---
title: Learners and sign-in
description: Choose how learners sign in, set up sections and a class list, print code cards, and give a section its own times.
updated: 2026-10-29
---

> All VIABLE docs, for people and their agents: https://developers.viablelab.org/llms.txt

# Learners and sign-in

Set up who is in a course and how they get in, before your first class or a new term.

## How learners sign in

Choose in **Settings → How learners sign in**. It's the same in every activity, so a learner's work follows them across devices.

| Option | Best for |
| --- | --- |
| **Personal codes on cards** | Young learners and shared devices |
| **They type their name** | Quick starts with no list |
| **They type an ID they already have** | Matching your records |
| **Their ID comes in the link** | Arrivals from a survey or online panel |
| **Each device** | One sitting: each browser is one learner |

With typed names, the same name is the same person, so ask for a last initial: two Sams would share a record. **Only names on the class list** turns away anyone not on it.

## Sections

A section is a class period or group, with its own link. On **People**, type a name under **Sections**, press **Add section**, then **Save sections**. Section links appear on **Link & QR**.

Then choose **How learners get into their section**: **By their section's link**, **They pick it themselves, once**, or **From your class list only**.

## Your class list

A class list is optional. It gives everyone a section and a personal code at once, and shows them in Progress before their first visit.

::: steps
1. **Open the list.** On **People**, press **Add people**.
2. **Paste your names.** Type one person per row, or paste rows from a spreadsheet. **Import a CSV file** works too.
3. **Fill the gaps.** **Student ID or email** and **Section** are optional; **Section for rows that leave it empty** fills them.
4. **Add them.** Check the summary and press **Add**.
:::

Add up to 1,000 people at a time. Anyone already in the course keeps their work and code.

## Code cards

Everyone on the list gets a **personal code**, like `K7Q2-M9XC`. **Print cards** on **People** prints each learner's name, section, code and a QR code for their section's link. Allow pop-ups if they don't open. For a lost card, press **New code** on the learner's page in [Teach → Learners](/dashboard/learners).

## Shared computers

For a laptop cart or a lab, turn on **Shared computers** in **Settings → How learners sign in** (on by default for children). Each visit, and any return after 20 minutes idle, asks "Are you Sam?". Learners also get **Sign out**.

> [!WARNING]
> Don't use **Each device** on shared computers: everyone on that browser becomes one learner.

## Opening times and extra time

An activity's **Opens** is **Open**, **At a time** or **When I open it**; **Closes** is optional. Once it's saved, each section gets its own row, so Period 2 can start Monday and Period 3 Tuesday. In class, **Open now** asks **Everyone** or one section **only**.

For extra time, open the learner's cell in **Progress**, set **Open for them until** under **More time**, and press **Give more time**. It only moves a close later.

::: cards
- [Following progress](/docs/teach/progress): see who has done what, and what to look at.
- [Sharing a course](/docs/teach/sharing): run it with other teachers and assistants.
:::