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Academic and Study Skills

Studying Online 

Some Advice for the Online Mode of Study

Studying Online allows you to fit study around work, social and family commitments. Once of the main draws to this type of study is the you can study at home, in the office, or any place and time that suits you. However, this type of study also brings with it a number of challenges. Effective techniques are key to navigating these challenges and to your long term study goals.

The key to success in distance learning is effective self-management and the following guidelines may be helpful:

  • Assess and work to improve your skills in terms of time management. The effective use of time is critical when completing a course part-time by online learning.
  • List your personal commitments and evaluate the impact of these commitments on the way you study and the workloads created.
  • Using the Study Schedule provided in the CPEE unit module, develop a plan outlining the way you will manage your workload at critical times such as when assignments are due and prior to examinations.
  • Take into account your concentration span when scheduling study tasks.
  • Decide where you will be able to study best and create an environment which maximises your chances of effective study.
  • Establish goals for study tasks and make these goals realistic.
  • Note the importance of achieving a balance between work and other aspects of your life including rest and relaxation.

The estimated student workload for each CPEE unit is 150 hours and includes assignment work. Each assignment should take no more than 20 hours to complete and in the case of essay type assignments, no more than 5000 words unless stated.

Common Problems

The Charles Sturt University website provides a good breakdown of common problems that are most likely to impact on successful study and provides techniques for approaching each.
Common problems that students face with study include:
  • procrastination and distractions
  • time management
  • lack of a dedicated study space
  • disinterest in a subject
  • lack of concentration
  • coping with the amount of reading

Refer to the Charles Sturt University website for the full article

Open Universities Australia provides a number of study tip sheet specifically for studying by distance learning covering topics such as 'academic writing', 'managing stress', 'time management' and 'reading' techniques amongst others. Study Tip Sheets

Assessment

What is Assessment

Assessment enables students to demonstrate their achievement of forms of learning described in the learning outcomes. It contributes to the development of graduate attributes and professional standards and judges student performance against explicit and relevant criteria.

The following 2 types of assessment are used to determine students achievement of learning outcomes.

  • Formative assessment that provides feedback to the student during their learning experience;
  • Summative assessment that focusses on the outcomes of student learning and involves the evaluation of the final outcomes of the learning experience.

Assessments

A number of CPEE units require the submission of written work. Submitting writen assessments requires that students have access to both the Internet and a valid email to receive notifications. Students entering the program without this access will be unable to submit their assessments or receive feedback.