How can I study?

Online in our virtual classroom

Learn online from wherever you are and attend timetabled virtual classroom led by a lecturer with other students. You’ll be taught how to use video, audio, text chat and interactive features. You’ll also become familiar with our Virtual Learning Environment (VLE) for personal study, learning assessments, access to resources and engage with your classmates and lecturer.

Online and anytime

You will learn online from wherever you live or work at a time that suits you (self-directed study) and complete tasks and assessments within an agreed timeframe. You will use our VLE for personal study, learning assessments, access to resources and to engage with your classmates and lecturer.

On campus, in person

Learn on-campus with students and lecturers. This could be in workshops, studios, specialist facilities and outdoors. You will use our VLE for personal study, learning assessments and access to resources and to engage with your classmates and lecturer.

On-campus, in person and anywhere combination

A combination of on-campus, in-person residential learning using specialist facilities or classroom learning along with online anytime and online in our virtual classroom. You will use our VLE for personal study, learning assessments and access to resources and to engage with your classmates and lecturer.

Workplace

We’re delivering more and more learning in the workplace. You might be an apprentice, employee or on work placement. In addition to workplace learning, you may also be using our VLE for personal study, learning assessments and access to resources.

Flexible personal learning

This is your personal learning, completed at a time that you set aside. It consists of learning that your lecturer sets for you to complete as well as the self-directed learning which you choose for yourself. All course learning materials are available to access online.

It could include:

• practising a task, activity or idea
• watching a video or reading
• researching and gathering information
• completing an assignment or project-based task
• small group collaboration
• self directed study- where you choose what to revise or to research deeper

Virtual classroom

An online virtual classroom is a virtual space, where you use video, audio, text chat and interactive features to engage in learning activities with your lecturer and fellow students.

Timetabled learning

Timetabled learning takes place in online virtual classrooms, workshops, studios, kitchens, salons, or the outdoors. You will learn together at the same time with your fellow students and your lecturer.

Learning can include practical activities, working through projects, designing things, group work, discussions, demonstrations, solving problems, experimenting and trying things out, role play, performance, presenting, leading on tasks and so on.

Our Virtual Learning Environment (VLE)

We use several different VLEs depending on the course that you study. A VLE provides an accessible online space for any of the following: to organise learning resources, to set weekly tasks, to communicate, to use discussion boards, complete activities such as quizzes, submit work evidence or assignments and receive class notifications. Some VLEs are designed specifically for work-based learning and take the form of an e-portfolio.

We will help you understand how to access the relevant VLE for your course during your induction.

Our campuses and centres

We have 19 campuses and centres across the North, West and Hebrides of Scotland where you are supported by our friendly and knowledgeable staff. Here, you have the opportunity to mix with other students and use our well-equipped study space. You may be able to study some or all of your course from home to fit in with your personal commitments.

If you choose to study from home, then a suitable study space and a learning environment with adequate broadband connectivity for studying online and for video interaction will be needed.