Prepare for online learning

At ��¼� Online, you'll study one course at a time over seven weeks. Read on to discover how to set yourself up for success with online learning.

Tips for success

Academic integrity

Personalise

We're here to guide you through your online study journey

Are you new to studying online? Have you taken a long break from studying due to work or life commitments? No matter your study experience, we're here to guide you.

About ��¼� Online

We use an intensive hexamester calendar that allows you to study one course at a time over seven weeks. It's a focused mode of study that lets you dive deep into the subject matter.

You should expect to spend at least 20 hours per week on your studies. This means you can balance your studies while continuing to work full-time and graduate with a Masters degree in as little as two years.

💡 It's important to understand how online study differs to studying on campus. Read through our tips to set yourself up for success during your ��¼� Online studies.

Tips for succeeding with your online studies

Prepare for online study
Study well
Communicate effectively

Online study can be challenging, especially if this is your first time and you are balancing work, life and study commitments.

You may occasionally be tempted to cut corners or stop altogether. To help you stay focused, it's important to remember why you enrolled and what you want to achieve. Write this down and display it in a prominent place as an ongoing reminder.
As tempting as it might be, lying on the couch with your laptop while watching Netflix isn't a great way to study. Just as you would attend classes on campus, you should have a dedicated space to study at home.

Being in your study space signals to you and others in your home that you're in study mode. You don't need an entire office, but you do need a space that gives you the best chance of properly engaging with your studies. Your study space should be:

Comfortable

Well-equipped

Free from distraction.

Importantly, pay attention to ergonomics. The kitchen bench might work in the short-term, but it could eventually impact your posture and lead to discomfort, injury or a lack of productivity.
You will require some essential equipment, including:

A reliable computer

A fast internet connection

The latest version of a modern browser (e.g. Chrome or Firefox)

A webcam

A reliable way to store your files

Any specific software that your courses might require.

Make sure you can access Moodle, your ��¼� student email and any other ��¼� e-Learning applications that you might need.

Essential support for remote study

Many online students say that time management is one of their biggest challenges.

You should expect to spend at least 20 hours each week on your studies. Set aside blocks of time each week to dedicate to your study. Use a calendar or a study planner and highlight important dates, especially your assessment due dates.

Allocate time in your calendar for:

Reading

Taking notes

Having online discussions

Preparing assessments (and remember to allocate breaks!).

If you're working, check whether you're eligible for study leave.
Master your time management
Crossing items off your to-do list can feel motivating!

Create a list of what you plan to achieve each day and cross them off as you complete them. Complete the most important tasks first, when your energy levels are at their peak. The satisfaction of completing these tasks can motivate you for the rest of the day!
It's been said that success is 10% inspiration and 90% perspiration. Persistence will be your key to succeeding with online study.

If you can be resilient, tolerate minor technical problems, seek help when you need it and persist through challenges, you'll succeed with online study. You will be demonstrating the attributes of a ��¼� graduate that are so highly valued by hiring managers and the workforce.
It's important to stay connected with your peers, teachers and ��¼� community while you study.

Your ��¼� Online Hub is an excellent way to chat with your peers and discuss topics of interest. You can also organise your own discussion sessions or study groups using Facebook, WhatsApp, Discord, or whatever method suits your group.
It helps to have a support network while studying online, such as your friends and family.

Talk to the people in your life about your commitment to your studies and ask for their support. Share your study plan with them so they can help you stick to it. Your fellow students can also be a good source of support, so connect with them once you begin studying. If you're working, check whether your employer can provide a workplace mentor.
We all study and learn differently. Successful students recognise and capitalise on this understanding.

If you prefer to listen to information rather than read it, use a in Microsoft Word to listen to your written material. Similarly, when writing assignments, you may like to use the rather than typing. If talking about your course content helps your understanding (and there's plenty of research to suggest it will), FaceTime a fellow student to discuss your thinking.

Even though your class material may be presented to you in a digital format, consider hand-writing your notes. There is evidence to suggest that the physical act of writing notes assists understanding and recall.
Despite what we often hear, multitasking is not possible for more than the most basic of tasks.

Complex tasks, such as watching and engaging with an online lecture or writing an essay, cannot be done properly while doing something else. At best, we can just switch from one activitiy to the other and the effort required to do that drains our energy and connection. We end up doing both tasks less well.

These problems can be avoided by:

Having a study schedule

Removing all distractions

Turning off your notifications

Studying in short, concentrated bursts

Taking breaks to maintain your energy.

A lot of communication in an online study environment is text-based - you will be writing a lot!

Think carefully before you post anything. Ensure that your words are clear and that the style is appropriate for your audience and purpose. What's appropriate in a student chat room is very different to what's appropriate in an assessable discussion forum.

Text-based communication lacks the visual cues that we rely on in face-to-face communication. Your words could be easily misinterpreted, so be careful. Things that seem funny when spoken aloud can fall flat when written.
Treat everyone with courtesy and respect. Don't be tempted to say anything when you feel angry or frustrated.

A good rule of thumb is if you wouldn't say it in person, don't write it. And if you wouldn't want to see if published on the front page, definitely don't write it.

Read our Code of Conduct and Values
When you're not talking, mute your microphone.

When you are talking, remember to unmute!

During a video call or conference, keep your background noise to a minimum and be aware of what people can see in your background. Your cat climbing across your screen might be funny at first, but it will quickly become an annoying distraction to your group.

Remember that things in your background that might be private will be visible to others when you web camera is on. Some online meeting platforms allow you to blur your background - this is a great feature.
Written communication lacks visual cues, so your lecturer might not know when you're confused, if they haven't explained something clearly enough or if you need help.

You'll need to be far more proactive than usual in asking for help. It might feel awkward to talk to your convenors in this way, but don't be shy about using the Moodle tools to communicate.

Maintaining academic integrity

��¼� expects you to display the same high standards of academic integrity no matter what mode of study you are undertaking. You should always work responsibly, with honesty and fairness.

Academic integrity & plagiarism

Since you'll be spending more time online, you may be exposed to more opportunities to cheat. Do not be tempted - ��¼� monitors cheating diligently and penalties will apply.

Support is available

If you need help with your assessments, contact your teaching team or the team. Make sure you understand the difference between collaboration, which we encourage, and collusion, which is cheating.

If you need a refresher to help you understand how to avoid plagiarism, collusion, contract cheating and the penalties that apply, complete the Working with Academic Integrity ��ǻ�ܱ��.��

Working with Academic Integrity module

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