Online Learning at CSU
Advantage of Online Learning
One of the primary aspects of online learning is the ability for people to learn when they want, and where they want, and at the pace they want. When you study online at CSU you have the convenience and flexibility to access the full range of University facilities, services and resources. This allows you the freedom to choose the time and place to do the following things:
- access course information, subject content and learning resources;
- email other students and the lecturer in your subject;
- discuss issues with the lecturer and students who may be in distant localities;
- participate in real-time 'chat' with classmates and lecturer;
- use audio, video and multimedia resources as means of learning;
- assess your learning through quizzes and other online activities;
- connect to a range of learning resources on the Web; and
- make contact with a range of student support and admin services.
As you examine the list above, you will begin to realise that one of the real advantages of learning online is the ability to communication and collaborate with others. Online Interaction is at the core of learning online. Email, discussion forums and other conferencing software mean that you will never miss out on vital class discussions, for you can log on to access class materials and participate in discussions at virtually any time of day or night. The potential for small-group discussions and collaborative work among students who may never meet face-to-face makes Web-based courses exciting and powerful learning experiences.
Many students will be unfamiliar with technology-enhanced learning, including the use of Web-based teaching materials, multimedia and collaborative social software tools (for example, wikis and blogs). And other students may even feel uncomfortable learning online. However, there is some simple advice that will help all students to maximise their learning:
- within the first week familiarise yourself as much as possible with the Web site for your course;
- log into your subjects on a regular basis (5-6 times a week minimum); check email frequently;
- participate, since this is your 'classroom'; sharing your thoughts and information contributes to a sense of community;
- be self-motivated and goal oriented; the more involved and active you are, the more you will learn;
- set aside a specific time for study, and keep up with weekly study tasks by completing learning activities and assignments on time;
- take full advantage of all the online communication and collaboration tools; if it helps, form small groups to support each other;
- be open-minded about sharing life, work, and educational experiences;
- accept critical thinking and decision making as part of the learning process;
- when in doubt, always ask questions; fellow class members may have similar questions or else know the answers;
- apply what you learn; and
- remember the Internet is a public place; speak and behave as you would in a classroom, so use proper netiquette.
At Charles Sturt University you will experience a learning model that is often referred to as 'blended learning'. This is where there has been a convergence of on and off-campus learning and teaching, and students are given a combination of:
- traditional face-to-face learning;
- study materials (print-based and in digital form) made available through traditional kinds of delivery methods; and
- an online environment where, at their convenience, students can use Web-based technologies to access learning resources and communication avenues 'anytime, anywhere' ('Hey! I get to go to class in my pyjamas' !)