Studying online comes with its own challenges, and mastering how to participate in your online learning will help you get the most out of your digital university experience. Like studying on-campus you will have lectures and classes to attend, assignments and other tasks to complete. However, these classes and requirements will look different for an online student, and it’s important consider this as you plan your study. Interacting with your tutor or lecturer, and other students in your unit will also look different, and it may require more effort to actively participate in your units.
In brief, studying online will mean you need to consider:
Lecture times for each unit will be communicated through your Blackboard, usually through the unit announcements. Each unit will approach lectures differently and with varying frequency as needed. Teaching staff generally try to schedule lectures after work hours as this allows for more student attendees.
Teaching staff use iLecture (Echo360) on Blackboard to present lectures. While all lecture sessions are recorded, it is always recommended to attend live when possible, as it allows you to ask live questions for immediate answers.
Some tips to ensure you get the most out of your online lectures:
Discussion boards within Blackboard are widely used in online units. Teaching staff will likely use them to communicate on topics, answer queries, and share additional resources. They may also ask you to introduce yourself via a discussion board post. You can this as a way to let other students in your unit know what you’re studying, what other units you are doing, and where you’re based; you may find other students with similar study plans or in a similar area as you, and get a study buddy out of it!
Similar to studying on-campus you will need to manage your time effectively to succeed. As flexible as online learning can be you need to ensure you have the time required for study. The number of hours required for successful online study varies depending on your course, what unit you are studying, and how developed your study and assignment skills are. Generally, you should allow 10 hours of study per unit, per week. This number includes attending lectures and completing readings.
This number may increase during the lead-up to an assessment, exam, or placement, and may decrease at other times during the year. As you continue your studies, your understanding of assessments, readings, resources and processes will improve, and you may require less study time.
For more information, work through the time management module.
While it’s important for everyone to maintain their mental and physical wellbeing, it can be especially important for students studying online. You may struggle to find the motivation to study or feel isolated from your peers. However, there are some things you can do to help keep you on track and make you feel more connected.
You need a study space that supports your learning and reduces distractions. Ask yourself where you tend to study and focus best. If you don’t have an office, that space might be in your dining room, a corner of your bedroom, at a library or a quiet café. If the space is within your home, communicate with your family or housemates about your study times to ensure you are not disturbed unless necessary. If you are distracted by noise, try headphones for blocking sound, adding background music or white noise sounds. Ensure your seat is comfortable for extended periods of time, the lighting is appropriate, and you have access to power for your computer. To create the right mindset for study, try to complete only study-related work while in your study space.
If you are a Curtin online regional student, investigate if you are near a regional university centre and utilise their resources and study spaces.
The boundaries between your personal life, work and study can easily blur, and humans are not designed to focus for hours straight. It is important to take regular breaks and maintain a healthy balance, by sticking to your weekly time-blocked study schedule. If you have a busy study day, ensure you factor in time for stretching, resting your eyes, and drinking some water.
Take time during your first week to explore:
You will spend a lot of time on these platforms throughout your studies. Knowing where to find items will make you feel more comfortable and less stressed about finding resources later in your studies.
Live lectures and/or tutorials are scheduled by teaching staff at various points throughout the units, often at times outside of standard work hours. Although sessions are recorded, if you can attend live classes you will benefit from being able to ask questions and receive immediate responses from teaching staff. If attending a live lecture, attend prepared ensuring you have read any essential readings and have your preferred method of note-taking available.
Contributing to the unit discussion board will help you connect with other students, answers questions, share resources, and set up study groups. If there is a question you have for your teacher, odds are other students would benefit from the same question and answer. Don’t be nervous to post.
It is a requirement of your studies with Curtin that you log on to OASIS at least once every 7 days and check your Official Communications Channel for important updates. Accessing your emails regularly means you will be aware of contact from teaching staff, the university, and other students if you are working on group assignments. Managing your emails is a valuable skill that will help you at university and in your future work.
When studying through OUA, you need to enrol in your units through OUA directly. You can plan for your units by logging into your account and searching for your degree, and then downloading the degree guide or the enrolment guide. Course Coordinators can provide specific information about your units, but they cannot assist with enrolment.
You can also access student counselling services through OUA, and book a consultation with an OUA Student Advisor for help with enrolling and planning your studies.
While Curtin offers a range of support resources for OUA students, sometimes it’s difficult to know whether to contact Curtin or OUA for assistance. You should contact OUA if you need help with:
You should reach out to Curtin for assistance with:
If you’re unsure, contact Curtin Connect or the Student Success Advisors with any queries.
For more information, watch the video below.
There are several ways to connect with other OUA students. A good first step when starting out is to attend Curtin’s OUA Orientation. It allows you to find your way around your online learning environment, explore what support services are available to you and connect with the Curtin community.
You can also set up study groups and get study tips by accessing the OUA Student Lounge (on Blackboard under Organisations), and joining the OUA students Facebook group to connect with students from other Australian universities.
Regional University Study Hubs (RUSHs) are available in many country towns across Australia. These free-to-use spaces are open to students from any Australian university and provide access to:
RUSHs also often arrange information events and social events to help students build connections and feel less isolated while studying regionally.
View the list of RUSHs to find your nearest hub.