ahead
✅ 4. Ask for Help Early
- If you’re stuck or confused, message your teacher immediately
- Don’t wait until the night before the deadline
✅ 5. Keep a Personal Reminder
- Use a paper diary, phone calendar, or alarm app
- Write down when quizzes or assignments are due
🧑🏽🏫 Example in Action:
Ntokozo sees a message:
“EMS Quiz 2 due in 2 days.”
He opens it, realises he still has to revise one more lesson, and sets an alarm to complete the quiz tomorrow afternoon. He avoids a late-night rush and earns a great mark.
❌ What Happens If You Miss a Deadline?
| Situation | What Might Happen |
| Missed quiz | You may get 0% or need teacher permission to retake |
| Late assignment | Your mark may be lowered, or it may not be accepted |
| Incomplete course | You won’t get your certificate or badge |
✅ Summary
The best way to succeed on VirtualX is to manage your time and avoid missing deadlines. Use your dashboard, check notifications, and ask questions early. A few minutes each day will save you hours of stress later.
8.3 What to Do If You Get Stuck
Even the best learners get stuck sometimes. Maybe you don’t understand a lesson, your quiz won’t load, or you just feel unsure about how to continue. Don’t worry—it happens to everyone.
The most important thing is to not give up. VirtualX gives you tools and support to help you move forward.
💬 Being stuck is just part of the learning process—what matters is asking for help and trying again.
🛠️ Common Situations and What to Do
| Problem | What You Can Do |
| ❓ You don’t understand the lesson | Use the “Ask a Question” box at the bottom of the unit |
| 🧠 You don’t know how to start an assignment | Re-read the instructions and examples carefully |
| ⏳ A quiz or file won’t load | Refresh the page, check your internet, or try another browser (like Chrome) |
| ❌ You missed a deadline | Politely message your teacher and ask if you can still complete it |
| 😕 You feel overwhelmed | Take a short break, breathe, then come back with fresh focus |
📞 Who Can Help You?
| Person | How They Can Help |
| 👩🏽🏫 Your Teacher | Explains the topic, gives extensions or support |
| 👨🏾💻 School Admin | Helps with login issues or system errors |
| 🧑🏽🎓 Classmates (if allowed) | Can remind you of what they did or how they understood it |
| 📘 Help Centre | Go to help.virtualx.tv for support articles and guides |
✅ Good Habits When Asking for Help
| Tip | Why It Works |
| Be specific | Say exactly what you’re stuck on (e.g. “I don’t understand Activity 2 in Unit 5”) |
| Be polite | Teachers are more willing to help if you ask nicely |
| Ask early | Don’t wait until the night before something is due |
| Try first | Show that you’ve at least tried before asking |
| Don’t be afraid | Questions show you care about your progress |
🧑🏽🏫 Example in Action:
Ziyanda is confused by a maths lesson about percentages.
She scrolls to the bottom of the unit and types:
“Miss, I’m not sure how to calculate discount prices from percentages. Can you give an example?”
Her teacher replies with a step-by-step answer. Now she understands!
✅ Summary
Getting stuck is normal—it means you’re learning something new. What’s important is how you respond. Ask for help, try again, and remember: you’re not alone on VirtualX.
8.4 Respectful Online Behaviour (Netiquette)
When learning online, just like in a real classroom, it’s important to treat others with respect. This includes how you type messages, ask questions, and take part in discussions.
This is called Netiquette, short for “internet etiquette” — the right way to behave online.
💬 Remember: behind every comment or question is a real person. Speak kindly, listen with respect, and learn together.
✅ Golden Rules of Online Respect
| Rule | Why It Matters |
| ✋ Use polite language | Avoid shouting (no ALL CAPS), rude words, or sarcasm |
| 🤝 Be kind and helpful | Encourage others instead of judging them |
| 🙋 Ask questions respectfully | Say “please” and “thank you” where possible |
| 🧠 Stay on topic | Only post comments that are related to the lesson or course |
| 🔒 Keep personal info private | Don’t share your phone number, address, or passwords |
| 👂 Don’t interrupt in live sessions | Use the “Raise Hand” or chat box to speak at the right time |
💬 Where Netiquette Applies on VirtualX
- 🔖 Lesson comments
- 🧪 Quiz or assignment discussions
- 💬 Messages to your teacher
- 📢 Announcements and group chats (if enabled)
- 🧑🏽💻 Live sessions (Zoom, Google Meet, etc.)
🧑🏽🏫 Example in Action:
Sipho disagrees with another learner’s answer on the Grade 9 Life Sciences lesson.
Instead of being rude, he writes:
“I see it differently. I think the answer is C because photosynthesis needs sunlight. What do others think?”
His teacher thanks him for sharing respectfully and encourages the group to discuss further.
❗ Things to Avoid
| Don’t… | Because… |
| ❌ Use rude or offensive language | It breaks trust and respect in class |
| ❌ Spam the comment box | It distracts others and clutters the lesson |
| ❌ Laugh at other learners’ mistakes | Everyone is learning at their own pace |
| ❌ Share memes or jokes in academic chats | Keep the space focused on learning |
🚨 Disrespectful behaviour may result in a warning, comment deletion, or losing chat privileges.
💡 Tip: If You See Something Wrong
- Be a responsible learner
- Tell your teacher if someone is being rude or making others uncomfortable
- Never reply with anger—let your teacher handle it
✅ Summary
Being respectful online helps everyone feel safe, heard, and encouraged to learn. Practise good netiquette by being polite, responsible, and kind—just like you would in a real classroom.
