FIRST YEAR E-LEARNING EXPERENCE
E-learning is becoming
more important and no more so than at University. Deakin is no exception. Deakin
is at the forefront of enhancing the online, e-learning experience for
students. Even before you get to
university you would have had some contact with the Deakin University website,
you may have had to submit your application online, upload documents or have
simply had a look at what courses were on offer.
Cloud Deakin
To assess cloud Deakin from the Deakin university homepage, you will click on the ‘current student’ tab. From here you will notice the tab ‘Cloud Deakin’, Simply log in with your Deakin username and password. The moment you log on to the Cloud Deakin link from the Deakin university homepage you will be given a variety of options. Cloud Deakin will be the starting point to your online learning at Deakin. Cloud Deakin is probably the most commonly used e-learning resource. Whilst it can seem rather daunting and foreign it will soon become one of your biggest tools at university. The Cloud Deakin homepage will be greet you with current and general news regarding Deakin.For more specific subject related news you will simply choose the subject from the left hand side where you will be taken to that subject’s home page. It is important to regularly check both homepages as they contain important messages and reminders. From the Cloud Deakin page you will be submitting assignments, completing quizzes, accessing resources and grades, and even have discussions with peers and lecturers about subject topics.
According to a study of e-learning practices, students saw the benefits of e-learning summarised into four points:
1. Success in promoting synergy between theory and practice
2. Specific themes in the module that widen their horizons and experience;
3. Discussion forums and interaction with other students; and
4. Other learning support with a focus on access to documents and other resources.
(Gilbert, Morton, & Rowley 2007)
Echo
This option from the resources tab in Cloud Deakin will be of benefit to many students for varying reasons. The basic principle behind the Echo recording is to record any given lecture and then post it in the cloud. It is there you can view the lecture again in your own time, or if you are unable to attend a lecture in person then you view it online in many different formats. This does not, however, take precedence over physically being at a lecture as some important discussions or important notices are often conveyed at the end of the lecture, when recording may have ceased.
Resources
In the resources tab via Cloud Deakin after you have chosen a subject, if you then click on the resources tab you will find a vast amount of subject specific information. You will find anything from course guides, lecture and tutorial notes, the echo recordings, upcoming events, assessment tasks and week by week reading material.
STAR
The acronym STAR is short for Student Timetable Allocation and Registration and this is where you will enter you preferences for your timetable. You can access your timetable from this location as well as update you details, get course information. You will also use STAR to access documents for things relating to assessment and exams. For example, if you needed to apply for special consideration, view your results or track an assignment.
Above is a brief overview of some of the e-learning tools a first year university student will need to familiarise themselves with. There are many benefits to e-Learning and with Deakin’s user friendly system, integration of e-learning into the curriculum, access to technology and skills training for staff and students, essential strategies for successful e-learning at university are relatively easy to master.
Cloud Deakin
To assess cloud Deakin from the Deakin university homepage, you will click on the ‘current student’ tab. From here you will notice the tab ‘Cloud Deakin’, Simply log in with your Deakin username and password. The moment you log on to the Cloud Deakin link from the Deakin university homepage you will be given a variety of options. Cloud Deakin will be the starting point to your online learning at Deakin. Cloud Deakin is probably the most commonly used e-learning resource. Whilst it can seem rather daunting and foreign it will soon become one of your biggest tools at university. The Cloud Deakin homepage will be greet you with current and general news regarding Deakin.For more specific subject related news you will simply choose the subject from the left hand side where you will be taken to that subject’s home page. It is important to regularly check both homepages as they contain important messages and reminders. From the Cloud Deakin page you will be submitting assignments, completing quizzes, accessing resources and grades, and even have discussions with peers and lecturers about subject topics.
According to a study of e-learning practices, students saw the benefits of e-learning summarised into four points:
1. Success in promoting synergy between theory and practice
2. Specific themes in the module that widen their horizons and experience;
3. Discussion forums and interaction with other students; and
4. Other learning support with a focus on access to documents and other resources.
(Gilbert, Morton, & Rowley 2007)
Echo
This option from the resources tab in Cloud Deakin will be of benefit to many students for varying reasons. The basic principle behind the Echo recording is to record any given lecture and then post it in the cloud. It is there you can view the lecture again in your own time, or if you are unable to attend a lecture in person then you view it online in many different formats. This does not, however, take precedence over physically being at a lecture as some important discussions or important notices are often conveyed at the end of the lecture, when recording may have ceased.
Resources
In the resources tab via Cloud Deakin after you have chosen a subject, if you then click on the resources tab you will find a vast amount of subject specific information. You will find anything from course guides, lecture and tutorial notes, the echo recordings, upcoming events, assessment tasks and week by week reading material.
STAR
The acronym STAR is short for Student Timetable Allocation and Registration and this is where you will enter you preferences for your timetable. You can access your timetable from this location as well as update you details, get course information. You will also use STAR to access documents for things relating to assessment and exams. For example, if you needed to apply for special consideration, view your results or track an assignment.
Above is a brief overview of some of the e-learning tools a first year university student will need to familiarise themselves with. There are many benefits to e-Learning and with Deakin’s user friendly system, integration of e-learning into the curriculum, access to technology and skills training for staff and students, essential strategies for successful e-learning at university are relatively easy to master.