PHASING-OUT PRINT-BASED LEARNING MATERIALS

FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions)

Will I require a computer, printer and access to the Internet to enrol in distance education programs?

To study at Curtin, students will require access to a computer, a printer and the Internet. At the very least, it is a condition of admission to Curtin that students log in to OASIS on a regular basis to receive official correspondence via the Official Communications Channel (OCC) and access other on line services. In addition, nearly all units will require some form of Internet access to research material, communicate with fellow students and complete assignments.

Students who are unable to access a computer and the Internet due to a disability, incapacity, or some other compelling reason, may apply for special consideration (through the Manager, Distance Education) or an e-Exemption (through the Director, Student Services).

Will the learning materials be available before the start of semester?

Unit materials will normally be available two to three weeks before the start of semester to allow distance education students to order required textbooks and so on. However, whilst every effort will be made to ensure the timely release of learning materials, this is sometimes dependent upon a number of different circumstances that are outside of our control e.g. copyright clearance on learning materials.

Can I still get access to print-based materials if I live in a country or a region of Australia where access to the Internet is difficult?

If you live in regional Australia or a country where access to the Internet is intermittent or unreliable, you may apply to the Manager, Distance Education for special consideration by providing the necessary supporting evidence. In these circumstances, the learning materials will be provided to you as PDF files on CD.

If you have difficulty accessing any of the online materials for your unit due to a verifiable medical condition or disability you should discuss the matter with a Disability Counsellor at Disability Services. Every effort will be made to provide the relevant material in an alternate format should the Disability Counsellor or Manager, Distance Education support a reasonable request to do so.

As Curtin will no longer provide print-based learning materials, does this mean a reduction in fees?

The decision to phase out print-based learning materials is not a strategy to reduce University costs. Rather, an online learning environment allows distance education students to access contemporary learning materials that have the potential to include a wider variety of non-print resources such as other Internet-based learning materials, digital content that is not reproducible using print-based media, Curtin's iLectures, multimedia programs and so on. It allows lecturers to quickly add content and other learning resources for distance education students that may have been made available to internally-enrolled students, ensuring greater equity across the different modes of delivery.

If you have any further queries, please email them to de-assignments@curtin.edu.au and they will be answered as soon as possible.