Deakin University is a metropolitan and regionally based university with six campuses in the Australian State of Victoria. Its 2000 student population totalled 28,192 people, with 13,661 studying on-campus, 12,110 studying off-campus and a further 2,421 in mixed on and off-campus mode. In addition, a further 40,000 students study through the University’s commercial arm, Deakin Australia, which provides training and higher education opportunities to staff of corporations and government departments and to members of professional associations. Since its inception, Deakin University has been renowned for its excellent distance education programs, providing higher education opportunities to people who, for reasons of remoteness or inability to attend traditional on-campus universities, chose to study remotely. The student population is drawn principally from Victoria, but also from other parts of Australia and overseas. Students have a choice of enrolling as on-campus students, distance education students毕业论文, or in a combination of on and off-campus mode. In recent years, Deakin University, along with many other universities in Australia and overseas, increased its enrolment of overseas students who study in thEir home country.

1. Introduction

DTL Software
The original purpose of the DLT was to deliver a suite of software to students to facilitate their study at Deakin. It now provides all the software required for a student to access Deakin’s online support services. Some of the applications are freely available for download on the Web; others the University has licensed for staff and student use. Included are:

2. What is the Deakin Learning Toolkit?

§ EndNote for creating and maintaining academic bibliographies.

Deakin University is committed to providing students with a quality education that is delivered to them when , where and how the student desires. This involves a greater degree of choice for students, who may elect to enrol in units that are taught face-to-face代写职称论文, via a video-link, through computer mediated instruction, through print, audio and video learning resources, or a combination of technologies and styles.

§ Eudora for email;

§ With different versions of software available, it is important to ensure that all members of the University have access to a version that works with the University’s systems and software.

§ Adobe Acrobat Reader to view PDF documents;

Deakin University; Deakin Learning Toolkit; distance education students; off-campus students; online learning; online services; library services; student services; information technology services; student support

5. Features of the Deakin Learning Toolkit 2000

§ Few people accessing the University’s network from outside have high-speed access that enables them to connect and download quickly. Furthermore, Internet connections typically are charged in terms of time online. To keep costs to students at a minimum, Deakin University has reduced the amount of time students need to spend online. Reading and downloading information, undertaking online training, working on computer-based learning programs and downloading software are all time-consuming and consequently potentially expensive for a student.

§ FirstClass for computer conferencing;

Physically, the DLT is a CD-ROM, which operates like a web browser, containing information, training programs and software. It is a resource to orient students to Deakin and its online environment and services, to provide them with the tools (including learning resources and software) they need to work in that learning environment, to teach them how to use the tools and services that are available and to lead them from the CD-ROM to the online world of Deakin University.

4. Why the Deakin Learning Toolkit?

The DLT is divided into seven sections: Welcome, Connect, Software, Faculties, Library, Services and Courses. With the browser interface, it is easy to navigate and, if the user is connected to a computer network, provides the added bonus of linking to live Internet resources, either within the Deakin domain or elsewhere, that have been listed in the DLT. “The DLT also acts as a portal into the Deakin and external Internet web sites with links to relevant web pages if the student is using the DLT whilst connected to the Internet.”[i] For those who do not have Internet access, advice on internet service providers is given, thus encouraging students to take advantage of the online teaching, learning and support services available through Deakin University.

3. Rationale
Deakin University has been a leader in the innovative use of technology to support students. Its first course that required computer communication was in 1981. All students have been given email access and accounts since 1987. It has been progressively enhancing its student interface to computer-assisted learning since 1990 and the DLT is the most recent enhancement of these user-friendly interfaces. Throughout these developments, Deakin has been guided by knowledge of the circumstances of its students while using the best available technology. Accessibility and ease of use are guiding principles.

Providing an online environment comprising resources and services for learning and learning support is a priority for all universities. Ensuring that students (and staff) make use of it, and are comfortable and confidents in this environment, is a challenge that most are struggling to meet. The DLT has been an outstanding success helping people learn at Deakin University.

All universities now have websites. Most universities simply invite their students to log on and take advantage of the services on offer. However 代写毕业论文, the DLT allows students to familiarise themselves with Deakin’s web environment and resources without the anxiety and cost of doing so using online connections. It also provides them with essential information and learning resources that can be used offline.

§ Star Office (a Microsoft Office look-alike); and

The Deakin Learning Toolkit (DTL) is an innovation that provides students and staff with the tools, skills and information to participate fully in the University’s online learning community. Now in its third year, it has demonstrable value and impact and has been enthusiastically adopted within the University (and copied by other universities). In 1998 it won the Vice-Chancellor’s award for Outstanding Support Services.

§ Web/Win/MacSPIRS for providing Library database access;

In today’s world, the following are important factors:

From a technical perspective, the DLT may be used on both Windows and Macintosh computers. Users access the contents of the DLT through a browser either from one already installed on the personal computer or, if no web browser is detected on loading the CD-ROM, from Netscape Communicator on the DLT itself. The CD-ROM is designed to run automatically when placed in the CD drive of a computer.

The flexible delivery of high-quality programsrequires that students have access to rich learning environments. This includes high-quality learning resources, the opportunity to engage actively with staff and other students in a variety of educational (and social) purposes, and easy access to training and support services.

§ Most students have been using computers for some time and have developed basic skills. Fewer, however, have long experience with modems and the Internet. Many need assistance to get online and to use online tools.

§ an “electronic forms” section enabling the submission of Library requests; via the Web or by email through Eudora;§ a commercial typing tutor program (eText);

ABSTRACT

§ Netscape Communicator for web browsing and Internet access;

The DLT, first produced in 1998 with an annual edition since职称论文, is a CD-ROM that is distributed to all Deakin University students and staff for use on thEIr private computers. It is mailed to all off-campus students and staff, together with a printed information booklet, and is distributed on campus during enrolment, orientation and training sessions, in computer laboratories, and at Information Technology Services Division desks, libraries and student union offices at each campus. It is a resource to orient students (and staff) to Deakin University and its online environment and services, to provide them with tools (including learning resources and software) they need to work in that environment论文代写, to teach them how to use the tools and services that are available and to lead them from the CD-ROM to the online world at Deakin University.

The University prepares students for their careers with programs that are innovative, responsive to student needs and flexibly delivered. The changing nature of its programs and its increasing use of technology reflect Deakin’s commitment to meet the constantly changing needs of its students and other clients, and to help them learn wherever in the world they may be.

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