Flexible Delivery (FD) is the umbrella term that ACAP uses to describe it's off campus modes of study. Many students choose to study by Flexible Delivery in order to fit their study around other commitments, or because they do not live near a campus location. Flexible Delivery learning takes place over the same 12 week term as on campus classes, has identical content, standards and assessment.
ACAP recognises that students have commitments outside of study as well as varied learning styles, which means that each student will engage differently in their learning. Some are comfortable with computers, enjoy interacting online and have the time to do so. Others prefer to study independently, using hardcopy materials and prefer to login to the online class space intermittently. Studying by Flexible Delivery with ACAP caters for a variety of learning styles and preferences.
Flexible Delivery@ACAP
All students receive free online access to the comprehensive, instructionally designed Module or Unit Manual and Readings from within their online class space. Students who prefer a hard copy version can purchase this through ACAP’s bookstore partners, for the cost of printing. Purchasing the hard copy Manual or Readings pack is not compulsory. To view the ordering page, please click here.
Flexible Delivery classes use a virtual rather physical class space that can be accessed via the ACAP student portal, ‘my.acap’. Just like a real class, you are grouped with other students and a dedicated educator for that particular unit or module. The online class space is the main place where interaction happens and where students access the curriculum content.
Announcements – this is a ‘one way’ piece of communication from the educator or ACAP staff member to the class. It might be a welcome message, a deadline reminder or a summary of content from the past week.
Discussion Forums – these are open discussions that can be initiated by any class participant or by the educator at any time throughout the term. The discussion forum is ‘asynchronous’ which means that participants are not required to be online at a certain point in time, but rather can read each other’s contributions and respond at a later date. This allows time for reflection and recognises that flexibility of time and location is an important factor for students.
Activities – activities are specific to each unit or module and are designed to enhance learning through reflection, feedback and application of knowledge. These generally encourage interaction between students and the educator in the class, and may include activities such as discussion questions, quizzes, toolboxes or video presentations.
Email – students and educators can email one another regarding individual questions or issues.
Telephone – there are some individual instances where an educator or student needs to speak via telephone. This can be arranged directly between the educator and the student.
Live Chat – a ‘real time’ chat function whereby anyone who’s logged into the online class space at the same time can have a ‘text chat’.
Telephone Tutorials – a live phone conversation between the educator and students (a feature of Higher Education classes only). Click here for more information.
Some courses require compulsory Workshop attendance if studying certain units or modules off campus. Check the requirements of your individual course in the Course Guide. For the Workshop Timetable, please see Key Dates.
All students at ACAP, whether studying on or off campus require the following:
Access to a reliable internet connection – access to the internet is an essential for those wishing to study at ACAP. Enrolment, grades, assessment, course materials and interaction with the College occurs online or via email. A broadband connection is desirable as it vastly speeds up the rate at which you can view and download information.
An email address – all ACAP students are issued with an ACAP email address, however it is recommended that you also have a personal email address so we can contact you in, for example, in the case of a lost password.
Microsoft Word – students are required to submit their written assessment electronically in Microsoft Word.
Access to video recording equipment - most courses also require access to video recording equipment such as a digital camera or video camera.
If you are a current ACAP Higher Education student, you may be familiar with the 'Distance Education' and 'Online' study modes. There is no change to these delivery modes, except that ACAP now formally refers to them under the umbrella term 'Flexible Delivery' and, you will now have access to all the features of the Flexible Delivery online class space, as outlined above. If you have any questions, please email flextransition@acap.edu.au.