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NORTHERN TERRITORY
UNIVERSITY The University is a higher education and a TAFE facility. The majority of students
are mature age (average age of the students being 35). 10% of the student population are school leavers in higher education or VET.
Apprentices and many other students are not particularly familiar with technology.
Name of contact
Barbara White
Position of Contact (i.e. student, teacher designer, librarian etc)
(Director, interactive learning diVISION)
Contact details
Phone: Barbara on 08 8946 6182
URL
http://www.ntu.edu.au
Courses offered
The University is currently implementing a 'Blackboard' course management system. In the
Semester two trial period there are 17 lecturers teaching 21 units online
(these are 60% HE & 40% TAFE). Student Services Provided/Accessed Prospective Student
Career Advice
Advice is available online, by phone and face-to-face. The
prospectus offers information about online courses and who to
contact for face-to-face advice with a careers advisor.
Course Information/ Advice
This is available online and face-to-face. The careers advisor is
also available for course advice.
The Handbook can be downloaded, whilst a unit and course repository of 1-2 pages is
available also. The course codes, faculties and so on, are all listed.
Information is broken down into; research and TAFE courses;
post-graduate; undergraduate and all courses.
Information on Administration Details (fees, RCC, enrolment or application procedures etc.)
NTU is implementing a new student management system, Callista. It is
currently developing the TAFE module for this software application in Australia.
Available online and face-to-face, the online component is available via the
'Student Launchpad' area of the web page. A printed Enrolment Guide and course brochures are also available.
Course information has a Glossary of Terms. Forms are fully dynamic, changing to suit the course.
Higher education, for example, asks for higher education information
such as HECS; TAFE courses ask for the appropriate TAFE information and
so on. By doing this, the data is clearer and more accurate.
Enrolling Student
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Enrolment Process
Information and forms are paper-based, available online and over the phone.
Each faculty has a Student Liaison Unit, which is responsible for enrolment etc.
Payment of Fees
Fees can be paid by Bpay, in person or by credit card over the phone.
Help on Enrolling
Both online assistance and face-to-face assistance are available at the faculty student unit offices.
Enrolled Student
Orientation to Online
Learning
Online learning is available, although, there are a limited number of
courses/ units presently available.
Communication Links (chatrooms, bulletin boards etc.) that are or could be used for SS.
NTU Talkline – www threads used for discussion. Access privileges determine
uasge.
Administrative Services (changing courses, results, late fees etc.)
Information is available at the faculty student unit offices and the University Information Shop.
Academic Support (study skills, time management, information literacy, numeracy, peer support)
Learnline is the student support component of the central site, which is presently being developed. This comprises extensive material incorporating Study Skills and Infosmart (Information literacy) that are now available.
Students can also email their lecturers.
A new student support site incorporating the specific skills packages above will be developed for the beginning
of 2002.
Counselling (personal)
Counselling is available face-to-face and over the phone, through the Equity and Access Branch.
A web based interface may possibly be developed in the above
project also.
Career Counselling
Career counselling is available over the phone and face-to-face through the University Information Shop.
Academic Resources (library, data bases, websites, bookshop etc.)
Available online and face-to-face via library computer access and student computer labs. All library CD Rom collections, databases and library catalogues are available online.
IT support and help line
IT services have currently been reviewed. There will be a rationalisation of help desk services in the next 6 months.
At present, online support is available with all Management Systems Support,
with created web services having feedback mechanisms built in.
Information Systems and Student Administration is centrally located to enhance client satisfaction and accessibility.
Assistance is available by email, voice mail, face-to-face and phone.
There is also a help desk in the library called NTU Helpdesk, which is
staffed from 8:00am until 9:30pm.
Kiosk machines offer the following services:
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Instructions - process for entry, admissions, enrolment forms etc
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Course Guide which includes the online handbook and career paths
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Courses
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Units – repositories of all courses, prerequisites etc
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Admissions
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Enrolments
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Admission Status Check
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Enrolment Status Enquiry
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Financial Information
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Faculty contacts
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Feedback – enabling students to provide feedback on the information on the site etc
The machines have to be secured for specific use and to prevent students being able to access the previous user information.
Graduating Students
Alumni contacts and newsletters
Paper-based information available
Results and Transcripts
Paper-based information available
Purposeful online access will be available for results with the upgrade of the student management system.
Any Other Information
Comments
Common units program (www.ntu.edu.au/commonunits) is available whereby students can choose to do either:
Reading, Writing World of Ideas or Thought and Communication – Academic literacy strand or a Northern Australia strand – Northern Exposure, Cultural Studies and North Australian Studies. There is a library skills component with information literacy integrated into it.
Some teachers work across both fields demonstrating higher education and TAFE
integration. With all faculties providing for both areas at the
University, this encourages an understanding of articulation between the
sectors allowing for students in some disciplines like Childcare to start with Training Packages and articulate to a degree, Masters
or even PhD.
Other issues that were noted were:
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“If IT intrudes on the learning you have lost the student”.
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Internet access runs along the highway to Adelaide, which can be an equity and access issue. Telstra is increasing the bandwidth.
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The readability of the screen needs to be thoroughly considered when setting up resources.
Certificate II in Sport and Recreation is being developed which is using video clip art and sound.
Use www.cast.org.com/bobby to determine the usability of the site.
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