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Master of Child and Family Health: Studying online

Online environment

Online environment

What does an online environment look like?

When you consider the physical space of a face-to-face study program, your first few weeks are about learning which building houses which classrooms or lecture theatres, where the cafeteria is and the office of your tutors.  So too do you need to familiarise yourself with your online learning space. Within the first few weeks of this course, make sure you take the time to:

  • Find out how to contact your Course Coordinator and tutors
  • Familiarise yourself with the role of the communicative activities. Make sure you introduce yourself to your fellow learners, and take the time to get to know them.
  • Determine how the learning experience is set out - written information, audio information, video information.
  • Understand the process of creating and submitting your assessment tasks
  • Explore the array of support resources available.
  • Identify early if there is an area that you are not comfortable or competent with, and actively seek to bring yourself up to speed. As adult learners, you are expected to be active in the learning experience, not passive.
  • As facilitators, we can anticipate common student needs and provide resources accordingly. However if something is missing, please notify the Course Co-ordinator immediately so we can guide you in achieving the supports you need.

Studying online

Abbotsford House study room, Michael D. Beckwith, Wikimedia, CC 0.

Critical to a successful online learning experience is having a good study location. For the online learner the home study space is likely to be where everything happens, so it’s important that you make the space practical and comfortable. Choose a quiet room, ensure good lighting, let the family know about your study timetable, shut the door and get started. Read more about setting up a study space.

Devices

This is an online course, so you will need an electronic device to access the learning materials. Are you using your own laptop? Or  maybe you plan to use your smart phone or iPad?  Or do you have an old PC that struggles with current updates? Or maybe you don't own an electronic device and plan to use the computers in the local library?  Whilst we endeavour to ensure that all our online materials are compatible with multiple internet servers and multiple devices, we cannot anticipate all needs. Think about your equipment needs and how regularly you can access them.

Technology

Familiarise yourself with the technology being used during online learning. This could be the popular Learning Management Systems (LMS) used by Federation University (Moodle) or it could be a video-enabled platform such as Camtasia, Adobe Connect,  or Skype. Ensure that you know how to use and navigate these platforms well before classes start.

You’re not expected to understand them perfectly from the start, but you need to be prepared to get to grips with new technologies. Ask for help if you need it! Other things to consider:

  • What operating system are you using? (Windows, Mac or Linux)
  • What internet browser are you using? (Internet Explorer, Mozilla Firefox, Safari, Google Chrome, etc.)
  • Is your computer reliable? (Does it frequently crash or stop working?)
  • Is your internet connection reliable? (Do you often lose connection to the internet?)
  • Is there an alternative study space available to you? (And does it have all the necessary equipment?)
  • Will you require plugins and do you have the necessary plugins? (Flash, Quicktime, etc.)
  • Do you know who to contact for help if you encounter problems?

Know your own technological capabilities and limitations and the reliability of your internet connection.

Sometimes problems you can’t predict, such as software incompatibility or losing your internet for a week. It’s important to be  consider your alternatives if the worst happens. Get help before classes start.

Studying online is a way to tailor your study to fit you. You will need to be self-motivated and maintain discipline to avoid falling behind. The following strategies taken from the Study Skills online study strategies page can help. 

Take responsibility: Online learning means many informal exchanges happen online using platforms such as Moodle, Teams or Adobe Connect. These are not the same as face-to-face encounters and can create challenges, especially in terms of staying motivated. But you can still maintain social connections and do well in online study by planning ahead. Be committed: Online learning is an essential part of your program, and you are still being assessed. Know yourself: Understand your study habits, sleeping patterns, and how you work best. Keep up the motivation to perform well. Have a routine: Online study requires managing your time carefully. Schedule regular study time where and when it suits you. Maintain engagement: Read the course descriptions and assessments and put due dates in your calendar, as well as any online classes scheduled. Contact the lecturer if anything is unclear.

Being fluent in online communication is vital at university, and learning some key practices will benefit you when you enter the workforce. The following advice is taken from the Study Skills page on communication.

Email: Email style can differ according to who you are writing to. Generally, if you are introducing a new topic, it is best to begin as you would in a formal letter, using the subject line to state what you are emailing about. Keep emails brief and factual, and remember to include your name, student number and course ID when signing off so that the lecturer knows who you are. Forum discussion: A forum is an online 'place' which allows you to interact with lecturers and students to share ideas and questions. Your course Moodle shell will have a News forum where the lecturer can make general announcements. Some assessments may require you to be active in a forum, by making a post or replying to a post by somebody else. Chat: This can occur within Moodle, Teams or a virtual class in real time. You may chat online as part of a group assessment, or post a question in the chat during an online class. Fast typing can lead to spelling or punctuation errors, so check your message before sending.

Always remember to be polite and respectful to others when communicating online. 

‘Virtual classrooms’ are essentially online learning spaces. At Federation University, these virtual classes are found within the Moodle shell for each unit. Your unit will either use Microsoft Teams or Adobe Connect for online classes. Once you have identified your virtual classroom, select the Join button to enter. The following tips from the Study Skills page on virtual classrooms will help you get the most out of online classes.

Audio and video: You will need speakers or headphones to hear what is going on in the online class, and if you are expected to speak and have verbal discussions, a microphone or headset with both microphone and headphones will be required. You may also wish to get a webcam to show your face during class. Make sure all devices are plugged in before entering the online classroom. Etiquette: It is good practice to remain on mute unless you are speaking. That way, others will not be distracted by any background noise. If video is used, the web speed may slow down for students with slower internet connections. In large classes, consider turning your video off. Breakout rooms: Your lecturer may put you in break out rooms for small group discussions. The chat, audio and video work in the same way as the main room. Recordings: The lecturer will usually make recordings of online classes available on Moodle in case you were not able to make the live session.

Study skills

The Study Skills website has more information about studying online. 

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