Online teaching and learning
The University of South Australia has a strong commitment to the use of online teaching and learning to enable student-engaged and flexible modes of education.
University of South Australia resources
This section brings together all the resources provided by the University to assist staff to develop their online teaching and learning.
UniSAnet
UniSAnet is the online teaching and learning platform of the University of South Australia. It is the standard platform available to all staff who wish to create online learning resources and interactive activities. It is designed so all staff are able to develop online teaching and learning without a high level of technical expertise being necessary.
UniSAnet author help
UniSAnet author help provides step-by-step instructions for the development of UniSAnet "content objects" and "learning objects". These are the primary elements of course content or online learning activities in the UniSAnet online teaching and learning environment.
Advice for the development and maintenance of online learning environments
- Going online provides an overview of online teaching and learning opportunities available at the University of South Australia
- Preparing a course for online delivery provides practical guidance when planning a course for online delivery. Whether you are considering putting just a small activity, some supplementary resources for students or a complete course of study online, this guide will assist you in the initial planning stages.
- Online interactivity provides information that will help you understand interactive teaching and learning in the context of the online environment. It also provides an outline of different types of online interactivity, indicating how each can assist the development of Graduate Qualities.
- Online quizzes provides an overview of the use of quizzes for formative assessment and how to design questions and feedback.
- Online discussions provides helpful advice for using discussions in the online environment.
- Centra - UniSA's virtual classroom - In a nutshell - 5 minute overview
- Using Centra - UniSA's virtual classroom
- Online discussion strategies presents examples of how discussion groups are structured into courses, and suggests ways to make your workload lighter.
- Evaluation of online teaching and learning links to the evaluation tools and resources provided by the University.
- Podcasting - a 6 minute overview by Tim Sawyer on his experiences using podcasting.
Social Software
External online environments where students can author, such as wikis and blogs, can be incorporated into UniSAnet content objects.
- Using wikis in higher education - In a nutshell - 5 minute overview
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Blogs- In a nutshell - 5 minute overview
Online learning examples
The Online Learning Examples resource illustrates some of the online learning that happens at the University of South Australia (site restricted to University of South Australia staff).
The University's teaching and learning framework emphasises "Experiential Learning" as a way to prepare students for their professional lives and to engage them in learning. The online environment can assist in a number of ways. Examples that have been developed at UniSA include:
- Convention Simulation – this is in two parts:
- Part one the student is working in a consultancy and developing a proposal for a major convention to be help in their city.
- Part two, the student has won the proposal and is now organising the convention.
- Ramsden Simulation – this is based on previous work and is a simulation about running a hotel, called "The Ramsden".
- System Thinking Simulation – is designed to introduce and explore system thinking.
- The Club – to simulate the running of a fitness club
- IVT Simulation – an online simulation primarily to be used in the laboratory or hospital ward by nursing students with touch-screens. The software shows the student the correct procedures for administering intravenous therapy and tests their competence.
- Netlab - an online remote laboratory that allows students to operate real laboratory equipment online from anywhere in the world
- LEPI - Learning Environment for Practitioner Inquiry. This is a web-based learning environment used in teacher education programs which is designed for teachers who are learning how to do research in their classrooms.
Additional resources
A large number of websites on online teaching and learning can be found through search engines. Below are some links to educative materials on online teaching and learning:
- Australian Journal of Educational Technology - an accessible and informative online journal
- Merlot - a collection of free peer-reviewed online teaching and learning materials for higher education
- Online assessment is a resource from the Centre for Higher Education studies in Melbourne