How do you study online?

Online learning can be anything from watching a video about assembling lasagne to earning a doctorate of education.

There are several models for online learning, including hybrid and synchronous. Ours is facilitated asynchronous learning — a model that we think works best for our online programmes.

What we mean by 'facilitated asynchronous learning’

We think that’s the best method for our learners to succeed at online learning with us.

To describe what it means, we’ll start by talking about what it does not mean:

• Synchronous learning: Learning happens in a classroom or via video conferencing in real-time with an instructor/trainer and students all logging into a virtual or traditional classroom at the same time.
• Asynchronous learning: As the name suggests, there is no synchronicity between tutors and students, or even students with students. You may find this when learning a coding language with an online school, which is usually offered without a start or end date, has no appointed tutor, and assessments are auto-graded. YouTube is a great source of asynchronous learning.

Facilitated asynchronous learning is a model that offers students all of the convenience of online learning, but also provides structure and support around it with programme start and end dates, expectations of weekly learning hours, set due dates for assessments, and live (synchronous online) sessions regularly. This allows you to work through your learning alongside others at the same time, enabling you to enrich your connections and form an online community. Connection with your peers and wider learning community will help support the successful completion of your academic goals, but also afterwards for the all-important career networking.

Your online community becomes your support, resources, and friends because you all share a timeframe, but learning at the pace you set for yourself — within the academic milestones set out in the programme outline. Your online tutor isn’t an unnamed author of an eLearning, but rather a trained instructor, there to offer help and guidance if you need a bit of extra academic support.

Learning hours for your programme

You will be required to complete a specific amount of learning hours for the programme you are enrolled in. Completing the required hours is essential for learning and skills development.

Learning hours are asynchronous, so you can complete them in your own time. While there is no set class time, and learning takes place at all different times for students enrolled in the programme, you are still encouraged to interact with them through forums or group messaging. Just remember you may need to wait for a response since the recipient may not be keeping the same study hours as you.

The number of learning hours depends on the programme you are studying and whether you are studying part-time or full-time. Part-time students will need to allocate an average of 20 hours a week, whereas full-time students will allocate an average of 37.5 hours a week.

Each programme will have set learning hours. Learning hours information is in the Course Overview of each programme and also included in your programme of study's Programme and Assessment Info PDF, which will be displayed in a forum post on the first day of your programme (check out The Hub in your programme of learning).

The learning hours include time for:

• reading, watching, and completing the activities in the Online Campus
• completing assessments
• self-directed practical activities
• self-directed theory (researching areas of interest or where you need more support).

Assessment deadlines for your programme

You'll need to schedule assessment hand-in deadlines.

Your assessment deadlines will be communicated to you as your programme begins, in the Programme and Assessment Info PDF. This PDF will be displayed in a forum post on the first day of your programme (check out The Hub in your programme of learning).