Online Service Standards

Melbourne Polytechnic Online Service Standards

As an adult learning environment, Melbourne Polytechnic is committed to providing a quality learning experience for students studying courses that are delivered either fully online or via blended learning.

These online service standards support the Melbourne Polytechnic’s Blended Learning Standards and explains Melbourne Polytechnic’s commitment to our students in key areas.

Student Support

Melbourne Polytechnic will provide the following support to students studying any aspect of their course online:

Trainers/Assessors/Lecturers/Teachers

• Will provide details of their availability via phone, email, in person or other MP endorsed contact method such as Moodle or Zoom to respond to queries at the commencement of each unit or subject and this information will be published on Moodle (the Learning Management System);
• Will endeavour to reply to queries within three business days; and
• Will mark and return assessments submitted on time within 10 business days.

Administrative Support

• Administrative support will be available by phone and email.
• A response to queries will be provided within three business days.

Technical Support

• IT support will be available via phone and email. Details will be provided to students at the commencement of each unit.
• A response to queries will be provided within three business days.

Student Support Services

• Information relating to a wide range of Student Support Services, including Counselling Services, Library, Learning Support and Disability Support can be accessed on the Melbourne Polytechnic website.

Student Entry Requirements and Induction - VET and Foundation

Melbourne Polytechnic conducts a comprehensive Pre-Training Review including Language, Literacy & Numeracy assessment for all prospective VET and Foundation students to determine whether a course is suitable and appropriate for the students’ individual needs. In addition, a student’s capability to study online will also be determined via the Pre-training Review.

Prospective VET and Foundation students will be required to answer some questions on the Pre-training review form. A discussion based on the answers will then take place which will assist Melbourne Polytechnic staff in ascertaining:

• the prospective student’s academic suitability for a course;
• whether the student satisfies any entry requirements that may be attached to a course;
• digital literacy and any support they may require
• access to necessary technology to study online.

Student Entry Requirements and Induction - HE

Melbourne Polytechnic conducts a comprehensive Selection Interview/Audition for all prospective HE students to determine whether the course is suitable and appropriate for the student’s individual needs.

The interview for prospective HE students will include an assessment of the prospective student’s:

• academic suitability for a course;
• ability to satisfy any entry requirements that may be attached to a course (such as portfolios and recordings);
• ability to study online
• digital literacy and any support they may require
• access to necessary technology to study online.

Learning management system (LMS) technology requirements

Melbourne Polytechnic uses a learning management system (LMS) known as Moodle for online course delivery. The minimum recommended information technology requirements to enable optimal access to Moodle is a device:

• with a minimum of 8GB memory and 1.5 GHz processor.
• running a current operating system supporting recent browsers

Web-based content is available on hand held devices including mobile phones and tablets. An introductory module and FAQs about MP Online can be accessed when you first log in to Moodle.

Please note: Higher Education students must be able to access Moodle in order to submit assessments and access learning resources.

Learning Materials

Melbourne Polytechnic ensures learning materials are presented in a variety of formats to optimise the learning experience, including:

• Guided content
• Graphics
• Video
• Audio
• Interaction through discussion forums and webinars.

Melbourne Polytechnic aims to meet Level AA success criteria of W3C Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.0 by ensuring that our online learning materials are presented in a manner that is perceivable, operable, understandable and robust.

Student Engagement

Melbourne Polytechnic provides an online learning experience that is engaging and interactive. As you progress through your course, ongoing feedback will be provided via:

• interaction with teachers, discussion forums and online messaging; and
• detailed feedback on your assessments.

We will monitor your participation and ensure that you continue to progress through your course. We will check to see how you are going within two weeks of your start date and contact you by email, or phone if it looks like you need some help.

Please note: VET students who have not participated within four weeks of the module start date will be deemed to have stopped studying and may be withdrawn from the course.

Mode and Method of Assessment

Forms of assessment will vary per course, but may include a combination of the following:

In VET programs, a minimum of two forms of assessment will be used for each unit of competency or subject.

Where students are asked to demonstrate competency in practical skills, video technology may be used.

Teachers

All trainers, assessors, teachers and lecturers delivering online courses at Melbourne Polytechnic have undertaken internal professional development in online delivery, which includes participation in staff reference groups who meet and share ideas for improvement.