Griffith University

Introduction

Learning online is a rich, collaborative experience, which will allow you to:

  • Feel connected, engaged and part of a learning community - perhaps more so than if you just attended a face to face lecture.
  • Expand your network as you collaborate with other students from around the world. When you work with people from a variety of backgrounds, your assumptions are challenged and some of your knowledge is validated, but, what is certain is that you learn and grow from the experience.
  • Interact with the others in ways that suit your preferences. You may choose to share a video, review a discussion or take time to reflect - it's up to you.
  • Build your skills in collaborative problem-solving and contribute to the learning of others. These are vital skills to have in the workplace now and in the future, as well as in your studies.
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How we communicate

We use two key forms of communication in our online classes:

  • Synchronous communication is usually scheduled at a particular time and occurs in real-time eg. Skype, Instant Messaging, Chat, Webinars, WebEx and Teleconference.
  • Asynchronous communication is flexible and doesn't follow a schedule eg. professional tools such as Yammer and Discussion Forums. A benefit of using asynchronous communication tools is that they give you the time to reflect on material and ask a question at any time - when the inspiration strikes.

We use the asynchronous communication tool Yammer in many of our courses to connect you with the class, form study groups, engage with the teacher and ask questions.

As well as tools supporting your learning experience, we also encourage you to join your program's LinkedIn group so you can network professionally with your class and alumni. For example, the Griffith MBA for Life Group connects past and present MBA students.

These videos provide an overview of the asynchronous communication tools you will encounter while studying with Griffith.

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Online classrooms

Online classrooms are the key form of synchronous communication you will use while studying with us. Web conferencing tools are used to allow real time discussion at scheduled times with fellow students and your lecturer.

Sessions are recorded, so if you can't make the scheduled time you can listen to the recording at a time that suits you.

Online classrooms help to facilitate an online learning community by providing opportunities to:

  • explore topics further and benefit from the collective wisdom of the whole class via discussion
  • clarify any aspects of the course or assessment
  • establish connections and build professional networks
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Assessment in online courses

As an online student, you can expect to undertake a range of assessment tasks designed to contribute to deeper levels of learning and understanding about the core themes of the course.

All assignments are submitted, marked and returned to you online. So there's no need for posting or going to campus to submit assignments or collect your marked assignments!

This means more time for you to focus on your learning.

Assessment Types

Most of our courses will include two types of assessment:

  1. Formative - an assessment that is designed to provide you with feedback about how your learning journey in a course is proceeding, allowing you to identify areas you may need to improve upon. These assessments are not graded.

    Examples include short quizzes that provide you with immediate feedback on your answers and discussions about research materials for a graded summative assessment.
  2. Summative - an assessment that is marked and counts towards your final grade for a course and certifies your level of achievement against the course's learning outcomes.

    Examples include but are not limited to: essays, presentations, business plans, scenarios on the future of your industry, theory reviews, guided negotiations, and producing video presentations.

We ensure all assessment tasks have clear guidelines and are aligned with the course's learning outcomes. You will also receive constructive feedback that will allow you to progress and build on your knowledge.

All assessment items are digitally enabled and while many are individually based, some will include group work.

Applying assessment to practice

One of the misconceptions about university assessment is that it does not always relate to an individual's day to day work challenges.

At Griffith, we ensure that our assessment tasks are relevant to real world problems and practices, contributing to your ability to apply theory to practice and vice versa. The output of assessment can often be used in your current workplace.

Through the mix of assessment types and the feedback we provide, we ensure that by studying with us you are practicing and developing the skills you need to operate in your future world of work.

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Hear from our students

Our students are a very diverse cohort, with unique backgrounds and differing levels of previous academic experience. You might be surprised to hear what a selection of our current students have volunteered here about their very personal experiences studying online with Griffith.

"It doesn't matter what background you have - there are parts of your previous background that you can bring to the table…" Gregor, Master of Financial Planning.

Student tips

Everyone has a different style of study to fit with their unique context and lifestyle. Finding the right time and place to study comes down to you.

See our students give very frank and down-to-earth tips in this video.

"Other distractions studying online are Facebook… TV… novels… you just have to put them aside. They'll be there when you finish!" Claire, Master of Business Administration.

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