Embedding iShare Images Directly Into iLearn Is Here

A new feature in iLearn now makes storing, sharing and embedding images using iShare easier and more streamlined, thanks to the work of Learning Innovation Hub’s Mahbub Hassan, Jaymie Parker and Fransiska Bunadi.

Previously you’ve not been able embed images stored in iShare directly into an iLearn page, you could only post the iShare link.

Well, now you can!

Not only can you now embed images stored in iShare directly in iLearn, but the new feature also automatically resizes images, so there are different sized options to choose from. We’d received feedback that iLearn had difficultly managing image sizing, so these resized images are there to make the process easier.

Top Benefits and why we made the change

• Easily embed images stored in iShare into iLearn pages

• When uploaded to the iShare iLearn Image Collection, images are now automatically resized into several versions (see image above), making them easier to use in iLearn

• The use of iShare to store and reuse images provides a number of benefits. iShare images can be re-embedded and linked in multiple locations in iLearn, while only being stored once. This means you don’t have to re-upload an image multiple times, and it doesn’t add to iLearn storage. iLearn was not designed as a storage repository, iShare was

• Images stored in iShare structure copyright components better

• Images you use and store in iShare can be shared with others

You can upload any image into iShare, including GIFs, which can be an image you sourced externally or an image you created (with copyright details recorded). The purpose of iShare is for images to be shared, like books in a library, so only upload images in iShare you wish to share with others.

Using this iShare integration, you can be even more assured that you’re managing copyright more sensitively. iShare was created with the purpose of housing Macquarie’s copyrighted collections, i.e. materials with specific copyright restrictions. So by storing images in iShare, and embedding those images in iLearn, copyright considerations are regarded. When uploading the image into iShare you will be asked for information to do with the item’s copyright, and this needs only be stored once. For more information on copyright check out the Library’s Guides on Copyright, their Practical Ways to Manage Copyright guide and check out this previous Teche post for more information on how to use iShare.

Please note, there are now 2 Image Collections in iShare.

1. The Learning and Teaching Image Library

– this collection was created for images that will be public facing.

2. *NEW – iLearn Image Collection

– this collection was created solely for images that will be embedded in iLearn.

How it works

Uploading images to iShare

1. 1. Log into ishare.mq.edu.au
   2. From the menu, click “Contribute”, and select the iLearn Image Collection. The full instruction guides are available on the staff portal.

1. 1. 3. You’ll be asked some questions about copyright attribution. Check out the Library’s Guides on Copyright. You’ll be asked to provide the Title, Author of Image, Source and License for the photo, which is best practice for copyright attribution
      4. Enter the author of the image’s name, i.e. the photo credit. I.e. this is not the person uploading the image (i.e. you), it’s the creator of the image

1. 1. 5. Enter date of creation (optional) – generally this won’t apply if you are using an external image, but if you are the creator and it’s from a specific event for example, you may wish to put the date.
      6. Copyright status – please refer to the Library’s Copyright Guidelines for use in teaching. Check out this illustration of Creative Commons attribution. For photos from free sites like Unsplash, which are license-free click “Open License”.
         • Small (width 256px)
         • Medium (width 512px)
         • Large (width 1024px)
         • Extra Large (width 2048px)Once uploaded, iShare will generate up to 4 versions of the image (height relative to original)
      7. It won’t generate an image larger than the original size, so it won’t corrupt the quality of the image. Upload the biggest resolution possible

Embedding in iLearn

1. 1. 1. In iLearn, turn editing on
      2. Click “add activity or resource”
      3. Scroll down to “Resources”, choose “Label” and click “Add”
      4. In the editing window, click on the “Picture” icon
      5. Click “Find and upload image”, and choose “Ishare” as the source
      6. Simply type in the name of the image or search image keywords in the “iLearn Image Collection”. There are already hundreds of images to browse. Choose image
      7. In the next description window, you may want to Copy the text from the “Caption”, to paste in iLearn
      8. Under “Links to Resources” at the bottom of the page, click cross on a blue background
      9. In the next screen, leave all the defaults as is, don’t change any settings, just hit “Select this file”
      10. In the next window, add an image description – this is the “alt text” (necessary for learners with accessibility needs)
      11. If you want to add a Caption to the image (text to be visible under the photo), press enter, and paste the “Caption” information you copied earlier

This new process is just for images. Embedding (rather than just adding the iShare link) other media, audio and video stored in iShare will be in phase 2 of this project, which we should see completed in the next 6 months.

Let us know how you go and we always welcome feedback at help.iLearn@mq.edu.au