A guide for online learners - skillstrategies.edu.au

© Skills Strategies International | Online Learner Guide 1

A guide for online learners


Version Control

Version Date Details Author Approved

1.0 Jan 2018 Created Director Director

2.0 Sep 2020 Reviewed and updated information and formatting Quality Manager Director

2.1 Mar 2021 Removed Learner Handbook Acknowledgement

Form requirements

Quality Manager Director


Contents

INTRODUCTION ........................................................................................................................ 4

Welcome .................................................................................................................................................... 4

Online Learning .......................................................................................................................................... 4

Our Approach ............................................................................................................................................. 5

YOUR COURSE ......................................................................................................................... 7

Online Pre-Requisites ................................................................................................................................ 7

Login Instructions ....................................................................................................................................... 7

Course Requirements ................................................................................................................................ 7

Support Services ........................................................................................................................................ 7

Support Team ............................................................................................................................................ 7

LEARNING STRATEGIES ......................................................................................................... 9

Getting Started ........................................................................................................................................... 9

Study Tips .................................................................................................................................................. 9

Effective Communication ......................................................................................................................... 10

Study Environment ................................................................................................................................... 11

Time Management ................................................................................................................................... 12

Team Work ............................................................................................................................................... 12

Self-Motivation ......................................................................................................................................... 13

Progress Tracking .................................................................................................................................... 13

Plan for Success ...................................................................................................................................... 13

ONLINE RESOURCES ............................................................................................................ 15

Technology ............................................................................................................................................... 15

Online Strategies...................................................................................................................................... 15

Study Tips ................................................................................................................................................ 15

Digital Tools ............................................................................................................................................. 15

GLOSSARY ............................................................................................................................. 18

Terms and Definitions .............................................................................................................................. 18


INTRODUCTION

Welcome This guide covers everything you need to know to help make your online learning experience a success. Online learning requires more active participation than traditional classroom learning but also provides you with the freedom to set your own schedule and study from the comfort of your own space instead of a classroom. To be successful in your online courses, you will need to be self-motivated and engaged and have a plan. This guide will help you create your plan for success.

Online Learning Online learning is education that takes place over the Internet. It is often referred to as eLearning among other terms. Online learning is just one type of “distance learning” – the umbrella term for any learning that takes place across distance and not in a traditional classroom. Online distance learning meets the needs of an ever-growing population of students who cannot, or prefer not, to participate in traditional classroom settings. These learners include those unable to attend traditional classes, who cannot find a particular class at their chosen institution, who live in remote locations, who work full-time and can only study at or after work and those who simply prefer to learn independently. The minimum requirement for students to participate in an online course is access to a computer, the Internet, and the motivation to succeed in a non-traditional classroom. Online courses provide an excellent method of course delivery unbound by time or location allowing for accessibility to instruction at anytime from anywhere. Learners find the online environment a convenient way to fit education into their busy lives. The ability to access a course from any computer, with Internet access, 24/7 is a tremendous incentive for many of today’s students.


Our Approach At Skills Strategies International (SSI), we deliver our online courses through blended learning. Blended learning is a flexible approach to the design, development and delivery of learning and teaching. It is a hybrid of online learning and traditional face-to-face learning, the one enhancing the other. In a blended course, instruction may occur in the classroom, online, or in both settings. The online component (a range of learning activities using online learning environments) becomes a natural extension of traditional classroom learning. Your learning program will depend on your course and individual arrangements. Our blending learning approach includes online, virtual, face-to-face and workplace. Online Learning All our online learning is provided through Moodle, our Online Learning Portal. This online learning portal is accessible through our website. Further instructions are provided under the next section. Virtual Learning Virtual learning is a learning experience that is enhanced through utilising computers and/or the internet both outside and inside the facilities of the training organisation. The instruction most commonly takes place in an online environment. The teaching activities are carried out online whereby the trainer/assessor and learners are physically separated (in terms of place, time, or both). We provide virtual learning opportunities through Microsoft Teams and Zoom. You will receive an email invite to virtual classrooms and meetings. Face-to-Face Learning Face-to-face learning is an instructional method where course content and learning material are taught in person to a group of students. This allows for a live interaction between a learner and an instructor. It is the most traditional type of learning instruction. We deliver face-to-face learning at our training premises and onsite for certain groups. Workplace Learning Workplace learning is a structured work program that provides an opportunity for students to gain valuable on-the-job skills. Workplace learning will depend on the course and your individual arrangements. Trainees completing a nationally recognised qualification through traineeship arrangements will complete most of their learning in the workplace.

https://elearning.skillstrategies.edu.au/

https://www.skillstrategies.edu.au/

https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/office/creating-attending-and-running-meetings-while-using-teams-for-distance-learning-788d730f-2c7e-4761-a059-c9b3fe87adf7#ID0EACAAA=For_students



YOUR COURSE

Online Pre-Requisites To access your online course and progress with your learning you will need:

• Computer

• Internet

• Email address

• Basic computer skills

Login Instructions Your online course can be accessed by going to www.skillstrategies.edu.au and clicking on the Online Learning Login in the top right corner. This will take you to our Online Learning Portal where you need to enter your login details to access your courses. Login Details Username: firstnamesurname Password: changeme

Course Requirements Your course will include a copy of our Learner Handbook. Please read this handbook to understand your rights, responsibilities and requirements as a learner with Skills Strategies International.

Support Services As an online learner with SSI, you will be fully supported you throughout your course. Trainer/Assessor Your dedicated Trainer/Assessor will be assigned to you at enrolment confirmation (where you will also receive your login details). They will be the one facilitating your course program, teaching you the learning and marking your assessments. If you have any questions about your learning and assessment, they are the person to speak to.

Support Team Our Support Team organises the administration of your course, including enrolment, fees, information technology and certificates. If you have any problems or questions related to these areas please contact them by email at [email protected] or on (08) 6143 2180.

https://www.skillstrategies.edu.au/

https://elearning.skillstrategies.net/

mailto:[email protected]



LEARNING STRATEGIES

Getting Started As soon as possible, familiarise yourself with information relating to the course to establish what is expected of you. For successful online learning:

• Ensure that you have consistent and reliable internet access. Since just about everything you will be doing for your course will be online, regular Internet access is a must.

• Take some time to become familiar with the tools you will need to participate in your online courses. Explore the tools provided to ensure that the technology works on the computer you will be using.

• Refer to the course outline and materials frequently to become familiar with the objectives, assessments and deadlines. Print course materials and keep it close where it can be quickly reviewed.

• Consider your learning objectives and ensure that they align with the trainer/assessor goals. Creating notes that relate to your objectives can foster a conversation between you and the trainer/assessor at the beginning of the course, setting the appropriate expectations.

• Establish rapport with your Trainer/Assessor and an understanding of their office hours and response times so you can work collaboratively together.

• Online learning requires self-motivation. Take some time to develop habits that work for you specifically when it comes to time management and study practices. Review your assessments and get started on the work as soon as possible. Starting early on your tasks will ensure that you have time to study properly and succeed in your online courses.

Study Tips We've all experienced classroom study in school, but online learning is something completely different. Read our tips and conduct your own research on what works for you to achieve online study success. For successful online learning:

• Set up a dedicated workspace that is distraction-free, well-lit, and comfortable. Gather your supplies and a beverage or snack before sitting down to study or attend class. Close all distractions on the computer, including social media sites and chat programs.

• Take breaks to maintain focus and avoid fatigue. Studying for 30-45 minutes and then taking a short break away from the computer will help you stay focused and retain the information you are learning.

• Offline study tactics, such as writing notes down or creating visual aids, can help you retain the information covered during your classes.

• Make a plan by creating a weekly schedule of your deadlines and study hours to make sure you have time set aside to complete your assignments on time. Using a colour-coding system in your study calendar or agenda will allow you to identify different due dates quickly.

• Acknowledge procrastination and address the risk immediately. Identify if the procrastination is caused by something you can resolve or if you should reach out for help to remove any roadblocks.

• Find a study partner who can help you clarify requirements and complete assignments on time.

• Take notes and review them immediately after virtual classrooms. Taking notes will encourage you to remain focused and studying them after class will make sure the notes are clear and can be relied on later on.

• Bookmark any resources you have found helpful in your studies so you can easily access them later in your courses.


Effective Communication Online courses can cause challenges not often present in face-to-face training. However, by participating in online discussions, students have an opportunity to review and be actively involved in the conversation, while in-person discussions may move too quickly for some students to participate. Online communication can easily create misunderstandings, since it removes facial expressions, gestures, and tone of voice and replaces them with a computer screen and written words. Be clear and direct: Sarcasm and humour do not translate well when used in online discussions, and it’s easy to come off as rude on the Internet. Respect online privacy, including your own. Do not post personal information in a public forum. Participate in online group discussions. Becoming a member of the community can make you feel less isolated and help you learn more than what is covered in the syllabus. Share expert knowledge. Participate respectfully, provide links to follow-up resources, and be tactful about other people’s lack of knowledge or mistakes. Consider the best method of communication to use based on what you want to accomplish. In cases when you want to share concerns or discuss private matters, emailing someone is a better option than posting in a community. W.R.I.T.E The W.R.I.T.E way of communicating online:

Add to this and make it W.R.I.T.E.R:

W Warm Two-dimensional reading can lead to an overreaction due to the lack of warmth or human cues like tone of voice. If online comments are a source of frustration, pick up the phone and call the instructor or classmate for clarification.

R Responsive Due to the asynchronous nature of online communication, it is important to not assume that a lack of a response is a personal attack. Check the syllabus to identify instructor response times and verify that the instructor is not out of town. It is essential for students to ask questions as soon as possible to give instructors or classmates an opportunity to respond before an assignment is due.

I Inquisitive If the objective of a response is not clear, defensiveness should not be the first response. Students should ask clarifying questions if they are unsure about or disagree with a topic or answer.

T Tentative Tentatively framing a question will significantly reduce defensiveness in conversations with opposing opinions. For example, instead of using a statement, combine inquisitiveness and tentativeness to create a clarifying question: “Do you think it would be better if we…?”

E Empathetic Students should ask themselves, “How would I feel if someone approached me like this?” before responding to the instructor or classmates.

R Respect


Study Environment Find a quiet place free from distractions that you can use specifically for studying. Create a work atmosphere, e.g. by working at a desk. Have regular breaks. It is difficult to work for more than 45 minutes without a break. Try to avoid using your study place for relaxing or social activities such as chatting, writing letters etc. Keep your workplace free from clutter. Ensure that your study area has:

• Good lighting

• Ventilation

• Low noise level

• A comfortable (but not too comfortable) chair

• A desk large enough to spread out your materials

• All the equipment you need Ensure that your study area does not have:

• A distracting view

• A telephone

• Loud music

• A television

• Other people who want to chat Organise your materials:

• Start a filing system and organise documents into either traditional folders or folders on your PC

• Use the folder feature in your e-mail package to store your online interactions

• Save everything you write as you never know when you may need to refer to it again Workspace Set-Up Steps for setting up your workspace:

• Adjust the chair height so that your elbows are at desktop level (roll your shoulders back and relax them first).

• Sit fully back into your chair, adjust the seat back for good lower back support, use a lumbar roll if the back of the chair does not support your lower back.

• If your chair seat has a tilt feature, set it so that you are comfortably supported.

• If your feet don't comfortably reach the floor or there is pressure on the backs of your legs, use a footrest.

• Locate your monitor so the top third of the viewing area is at or below eye level. Use monitor stand if required. As long as you can clearly view the screen contents there is no specific distance that you need to be from the monitor.

• With elbows at the desk level, ensure that your wrists are straight. Use wrist rest if required, and if you have armrests try to adjust them so they support your arms without beings too high or too low.

• Position the mouse as close as is practical to the keyboard, so that both elbows are directly under the shoulders while working. If this is not possible you may need to purchase a mini keyboard.

• To reduce stress on the neck when working from paper documents, a document holder can be placed between the keyboard and monitor.

• Always either put the phone on loudspeaker (depending on your office environment) or use a phone headset if you need to use the computer while talking on the phone, this will help avoid neck and shoulder strain.

• Use your mouse pad or another soft surface to pad the edge of your desk. Avoid pressing your hands or forearms against any desk edge.

• Adjust screen brightness and contrast for clear comfortable viewing and clean the screen regularly. Also remember the 20-20-20 rule: look away from the monitor every 20 minutes to a distance of 20 metres for 20 seconds. This helps avoid eye strain.

• Remember to take breaks regularly preferably every 45 minutes to an hour for 1 or 2 minutes. Go get a glass of water talk to a co-worker etc.


Use the Ergonomic Workstation Checklist below to help you set-up your study area so it’s right for you.

Ergonomic

Workstation Checklist.docx

Time Management Although you may not have to attend classes regularly, you will still have to set aside regular time for studying. Try to commit a certain number of hours per week to your course. (Note that online courses often require greater time and commitment than traditional courses because it is so easy to put off your course work). Make sure you complete assessments on time and do not fall behind. Set up a schedule and allow yourself the same time each day/week to study. Having a routine will make it painless.

Team Work Working online on your own is almost impossible and you would need to be extremely motivated to complete a course. If possible, complete your learning with a friend or colleague so you have someone to bounce idea off and to work collaboratively with. Develop the necessary skills to work with others to complete projects. Participate in a study group with fellow students. Group study sessions can still be carried out "virtually" even though you are taking an online learning course.


Self-Motivation Set regular goals and deadlines and stick to them (there has to be something in it for you). Set some interim deadlines instead of waiting to the last minute to start assignments. Reward yourself for reaching your targets Ask your trainer/assessor for advice on how to become more motivated. You may be able to do a short course to assist. Ask for assistance on how to set manageable and realistic goals. Avoid procrastination. There is nothing worse than a blank page – so put something on it that can be edited later.

Progress Tracking Re-read the course objectives on a regular basis to see how you are progressing with them. Make an honest assessment of your progress. Discuss your progress with your facilitator and seek feedback. Take any necessary action if your progress is not as it should be. Contact your trainer/assessor regularly either by email or telephone. Ensure you seek immediate guidance if you do not understand the course material or are experiencing any other difficulties. If you have an unusual situation that hinders your work and prevents you from meeting a deadline, let your trainer/assessor know immediately.

Plan for Success Striking a study-life balance is critical to your success. Stick to your study schedule, and when you’re finished, walk away from studying and focus on your life. Use the available resources to get assistance when necessary. Your Trainer/Assessor and discussion board are available for course-related questions. Our Support Team is available for administration and technical support. Fellow students are an excellent resource to look to for study tips and tricks. You should remember that learning anything new is challenging. Don’t get discouraged when you run into a challenge: Keep trying, and don’t be afraid to ask for help. If you are unable to meet a deadline, make sure to communicate with your trainer/assessor as soon as possible. Do not wait until the deadline passes to reach out to your instructor. They will be more likely to work with you if you are up front about your challenges



ONLINE RESOURCES

To access the links below:

1. Right-click the hyperlink

2. Click "Open Link in New Window" or "Open Link in New Tab" based on your preferences

Technology Moodle User quick guide Microsoft Teams Creating, attending, and running meetings while using Teams for distance learning Zoom Quick start guide for new users Joining a meeting

Online Strategies Strategies for Online Success Strategies for Online Success (SOS) is an orientation to learning online geared towards preparing students for the transition from taking courses in-person to taking them online.

Study Tips

Online Study Australia – How to succeed in online courses

Seek Learning – How to study online for the best results

eLearning Industry – Getting the most out of your eLearning course

Coursera Blog – 8 tips for effective online learning

Digital Tools myHomework An online student planner. Microsoft To Do Helps you accomplish what’s meaningful to you each day with My Day, intelligent and personalised suggestions to update your daily to-do list. Noisli Provides you with white noise for studying. InsightTimer A free app provides guided meditations to help you rejuvenate. Chegg Learn how to solve tough problems with step-by-step textbook solutions. StudyBlue Creates flashcards to help prep for tests. Simplemind This mind mapping tool helps you lay out papers and come up with ideas.

https://docs.moodle.org/39/en/User_quick_guide

https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/office/creating-attending-and-running-meetings-while-using-teams-for-distance-learning-788d730f-2c7e-4761-a059-c9b3fe87adf7#ID0EACAAA=For_students

https://support.zoom.us/hc/en-us/articles/360034967471-Quick-start-guide-for-new-users

https://support.zoom.us/hc/en-us/articles/201362193-Joining-a-meeting

https://michiganvirtual.org/resources/sos/

https://onlinestudyaustralia.com/courses/how-succeed-tips/

https://www.seek.com.au/learning/studying/study-tips/how-to-study-online-for-the-best-results

https://elearningindustry.com/10-study-tips-for-online-learners-getting-the-most-out-of-your-elearning-course

https://blog.coursera.org/8-tips-for-effective-online-learning/

https://myhomeworkapp.com/

https://todo.microsoft.com/tasks/

https://www.noisli.com/

https://insighttimer.com/meditation-app

https://www.chegg.com/mobile/

https://www.studyblue.com/

https://simplemind.eu/


Todoist This app helps you keep a running list of required tasks and also set deadlines. AWW App Collaborative online whiteboard where you can have your ideas and sketches available on any device anywhere. Camtasia A free program that enables you to record computer screens, capture webcam and microphone, save recordings as videos and GIFs, and take screenshots. Canva A graphic design platform that allows users to create social media graphics, presentations, posters and other visual content. Dropbox A cloud storage service, which means you can copy your files to the cloud and access them later, even if you’re using a different device. Evernote Online tool where you can create and share any note you like, such as plans, to-do lists, agendas and more. Google Drive A file storage and synchronisation service that allows users to store files on their servers, synchronise files across devices, and share files. Your first 15 GB of storage is free. Dragon Use this dictation software if you get tired of typing notes. Rocketbook Allows you to write by hand then translates them to online text.

https://todoist.com/

https://awwapp.com/

http://www.movavi.com/

http://www.canva.com/

http://www.dropbox.com/

http://www.evernote.com/

http://www.google.com/drive/

https://shop.nuance.com/store/nuanceus/en_AU/Content/pbPage.home

https://getrocketbook.com.au/



GLOSSARY

Terms and Definitions

Blended Learning A flexible approach to the design, development and delivery of learning and teaching. It is a hybrid of online learning and traditional face-to-face learning, the one enhancing the other. In a blended course, instruction may occur in the classroom, online, or in both settings. The online component (a range of learning activities using online learning environments) becomes a natural

extension of traditional classroom learning.

Distance Learning A method of studying in which lectures are broadcast or lessons are conducted by correspondence, without the student needing to attend a school or college.

E-learning refers to the online interaction between you as a student and the teacher. Basically, you receive the training through an online medium, even though your teacher may be in the same building. E-learning can be used in a classroom or an online setting. Additionally, it can be used to simulate and intensify work-based learning situations.

Learner Student, Online Learner, RPL Candidate, Trainee.

Online Learning Allows students access to your courses from a remote location. They can complete learning activities and assessments online that are equivalent to an on-campus course.

Trainer/Assessor Instructor, Facilitator, Teacher.

Virtual Learning Distance learning conducted in a virtual learning environment with electronic study content designed for self-paced (asynchronous) or live web-conferencing (synchronous) online teaching and tutoring.

Documents

A guide for online learners - skillstrategies.edu.au