The CIEL Blog

Student Orientation to VIULearn & Other Learning Tools – Spring 2025

We offer live webinars to introduce students to the learning technologies available at VIU, especially our online course platform VIULearn. Go to our Events Calendar to view the schedule and register for a live orientation webinar! Otherwise,

  • Are you unable to attend one of our live Student Orientation webinars but still want to see what tools are available & how to get support?
  • Are you already familiar with these tools but want to refresh your memory on your own time?

We recorded the orientation so you can watch it whenever is convenient & as many times as you’d like.

PLEASE NOTE: The video below was recorded in Fall 2024 and some visuals have changed, including a recent redesign of the VIU.ca website

Do you still have questions?

  • Look below for responses to some common questions about VIU learning technologies, and to find links to related resources
  • To attend a live webinar orientation (with opportunities to ask questions), go to our Events Calendar to choose a date and register

What does CIEL (The Centre for Innovation and Excellence in Learning) support?  

We support VIU students with learning technologies, including VIULearn, VIUTube, VIUBlogs (WordPress) and video conferencing in Microsoft Teams. Contact CIEL by email (LearnSupport@viu.ca) or phone (1-250-740-6179) for support with these tools.

How do I access VIULearn, VIUTube, and VIUBlogs?  

Step 1: Create your VIU Computer Account Password  

You use your VIU Computer Account password to login VIULearn, VIUTube, VIUBlogs, and Microsoft Teams.

This page on the IT department’s website has steps to guide you through setting up your computer account password. If you have any difficulty with your computer account, contact the VIU IT Helpdesk:

Step 2: Login

  1. Go to https://learn.viu.ca 
  2. Click Go to VIULearn to access VIULearn or VIUTube / Click Go to VIUBlogs to access that tool
  3. Use your Student Number as your username & your VIU Computer Account password to login
  4. (VIUTube only) Once you are logged in to VIULearn, click VIUTube at the top of the page to access that tool

Watch this video for a visual demonstration of logging in to VIULearn:

Use this link to view the video in another tab: https://viu.video.yuja.com/V/Video?v=677206&node=3196600&a=13677493

Here are our support pages with more detailed instructions for accessing each tool:

How can I prepare to use learning technologies at VIU?  

Register for the self-paced VIULearn Student Orientation 2024-2025 course in VIULearn 

Your instructors may use VIULearn for course content and activities. This orientation course is self-paced, and will show you how to navigate VIULearn to view content, adjust your settings, & complete activities. Follow the steps on this page to register for the VIULearn Student Orientation 2024-2025 course.

Download the Microsoft Teams application – new this fall!

This is the first year that VIU is using Microsoft Teams for video conferencing! Your instructors may use Microsoft Teams for class meetings.

Whether you are a new or returning student, we recommend that you download the latest version of the Microsoft Teams app on your phone, computer and/or tablet, and check out the Microsoft Teams support pages. Please download the app even if it already appears to be installed on your device. Some versions of Teams are only for personal use, or may be otherwise out of date.

Download Microsoft Teams and Login:

  1. Create your VIU computer account password.
  2. Setup 2-Step Verification on your account. Here are some IT support pages with instructions and more information:
  3. Download the latest version of Microsoft Teams.
  4. Login using your official “my.viu.ca” email address and your VIU computer account password.
    • VIU student email addresses use this format: preferredname.lastname@my.viu.ca (e.g. Jane.Doe@my.viu.ca). If you are unsure what your VIU email address is, please check your personal inbox for an email with those details or contact the IT department.

Meetings in Microsoft Teams

Click here to learn how to join a Microsoft Teams meeting. You will most likely join by clicking a meeting link that your instructor has shared with you.

If you have used Zoom or other video conferencing tools in the past, the meeting controls available in Teams are very similar:

  • Chat: Read and write messages, share files
  • People: See meeting participants and their roles
  • Raise: Ask for attention without interrupting the meeting
  • React: Display a temporary emoji reaction
  • More: Access other meeting tools and options (change the meeting view, turn on captions, etc)
  • Camera/Mic: Click to toggle these devices on and off; the downward arrows open video and audio settings
  • Share: Share screen for presentations, etc

How can I access academic support or contact other support departments? 

Visit VIU’s Learning Matters site to access learning resources and to find contact information for other support areas at VIU.

Why do I see information about VIU policies instead of my courses when I login to VIULearn?

You will see a terms and conditions page when you login to VIULearn for the first time each academic year.

You must accept the terms and conditions to access your My Home page & your VIULearn courses. Once you accept them, you will not see this page again until the policies change or a new semester has started.

Watch this video for more information:

Use this link to watch the video in another tab: https://viu.video.yuja.com/V/Video?v=665031&node=3183573&a=621210563

Useful links & resources:  

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Meara Kimball