Q: Why should I study with Charles Sturt University ?

A: Charles Sturt University (CSU) is not your average university. It is a multi-campus university with established traditions and a proud record of higher education in Australia for more than a century.

As the largest Australian providers of distance education to overseas students, Charles Sturt University is at the leading edge of the delivery of information technology services. It operates one of the most heavily used mainstream web servers in Australian universities, receiving almost 15 million inquiries to its homepage each year.

The Graduate Certificate is delivered via a sophisticated Distance Education model that includes the following components:
Online subject forums: All students have access to dedicated subject forums. Everyone on the Forum studies the same subject in the same timeframe; the Forums allow students to interact with other successful professionals to share ideas, debate issues and learn from each others' experience.
Course materials: A comprehensive range of study materials is delivered via a mixture of paper reference manuals and/or E-Learning. Students also have access to online research libraries and services.
Study guides: A comprehensive week-to-week schedule will be provided to assist students in covering the course materials provided.
Assignments and online tests: These are designed to test the mastery and application of course materials.
Telephone and email support: All subjects receive support from their subject coordinator, who monitors the corresponding online forum and can be contacted via phone or email.

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Q: Who is IT Masters?

A: IT Masters is the commercial organization that initially approached Charles Sturt University (CSU) with the vision of integrating leading IT industry certifications with premier academic qualifications. IT Masters then worked with CSU to develop the Graduate Certificate and today undertakes the following functions;

1. Promotes the Graduate Certificate and the Graduate Diploma,
2. Supports students studying their industry certification subjects and
3. Researches and identifies opportunities to further expand the range of courses.

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Q: Is the Graduate Certificate / Diploma accredited?

A: The Graduate Certificate / Diploma is fully accredited under the Australian Government Qualifications Framework

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Q: What is the Adode Digital Curriculum?

A: The Adobe Digital Curriculums are year long, project-based Curriculums that develop IT career skills in web design and digital video production, using Adobe tools.  Go to http://www.adobe.com/education/instruction/?Tabs=careers for more details.

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Q: Why is Microsoft's 'Partners in Learning - Peer Coaching' program used as such an integral part of the Graduate Certificate in ICT Education?

A: Teachers look to peers as a first line of support.  The 'Partners in Learning - Peer coaching' pedagogy is consistent with principles of highly effective professional learning.  These principles include on the job, job embedded training, long-term and ongoing practice, focused on classroom activities and structured to offer highly sought opportunities to learn from others.

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Q: Does studying via Distance Education provide the same quality of education offered by a traditional campus?

A: Numerous studies have proven that distance learners perform as well or better than their on-campus counterparts. In the book, "The No Significant Difference Phenomenon" by Thomas L. Russell, he cites 355 research reports, papers, and summaries dating back to 1928 that found no significant difference between distance learning and in-class learning. Where a difference was identified, it generally favored the distance-learning student.

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Q: When can I start?

A: The program is structured to be as flexible as possible as most students undertaking the Graduate Certificate / Diploma will have work commitments. There are three intakes per year with the closing dates for upcoming sessions being:

• 1st December 2009 for courses commencing in 1st of March 2010
• 1st June 2010 for courses commencing in 12th of July 2010
• 1st October 2010 for courses commencing in 15th of November 2010 

Applications to distance education courses are assessed on a continuous basis and offered for the next available intake. Applicants are strongly encouraged to take advantage of this by lodging their application as early as possible. As the course offerings are subject to imposed quotas, applications received after the closing date(s) will only be considered if there are places available.

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Q: How fast can I complete my Certificate?

A: The normal amount of time in which a part time student completes the Graduate Certificate is two semesters, but the time it actually takes will vary depending on several factors, including whether you elect to go through an entire program without taking time off between subjects. If necessary, students can take anywhere up to 2 years to complete their course.

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Q: I have been teaching for many years and have limited skills in ICT.  Is this course for me?

A: Yes.  This qualification is relevant to K to 12 and TAFE teachers, across all key learning areas, offering meaningful and relevant professional learning experiences. Research shows that most teachers can use technology for productivity but often are not comfortable using technology in the classroom.  Unfortunately, effective technology use in schools is usually found in isolated pockets of excellence.  The Graduate Certificate in ICT Education redefines access to technology and prepares you to use ICT in powerful classroom activities.

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Q: Will I have to take time off work?

A: No the Graduate Certificate has been designed so that all components of the qualification can be completed via after hours study.

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Q: Will I have a life while studying?

A: Yes, but it depends on how well you manage your time. If you undertake the recommended 2 subjects per semester for completion of the certificate in two semesters, you will be advised to spend a minimum of 16 hours a week. The ideal, recommended time spent would be 16 hours, you will also have additional work, from time to time, depending on the subject, this would include written and practical assignments. By and large, 16 hours per week would be a good guide line. The thing to keep in mind is that most of the subject material will be available to you 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, no matter where you roam.

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Q: How can I find the time?

A: In our increasingly fast paced world, finding the time to juggle work, family and social commitments can be quite a challenge. For some people, the thought of adding study to their workload is quite impossible.
But finding the time for tertiary study is possible; a combination of good time management, effective study skills and streamlining your priorities will enable you to get through. Ask yourself: the year will pass anyway...where do I want to be at the end of it?

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Q:  Do I need to be currently teaching to be able to complete this course?

A: No. You do not have to be currently teaching to complete this course. However it is important to have access to a school community to be able to achieve the course outcomes and complete assessments. The goal of the 'Technology Partners in Learning' subjects is to implement a professional development model within a school environment. This is achieved by using Microsoft Office applications and the Partners in Learning Peer Coaching Program model to serve as a peer coach for colleagues in how to integrate technology in ways that will engage students in learning. The coaching model will assist in infusing professional learning into the life of schools.

Q: Do I have to have Internet access and a computer to do the Graduate Certificate?

A: Yes.  You need to have access to the internet (either dial-up or broadband connection) and access to computer with the following minimum specifications:

Q: Will completing the Graduate Diploma mean that I am eligible for credit towards Charles Sturt University’s Master in Education described at http://www.csu.edu.au/courses/postgraduate/education/index.html?

A: Eligible applicants who have completed a four year degree in education or a three year degree and a graduate diploma in education and who subsequently complete the Graduate Diploma in ICT Education will be granted four subjects of credit towards the Master of Education course, allowing them to graduate from the course by completing four further subjects. Other applicants should seek advice from the Master of Education course coordinator about their eligibility for credit.

Q:Can I progress from the Graduate Certificate to the Graduate Diploma?

A: Students who have completed the Graduate Certificate course can enrol in the Graduate Diploma course and will graduate once they have completed the remaining four subjects in the Graduate Diploma that they have not already completed.