Files: Your Personal Area in itslearning

itslearning now includes a updated 'Files' area for personal files, organisation, and sharing across the platform.

The Files area in itslearning has been updated with new features, making it more useful for all users, especially students. This article covers the main changes, including creating documents directly in Files, accessing personal files across the platform through the file picker, viewing past assignment submissions after a course has ended, and accessing attachments previously shared in messages.

Overview of the Files Area

The Files area is divided into tabs, each serving a distinct purpose:

• Your files — private area for uploading, organising, and reusing files across courses.

• Saved course materials — available to students only. Stores assignment submissions from courses that are no longer active or that the student no longer has access to.
• Message attachments — a list of files shared in instant message conversations.
  

   

If a tab is not visible, it has not been enabled for your profile. Contact your administrator to request access.

What you can do with your files

'Files' has been redesigned to support flexible working and to improve accessibility. Users can:

• Create Word, Excel, and PowerPoint documents directly in the platform, using Office Web or Collabora Online - if enabled for the school site.

• Use files in assignments, chat messages, resources, the library, shared folders, and ePortfolios using the file picker 

• Find content using navigation, search, and bulk actions

All files remain private until they are shared.

Managing and using Files

Within Files, students can upload, search, and organise content into folders. They can also use bulk actions to move, copy, download, or delete multiple files at once.

Files stored here can be added to other areas of itslearning. When a file is added, a copy is created in the target area. The copy is independent of the original, so changes to one do not affect the other, and it remains available even if the original file is later deleted.

As more users begin storing files, storage usage will naturally increase. School administrators should monitor usage and adjust personal storage quotas when needed.

Your Files is intended for school-related material, including documents, resources, and work that support teaching and learning. To help manage storage effectively, encourage users to remove files they no longer need and avoid storing personal or unrelated content. Responsible file management keeps the platform running efficiently, reduces unnecessary storage use, and lowers the environmental impact of storing data.

Saved Course Materials

Previously, students lost access to submitted work when they left a course or when a course was deleted. With 'Saved course materials', this changes.

When the feature is enabled, student submissions are automatically saved and available under 'Files > Saved course materials'. Saved submissions are accessible only for past or archived courses, not for active ones. The following is retained per submission:

• Assignment answers, including submitted text and files
• Assignment and feedback
• Assignment description

Note that 'saved course materials' is not enabled by default for all profiles and must be activated by a school administrator. Submissions made before the feature was activated are not saved retroactively.

Message Attachments

The 'Message attachments' tab provides a dedicated list view of all files you have shared in active instant message conversations. For each file, the list shows the name, type, and date added, along with a direct link to the conversation where the file was shared.

This tab shows only files shared by you. A search field is available to filter results within the list.

Accessing Files

To access the Files area, click your profile picture in the top right corner of itslearning and select Files from the menu. 

More Information

For full documentation, visit the itslearning support articles: Administrator Guide and Teacher and Student Guide.