What’s it like studying online?
A variety of leaning methods are employed in the delivery of online courses from IT Sligo. Participants will have access to live lectures on the Internet to allow convenient access to classes. These lectures are also available in recorded formats, for those who cannot attend live sessions and also as revision resources. In addition to this you will learn by reading from books, notes and websites as well as carrying out assignments which may be submitted electronically. You will have continuous access to your lecturers and fellow learners using Internet based communication for the purpose of getting support in understanding study materials and in carrying out group based assignments. Where lecturers feel that certain topics cannot be adequately covered using these methods, they may schedule classes or laboratory sessions during the times specified for attendance at IT Sligo. Recently IT Sligo have developed the capacity to produce downloadable recordings of lectures that can also be loaded onto portable players such as the iPod Video or smartphone. (View RTE TV News report on online learning from IT Sligo)
Participants are expected to be self motivated, capable of working and studying on their own as well as with others, and be able to use the Internet to get support from the World Wide Web, their tutors and their fellow participants in the course.
Attendance Requirements
The requirement for attendance in Sligo is minimal. Participants will be required to physically attend a venue specified by Institute of Technology Sligo for a small number of days at the start of the course and subsequently at intervals throughout the course (averaging about 2 days per year at the moment). The dates for these will be set when individual lecturers submit their requirements in relation to practical work. Although attendance on these dates are a requirement for the course, participants will not be precluded from the course and related examinations due to non-attendance. Participants should note, however, that non-attendance may effect examination results insofar as certain lecturers may award continuous assessment marks for exercises carried out on these dates. Participants should also note that attendance on these dates may help in the study of associated theoretical material.
Learning Materials
Learning materials will primarily be text books and course notes, augmented by:
- online handouts from lecturers,
- online lectures and tutorials (live and recorded)
- references to other resources on the World Wide Web.
- online library services
Internet Facilities
As well as the Internet based learning materials specified above, participants will have access to live lectures and facilities for communicating with their lecturers and fellow participants for the purpose of tutorials, support and collaborative working. On request, lectures are also made available as downloads that can be played offline or even on an iPod type video player. (View RTE TV News report, Listen to Five Seven Live Radio Report, View our Youtube video)
Learning Methods
Commitment
It is expected that participants will be able to cover their course materials and assignments in about 16 hours per week of which a half may be online.
Assessment
Participants will be required to sit the same final written examination in each subject as the equivalent full time students attending the Institute of Technology, Sligo. These can be taken in the Institute of Technology Sligo and may also be available at other centres (currently Dublin and Cork). In addition to this, continuous assessment marks will be awarded for assignments carried out.
(Please note that the delivery and assessment methods described above are used by the School of Engineering and the School of Science in Biopharmaceutical masters degree. Many of the other distance learning courses use some of these techniques. Please check the course we-page or contact the relevant person for that course for more details)
Article by US Student in online magazine on the Benefits of Online Learning
Need more information?
For more information, check out our “Frequently Asked Questions” (FAQ) page or why not sign up for a free, live online webinar on “Online Learning from IT Sligo” where you can experience it for yourself and have your questions answered on the spot - click here to register or to listen to a webinar recording. Or just email parttime@itsligo.ie indicating the programme you are interested in.