Studying Externally

The following pages provide an introduction to External Study and how it differs from other types of study.

If you’ve only studied internally before (i.e. on a campus), you'll find both similarities and differences when it comes to external study. Tasks like completing weekly readings and researching & writing assignments are the same whether you're studying internally or externally. However, there are some differences you should be aware of.

No lectures or tutorials on campus

As an external student, you’re not required to attend lectures or tutorials on campus. Some courses may have online tutorials (virtual classrooms), while others may require you to participate in online discussions. There might also be lecture recordings to listen to each week. Read your Course Outlines carefully to check what your courses require.

While on-campus attendance is not required, some courses in your program have on-campus workshops at City East campus, e.g. Abdominal Sonography, Obstetric and Gynaecological Sonography, Superficial Parts Sonography, and Vascular Sonography. Attendance is recommended but not compulsory. In addition, the courses Mammography and Clinical Mammography both include a five day face-to-face workshop series, and the course Clinical Sonography Portfolio has an Objective Structured Clinical Examination (OCSE), a practical exam that must be completed on campus. See your Course Outlines for further information.

Less face-to-face contact with staff

Since you won't be interacting with teaching staff face-to-face on a weekly basis, email and telephone are your main methods of communicating with staff. If you have an important question, are having difficulty with an assignment or need an extension, contact the relevant staff member as soon as possible. Check your Course Outlines for staff contact details. If the staff member does not respond, you can leave a message with the School office. Some courses also regularly answer student questions via their discussion forums.

More independence

Because you’re not required to attend lectures and tutorials on campus, this gives you greater independence as a student. However, this also means that lecturers won't always remind you about due dates or check you're up to date with readings. There are study-planning resources available to help you stay up to date. If you encounter or anticipate difficulties managing your study for personal or health-related reasons, contact Counselling or Disability services.

If you’ve only studied internally before (i.e. on a campus), you'll find both similarities and differences when it comes to external study. Tasks like completing weekly readings and researching & writing assignments are the same whether you're studying internally or externally. However, there are some differences you should be aware of.

No lectures or tutorials on campus

As an external student, you’re not required to attend lectures or tutorials on campus. Some courses may have online tutorials (virtual classrooms), while others may require you to participate in online discussions. There might also be lecture recordings to listen to each week. Read your Course Outlines carefully to check what your courses require.

While on-campus attendance is not required, some courses in your program have on-campus workshops at City East campus, e.g. Abdominal Sonography, Obstetric and Gynaecological Sonography, Superficial Parts Sonography, and Vascular Sonography. Attendance is recommended but not compulsory. In addition, the courses Mammography and Clinical Mammography both include a five day face-to-face workshop series, and the course Clinical Sonography Portfolio has an Objective Structured Clinical Examination (OCSE), a practical exam that must be completed on campus. See your Course Outlines for further information.

Less face-to-face contact with staff

Since you won't be interacting with teaching staff face-to-face on a weekly basis, email and telephone are your main methods of communicating with staff. If you have an important question, are having difficulty with an assignment or need an extension, contact the relevant staff member as soon as possible. Check your Course Outlines for staff contact details. If the staff member does not respond, you can leave a message with the School office. Some courses also regularly answer student questions via their discussion forums.

More independence

Because you’re not required to attend lectures and tutorials on campus, this gives you greater independence as a student. However, this also means that lecturers won't always remind you about due dates or check you're up to date with readings. There are study-planning resources available to help you stay up to date. If you encounter or anticipate difficulties managing your study for personal or health-related reasons, contact Counselling or Disability services.

External study has many benefits. It is especially useful if you live a long distance from any campus or work full-time. However, some students find external study challenging, especially if they

Learn best through face-to-face teaching: Some students work best when interacting with others, and can find external study lonely. However, there are plenty of strategies for making contact with other students, such as using the online discussion forums on your course websites, connecting with others via social networking, and making friends at any on-campus events you attend.

Aren't comfortable using computers: The majority of course content is delivered online, so successful study requires regular computer access and comfort using computers. If you wish to study in our programs but are uncomfortable using computers, we suggest doing a computer course offered by your local community library or adult learning centre before you start (e.g. WEA or Adelaide Library Digital Hub for students based in Adelaide).

Don't have the time: While external study gives you some flexibility when deciding your study hours, it won't work if you don't already have time in your week to study. Look at your list of weekly commitments and then consider the time you have left over. A standard course/subject requires 8-10 hours of your time per week to complete set readings, participate in activities, and work on assignments and/or smaller tasks. If you can accommodate one or more courses, then study will be feasible: we recommend studying one course per study period to keep study manageable. But if you don't have sufficient time in your week for study, you might need to reconsider your options.

The next few pages provide checklists to ensure you're prepared for External Study and tips for who to contact for different types of questions.

This checklist should give you some idea, at a glance, of areas you'll need to do some preparatory work in before you start studying. Print it off and work through it to help you evaluate your readiness for study.

If you answered mostly Yes, that’s great and you’re in a good place to start studying. If you answered a lot of questions with Unsure or No, this should give you some idea of areas to improve in or prepare for. Make a telephone or face to face appointment with Language and Learning staff at the Learning and Teaching Unit to discuss any areas needing improvement.

Since most of your learning is done online and assignments are written electronically, it's important to have computer access and basic computing skills. This checklist will help show you at a glance whether you're prepared for online study. Print it off and work through it to evaluate your readiness for online learning.

If you answered mostly Yes, that’s great and you’re in a good place to start studying. If you answered a lot of questions with Unsure or No, this should give you some idea of areas to develop further before study begins. Make a telephone or face to face appointment with Language and Learning staff at the Learning and Teaching Unit to discuss any areas needing improvement.

If you have questions and concerns, it helps to know where to go: sometimes this can be confusing as there are so many services at UniSA. The table below suggests who to approach for different types of questions.

Contact details and links:

Campus Central

Learning and Teaching Unit

IT Helpdesk

Library

Course and program contact info can be found elsewhere on this website.

The next few pages provide tips for making the best start and organising your weekly activities, as well as advice for managing time, staying motivated, and communicating with staff.

1. Login to myUniSA

myUniSA is the online student portal where you can access student email, course websites, and other university services. Once you have your username and password, visit www.unisa.edu.au/myunisa or access the portal from the top of the university's homepage (use the link 'For students'). Login and explore the portal.

2. Check your email

Once you've logged into myUniSA, open your student email account and read any important messages from the university. As an external student, email is your main channel of communication with the uni, so check it regularly. If you like, you can redirect your university email to another account.

3. Visit your course websites

Every course you’re enrolled in has a learnonline website which is accessible from myUniSA. This is where course information, readings and resources are located. Spend time exploring your course websites and getting to know their layout. In particular, for each course you should locate:

• Course Outline: this provides an overview of course content, assignment due dates and instructions
• Lecture recordings: this is where new lectures are uploaded
• eReadings: this is where required weekly readings are found
• Contact details for the Course Coordinator

Please note that some course websites might not be open to students until the very start of study period. Once study period begins, visit your course websites each week. Don't postpone or go long periods without visiting them, otherwise it can be hard to catch up and you might miss important information.

4. Attend Orientation

Even though you’re studying externally, if you live in the Adelaide area you can attend Orientation activities for the Division of Health Sciences. This is a chance to meet staff, network with other students, and learn about services available to you. If you’re based elsewhere and/or unable to attend, you should still explore the New Students website.

5. Create a weekly schedule

As an external student, it's important to create a study routine. Download a weekly planner, enter all your work and family commitments, and identify optimal times to study. We suggest devoting around 10 hours per week to each course you enrol in. If this isn't manageable or your circumstances change, you can modify your enrolment: be aware of census and withdraw without fail dates to avoid fees or fail grades.

6. Create a calendar for study period

We also suggest downloading a study period calendar. Once you've done this, look at your Course Outlines and record the due dates of different assignments onto your calendar. This will help you remember what’s due when to plan your time effectively. If you live with a partner or family members, display the calendar in a prominent place so they know when your workload is heaviest. Also record census dates, public holidays and deadlines for fees.

7. Set up computer facilities

Since you’re studying online, it’s important that you're comfortable using computers. If you need to develop your skills further, enquire at your local community library or adult education provider. It's also important to have access to a good computer at home, i.e. a machine no more than a few years old with Microsoft Office, high speed internet access and virus protection software. If you don't have a home computer and live near a UniSA campus, you can use computers on campus. You can also connect to the University's wireless internet with your laptop, tablet or Smartphone.

8. Create a study space

It’s important to create a suitable study space for yourself. Your space should be comfortable, well-lit, quiet and free of distractions. If you live near a campus you can use student spaces on campus and in the Library for study, but a study space at home is very beneficial.

9. Explore the Library website

Spend time exploring the Library's website. The Library is your gateway to information, and will be your main research tool for assignments. Also, as an external student you're eligible to use the Library's Off-Campus Library Service.

10. Explore other student services

Familiarise yourself with different student services, such as Campus Central - your one-stop shop for enrolment info and general enquiries - and the Learning and Teaching Unit, which provides counselling, disability services, language and learning support, career advice, and international student advice.

As an external student, there are a number of things you’ll need to do each week to stay on top of your study.

1. Complete weekly readings

In most courses there are weekly readings. These readings coincide with each week's lecture theme or topic. Sometimes these readings will be part of a textbook (which can be purchased from UniBooks) and in other cases they are provided online, via the eReadings link on the course website. Keep up to date with each week's readings.

2. Complete weekly tasks and participate in virtual classrooms or online discussions as required

Some courses will require you to complete activities each week as part of your assessment. Others might require you to participate in online tutorials (virtual classroom) or contribute to discussion forums. Read your course requirements carefully to check what each course requires. Also take notes during lectures and classes.

3. Clinical Experience

Throughout your program you will continue working as a trainee Sonographer to complete the practical requirement of 2200 clinical experience hours.

4. Assignment work

Most courses will set two or three assignments which are due at different times during study period. Check your Course Outlines for assignment due dates and consult staff for advice about assignments where needed. Most courses set due dates at similar times, which means if you’re enrolled in more than one course you might need to work on two or more assignments at once, so planning ahead is important. For information on different types of assignments, visit the Language, Literacies and Learning website.

5. Communication and problem-solving

Put aside time each week to read email from the University and correspond with staff and other students. You can correspond via email or on your course discussion forums. If you have questions about course content or assignments, ask sooner rather than later. Staff won't always be able to respond immediately, so be patient. 

Good time management is important, especially if you're studying externally. Below are some tips to help you manage your time.

Create a weekly planner

Download or print a weekly planner. These documents are available in both 16 and 24 hour formats, to accommodate students working late shifts or studying at unusual times. Fill in the planner with all your weekly commitments, including

• Work
• Family
• Housework
• Sports and community activity
• Gym and exercise etc

Once you’ve done this, identify optimal times for study-related activities, e.g. reading and assignment work. Depending on the number of courses you’re studying and your other commitments, you may be able to weave study time into your week quite easily, or you might need to revise your schedule to accommodate more time for study. Remember that the average course requires around 10 hours per week.

To help you visualise this, please see the sample weekly schedule below (click image to open large version). This is for a student doing their first study period of the Master of Medical Sonography.

Once you establish a weekly schedule you’re comfortable with, use that as the blueprint for each week of study period. Make adjustments when necessary (e.g. around the due dates of assignments).

Create a study period calendar

Download or print a study period calendar. Once you have a calendar, read through your Course Outlines and record assignment due dates onto it, as well as dates for quizzes, tests, required activities, and any on-campus events (e.g. the OCSE for Clinical Sonography Portfolio). Also note the assignment types and what percentage of your overall grade each assignment is worth: this will help you plan how much time to spend on each.

To help you visualise this, please see the sample study period calendar below (click image to open large version). This is also for a student doing their first study period of the Master of Medical Sonography. Note the colour-coded due dates and the inclusion of each assignment’s length and percentage of the overall course grade.

Also take note of the exam period if you have exams. Exact dates for exams are announced in the second half of study period, so until then avoid making travel plans for during that time.

If it's important for other people to know your calendar (e.g. partners, parents, housemates, family), post it in a shared space (on the fridge, in a living area) so they can easily see when you'll be busy.

Managing multiple assignments at once

If you’re enrolled in more than one course, you may find assignments in different courses are often due around the same time. Because of this, it’s important to start assignments early so you don't feel overwhelmed.

This Assignment Planning Calculator from Massey University can help you calculate how much time you’ll need to devote to each stage of the assignment process.

Sometimes it's hard staying motivated when studying externally due to less interaction with other students and staff. Here are some common problems experienced by external students and strategies for tackling them.

Not sure where to begin?

Getting started can be difficult, as you mightn't know where to begin due to too little or too much information. Instead of delaying, make a start by completing the ten steps suggested in 10 Steps to Get Started. Then establish a study routine built around the suggested Weekly Tasks for External Students.

Isolation

It’s easy to feel isolated when you’re studying at home. Use the discussion forums on your course websites to connect with other students and develop networks. If you have questions about course content, email the Course Coordinator or share those questions on the forum. You can also connect with your peers and the wider university community by following UniSA on Facebook and Twitter.

Procrastination and distractions

Often when students are anxious about starting a task or encounter a problem, they procrastinate. When studying from home, there are plenty of distractions to fuel procrastination: TV, housework, surfing the web, and spending time with friends, family, partners and pets. Rather than using these as distractions, try turning them into incentives for getting work done. For example, aim to read a difficult chapter or write two tricky paragraphs for an assignment, and then watch TV as your reward. Sometimes more practical actions can be beneficial. For example, if you find you’re too easily distracted at home, try studying at a nearby campus or your local library.

Time management issues

Due to the many commitments students juggle each week - work, partners, children, family, sports, social, gardening, and housework - it can be difficult to fit in study. Also, if you don’t keep track of when assignments are due, this can result in missed deadlines or intense periods struggling to meet deadlines. Read this section on Time Management for tips and advice.

Writer's block

Many students experience writer's block at some point - some on a regular basis - and it can be difficult to overcome. Talk to yourself or a friend to help you work out what you want to say in your assignment. Once you have your thoughts clear, writing becomes easier. You can focus on other tasks in the meantime or respond strategically, e.g. if you’re having trouble writing the introduction to an assignment, skip ahead to the body and return to the intro at the end. Alternatively, if you wrote the body first and are having trouble with the intro, re-read the body to remind yourself about the shape of the assignment. If you’re stuck on a particular section of your assignment, move on to another section and return to the tricky one later. Sometimes a change of setting or short break can be beneficial: try relocating or taking a half hour off and see if that changes things.

Review your workload

After the first few weeks of study, review your workload. If you’re not managing the work for all of your courses, or if your personal circumstances change, you can consider dropping or postponing certain courses to ease your workload. Do this before census date to avoid unwanted costs. Discuss which courses to drop and which to continue with your Program Director to make the right choice.

Create a rewards system

As mentioned above, incentives help you study. Develop a rewards system that encourages you to meet short and long-term deadlines. A rewards system involves rewarding yourself whenever you meet a goal. At the short-term level this can mean taking a break after you complete a task. At the long-term level this can mean planning outings/celebrations to celebrate submitting big assignments.

Remember your reasons for study

If you find yourself losing interest or lacking motivation, remember why you decided to begin this degree in the first place. Use your long-term goals and ambitions, whether academic or career-related, to motivate your study.

At university, email is a key form of communication between staff and students. While you might use email informally outside of uni, here it is a formal type of communication, which means there are rules and etiquette.

DOs

Include a subject line that summarises the message                      

Be concise, polite, and respectful of staff

Allow time for a reply: staff can’t answer emails 24 hours a day

Use your university email address rather than your personal address and clearly identify yourself in the message

Check spelling and grammar before sending

Check your email regularly

DON'Ts

 Don’t assume the recipient knows the background of what you're writing about: provide sufficient context

 Don’t write in ALL CAPS or use a threatening tone

 Don’t overuse acronyms or emoticons

 Don’t Reply All when responding to a widely sent email unless necessary

Your email style reflects on you as a student and professional, so write as professionally as possible.