Studying online isn’t always easy, so here are our recommended tools to help you study from home.
As a longstanding provider of online-first education in the UK and around the world, Arden University gives you the opportunity to study for your qualification from the comfort of your own home – and it’s thanks to this online approach that teaching and learning can remain uninterrupted, even throughout the ongoing Coronavirus pandemic.
With many resources housed on our virtual platform, ilearn, there are plenty of ways to stay informed and engaged, plus we provide you with access to other useful online tools to ensure that you can stay in touch and continue studying from home exactly as you would in the classroom.
Here are four platforms and tools for Arden students to make the most of while studying from home online.
1. Microsoft 365
The Microsoft 365 suite houses a whole host of tools that you could be using to your advantage while studying from home. When you’re enrolled onto an Arden University programme, you will receive access to Microsoft365 free of charge, regardless of whether you’re a Distance Learning or Blended Learning student.
This allows you to access your uni emails on the go, as well as being able to make the most of Word, Excel and PowerPoint for coursework and assignments, no matter where you may be. You’ll also be able to use OneDrive to store your documents, meaning you can access them easily from any device.
2. Adobe Connect
As a Blended Learning student, you will typically receive eight hours of face-to-face teaching time each week at your chosen study centre. Our study centres are temporarily closed, but the good news is that you can still access lectures taught by your tutors in real-time via Adobe Connect.
Using this webinar software, your tutor will deliver classes which mirror your usual timetable, so your online learning experience shouldn’t feel a world away from the class time you are used to.
3. Video conferencing
Participating in video calls, whether that’s with your classmates, tutors or both will keep you connected and help you maintain that classroom feel.
At Arden, Blended Learning students are currently unable to attend face-to-face classes at our study centres, so we have implemented online study groups which are hosted via Skype for Business.
What does this mean? Well, as a Blended Learner, you’ll probably be accustomed to engaging in class discussions and debates - these online study groups give you the opportunity to continue doing so with your tutors and classmates, as well as giving you the chance to catch up on a personal level and discuss how you’ve been getting on.
Other video call and conferencing tools include Zoom, Google Hangouts and Microsoft Teams.
4. Online reading resources
One of the greatest benefits of studying online is that you can save a lot of money on reading materials. Arden University provides access to Ebook Central and EBSCO free of charge, meaning you can find and read e-books, journals and articles to support you in your studies.
If you’re studying elsewhere, try getting in touch with your support team to see if there are any online resources they can recommend.
Aside from the above tools and platforms, your student status will give you access to some great discounts which can prove useful for your studies, including up to 65% off the full Adobe Creative suite, perfect for any graphic design students!
Are you thinking of enrolling onto an online-first programme in the coming months?
