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Online Study: Personal Experiences

Our students share their experience of studying online and provide tips to help you succeed.

Lindy: "Studying Online Has Been a Huge Help"

Who: Lindy Jones, NSW
Course: Bachelor of Applied Social Science

Why did you choose to study your course online?
Because it worked for me. I have four kids, work part time and my husband is the pastor of a church so we are actively involved in community life too. Juggling all of this gave me little room to get the education I need and still live my life. Online works because I can access it at any time!

What were the main benefits of online study?
You can do whatever is required for the course, whenever it's convenient for you. Also, I have managed to do more than 4/5ths of a 3-year course in just a year and a half! Most people like to slow it down when they have kids, but there are those of us out there that like to really go hard and get what needs to be done as quickly as possible. I'd have to say that studying online has been a huge help in this!

What were your biggest challenges while studying online?
There can be a bit of distance between myself and the educators. I didn't have someone on hand at the drop of a hat to answer any questions that need to be answered. This can be a little difficult. I could contact the college at any time, which was really good to know, but it wasn't as easy as face-to-face.

Did you have much interaction with other students?
There are plenty of options to be able to interact with other students, however it seems like most people are studying online because they are really busy and time is valuable. So while the opportunity is there, it is the individuals that still need to get behind it and make it work!

What study support services were available to you? Did you use them?
Certainly the interaction from educators via discussion boards was of value, as was the knowledge that any time I could call and speak directly to whoever I needed to at any given time.

What course materials and resources did you receive? What were they like?
I have studied both by correspondence and online. The course materials I received for correspondence study were sent out the week before each module was due to commence and were very informative. All readings and resources like the student handbook and academic guidelines were also available online whether studying online or by correspondence. I have used these materials numerous times!

Do you have any tips or advice for people considering online study?
Time management can be really tricky. I usually study when my kids are in bed or when my older two are at school and my younger two are resting...if I'm lucky! Fitting anything in is a challenge, but with online study, you do what you can when you can. I've found that the housework can wait!

Alli: "Study When It Suits You Best"

Who: Alli Watson, QLD
Course: Bachelor of Applied Social Science (Counselling)

Why did you choose to study your course online?
I wanted to study so I could work in human services, but full time on-campus study was not financially an option: I still needed a full time salary. Studying online allowed me to continue to work full time and still pursue my passion for human services.

What were the main benefits of online study?
I was able to work during the day and study at night when I felt like it. It really was a win-win situation because I was able to maintain my financial commitments and follow my career goal at the same time.

What were your biggest challenges while studying online?
It was daunting! The thought of studying without having someone right there to ask was scary at first. Once I was enrolled though, I was more than impressed with the structure of the course and the support that was available from both fellow online students and the educators. Admittedly, you need to be extremely focused and motivated because there is no-one telling you to keep on track. It's all up to you to stay up-to-date with your studies.

Did you have much interaction with other students?
Occasionally. There was always someone to help you out in the forums if you needed it! The forums are very active and I like to check in on them every now and then just see how things are travelling. There are always people organising study-buddy groups within local areas - I didn't take part as time is a huge factor for me. But the support from other students is definitely there if you need it.

What study support services were available to you? Did you use them?
The most useful I found were the college's Academic Skills Guide and their Referencing Guide. This clearly lays out exactly what is expected from each style of assessment and how to set it out, which is invaluable! The referencing guide is very comprehensive, and a resource that you will constantly refer to when completing assessments.

What course materials and resources did you receive? What were they like?
As I studied completely online, I didn't receive any hard copy course materials. It was all online. The way it is structured is fantastic, with specific course notes and readings set out for each week, which made it very easy to stay on track. The course notes were extremely comprehensive and easy to read - they're definitely not boring, technical, jargon-filled essays. Very user friendly.

Do you have any tips or advice for people considering online study?
In a nutshell, you do need to be very focused and motivated to keep yourself on track, but the good far outweighs the bad. Online study allows you to study when it suits you best. You can keep up with your other commitments, like work, children and your social life, and fit study in around this. It's not easy, but it's definitely more flexible than having to travel to classes and miss out on money by only working part time.