Skillshare Help Center

Add a Class Resource

Class resources are additional content you can add to a class to supplement a student’s experience in your class or help them get started on a project.

In this article:

Class Resource Overview

A class resource is downloadable content that teachers provide to complement class instruction (video lessons) or support students as they finish the project. Class resources are optional but they may be key to lowering the barrier of entry for completing the class project. Additionally, our research shows that students perceive resources as added value to a class, which may increase the likelihood that they will take it.

Since students perceive resources as highly valuable additions to a class, we’ve made it easier for them to find! Students can filter search results on Skillshare to show classes that include attached resources.

These class resource files are visible to students on the Projects & Resources tab of a class. For step-by-step instructions on how to upload a resource to your class project, see our article How do I attach files to my class?.

Digital products are tools, resources, and templates developed by creators like you, and they are coming soon to Skillshare in August 2024. We encourage you to think about class resources and digital products as separate but complementary offerings in your teaching ecosystem. To learn more about digital products and where we advise promoting them in relation to your classes, head to Create a Digital Product for Skillshare.

Types of Class Resources

Class resources encompass many different types, not limited to:

  • Form-fillable worksheets or workbooks
  • Templates, calendars or schedules to help students plan a project or budget
  • Printable checklists, process guides or instructional booklets that complement lesson instruction with additional step-by-step detail
  • Assets, rigs, or example files for software-based projects
  • Reference images, patterns or templates for visual-based classes
  • Digital assets like Procreate brushes

Best Practices for Class Resources

Ensure Accessibility

Resources should streamline the learning experience, not hinder it. With that in mind:

  • Wherever possible, it’s best to create resources using universal file types that anyone can open, such as PDF.
  • Use typefaces and colors that are easy to read and high-contrast.
  • Compress files where necessary so your students don’t have to spend a lot of time or bandwidth downloading them over slower network connections.

Share Instructions

If your project is more technical in nature or requires some resources that are more complex, share details on what students should do with the files in your project instructions. You could also walk through how you intend for the resource to be used in your class in your video lessons.

Give It a Meaningful Title

Rename your resource clearly so students know what they are downloading and how you intend for them to use it. “Skillshare Class Source Image.jpg” is much clearer than “IMG_1234.jpg”.

Avoid special characters such as “+” in your resource filename as these can sometimes corrupt your file and prevent it from being downloaded.

Rep Your Brand

A class resource is a great way to emphasize who you are as a teacher and professional in your field. Make sure the content and overall design matches the visual identity for your class and brand. If you’re not a designer, rely on software such as Canva or Adobe Express to create your resources.

Keep Essential Resources on Skillshare

Encountering extra friction to access the downloadable resources for a class can be frustrating for a student, especially if they are already paying for a membership. If the resource is essential to take the class or complete the class project, it must be uploaded as a resource to Skillshare so students can freely download what they need for class.

If the resource is supplemental or “bonus” material to the class or class project, it can be hosted outside our community, i.e. accessible by signing up for an email list. We recommend that you clearly frame the material as a bonus for just participating in your class. Example: “As an added thank-you for taking my class, head to my website to download an additional free brush pack for Procreate!”

You can absolutely prompt students to sign up for your email list or newsletter within your class or project description, as well as in the intro and conclusion of your class. Reaffirming the value of what students receive through signing up may help draw more new users to your list!

Essential Class Resource Examples

In her class Kickstart your Creativity with Procreate: 20 Fun Drawings for Beginners and Beyond, Top Teacher Lisa Bardot offers a fillable “progress tracker” that students can fill out as they complete each daily drawing prompt in the class. Then, she instructs students to share the progress tracker at the end of each week by updating their project. Students don’t need to use the tracker to complete the project but it’s a huge motivation to fill up each blank space with a drawing each week.

In his class DaVinci Resolve: The Video Editing Workflow, Top Teacher Fred Trevino lowers the barrier for getting started on the class project by providing a number of media files that students can start using in their edit right away.

The focus of Top Teacher Janice Wong’s class, Journaling for Grounding & Positivity: A 7-day Practice with Cello Meditation Music, is journaling and self-reflection. So her accompanying resource provides a space for students to journal as they follow along in the class lessons.

Supplemental or Bonus Class Resource Examples

In Top Teacher Eve Horne’s class, Music Production For Songwriters: Ableton Live 11 For Beginners, she gives students a head start on learning complex software by including several bonus handouts that detail essential hotkeys and relevant links to learn more about the software. She’s even included a glossary of specific terms that songwriters should be familiar with for producing their own music.

Teacher Shea O’Connor offers a helpful workbook to help students plan and launch their first art commission in her class How to Sell Art Commissions Online: Tips on Process, Pricing & Professionalism — a helpful tool for the class project and beyond!