Online students often think that their learning resources will be delivered by email, or even by post! Most online institutions are moving away from this unreliable delivery method.
The course or module learning
resources will be delivered through the institution's online learning environment or platform. The learning platform will vary depending on the software
used, but it will generally be a central online platform that students can
access from their home PC, mobile or tablet.
One of the main benefits of using
fully online hosted resources is endless flexibility!
As an online student, you can choose
to access your course information and complete your homework at any time. This
allows you to tailor study time to your job, family, and other commitments. It
also means that students who want to continue working while studying don't have
to put their careers on hold. Get
the best of both worlds!
How is online learning assessed?
Students taking a study program or
individual online course will still be tested at regular intervals throughout
their study period to assess their understanding of the course material.
For those new to online education,
this process can be daunting. But
there is no need to worry! Online institutions are experienced professionals, they will ensure that
your assessments are fair, comfortable, and designed to help you get the most out of your learning experience.
Individual assignments
This is probably the assessment method
that students will have the most experience with. For each assignment, you will
receive your subject, your deadline and the number of words. You will need to
produce a structured and reasoned argument within the limits
defined by your course instructor.
Discussion activities
Face-to-face discussions with friends
and colleagues are something we do every day. However, an online academic
discussion requires a different skill set and may not come as naturally as you
begin your online learning journey. Don't worry, you will understand!
These activities will vary by
institution, but your trainer will
usually start each discussion with a question or topic for discussion. Students
should then research the topic and post their responses to the task demonstrating their own knowledge and
understanding. Often you will find yourself in a debate with the ideas and
views posted by other students.
Journal activities
Like discussion forums, newspaper
activities tend to be specific to online courses. A journal entry is an ongoing
update that allows you to reflect on what you have learned in the period under
review and how you will apply what you have learned in the future. Online
learning doesn't take place in classrooms,
and journal entries are easy ways
for course instructors to understand how you are progressing through the course
and whether you are gaining knowledge in the right areas.
Unlike other tasks, it's okay to use a
subjective, personal writing style in journal entries and to refer to yourself
in the first person. Think, "Over the past week, I've learned to ..."
Journal entries are often needed, but not written down - be genuine!
Exams
While they can be nerve-racking, exams are
a key way to test your learning.
Institutions can choose to allow
students to take their exams on their own personal computer at a location of
their choice. Because tutors have no way of supervising an exam or virtual test, they are usually open book and
open grade. As a viable alternative,
many institutions will offer the option of taking “take-out” exams in the
form of a dissertation or final
assignment. Some establishments may use exam software such as virtual
invigilators or tools to monitor if you visit new web pages.
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