Flexible Learning Option (FLO)

FLO courses are taught using a combination of online and audiovisual resources. Some FLO courses also include on-site intensives delivered face-to-face at the Christchurch campus, or Nelson or Rotorua (Primary), or New Plymouth (Early Childhood) for some programmes.

New distance students are provided with comprehensive information via the e-Learning support and the FLO student support Learn sites, which contain detailed information on a variety of topics pertinent to distance learning. Lecturer contact details, assignment due dates and the times you are required to be on campus are available through the Course Information System, accessed via the Courses, Subjects and Qualifications webpage at www.canterbury.ac.nz/courses/

Both undergraduate and a selection of postgraduate courses are available by distance – meaning that you can continue studying with us throughout your career.

Course materials

Course materials are provided free of charge in the course Learn sites. You should expect to gain access to course materials on your Learn site the week before the beginning of your course, provided you are fully enrolled as a student.

Equipment required for distance study

The bulk of the course content is provided online. Online interaction will be part of flexible learning. Access to the following is required:

• telephone (with voicemail) and hardware and software to participate in Skype calls – for participation in audioconferences
• computer and printer
• internet access (broadband is strongly advised)
• DVD and CD player – essential for viewing and listening to supplementary course materials.

In addition, access to the following is recommended:

• fax/scanner – not essential, but desirable
• video camera – can be used in preparation of some assignments.

On-site intensives

Many FLO courses have an on-site intensive component. These are a great opportunity to meet your lecturers and colleagues for the duration of your studies, form study groups in your home region, and learn some of the information which is best taught in a face-to-face class or using particular equipment. On-site intensives may also include orientation activities, school centre visits and overnight marae visits.

On-site intensives for primary qualifications are taught in blocks, one two-week block at the beginning of the first semester in February, and one per semester thereafter (for full-time students). Subsequent on-site-intensives may be held in Rotorua as well as Christchurch if numbers permit. For the Graduate Diploma in Teaching and Learning (Primary) the on-site intensives are held in Christchurch. For Early Childhood, the FLO usually involves one on-site intensive per semester on campus for the BTchLn and a total of four weeks for the year of the GradDipECTch in Christchurch.

Home schools (Primary)

In addition to the teaching placements organised by the College there will be occasions where access to a primary school is required in order to complete observations or course-related tasks. Students are encouraged to develop a relationship with a local school so that they can access groups of children in a learning setting and resources where appropriate. This ‘home school’ contact is a strictly informal relationship between the student and the school, and falls outside of any formal liaison organised between the University and the school.

Study groups

FLO students are encouraged to network with others in their local area. In addition, contact will be encouraged using email, online discussion and audioconferences.

Professional practice

Professional practice placements for distance students are usually arranged in schools or centres close to where distance students live.

Education Library distance services

You can access the UC Education Library distance services if you are enrolled in a recognised FLO or distance course or a course at any UC regional campus or centre.

Library services include:

• access to books, serials and audiovisual materials such as videos and kits
• internet access through our webpage to resources and services, including the library catalogue, serials index, full text databases, registration and forms
• advice on search strategies and guidance in using library resources
• access to items from other libraries if we do not have them in this library
• contact by phone, fax, email or mail.

All students need to apply for a permanent username and password. This will automatically register you as a user on the library system. You will be able to access your account details online.

Regional study

Students at UC’s regional campuses and centres have the benefit of study tailored to local needs together with access to UC support services including the distance library service.

Nelson Centre

The Nelson Centre offers the Bachelor of Teaching and Learning (Primary) degree using a blended model. Primary students attend Professional Inquiry classes one to two days per week, with the remainder of coursework completed by FLO. Professional practice can be undertaken locally.

The Nelson Centre is co-located with the Nelson Marlborough Institute of Technology (NMIT). Students have access to the NMIT wellbeing and learning support services, the library facilities, and computer networks.

Contact:
Freephone in NZ: 0800 VARSITY (827 748)
UC Nelson Centre
NMIT, Y Block, 145 Collingwood Street, Nelson
Telephone: +64 3 548 3106

Rotorua Centre

The Rotorua Centre, based at Waiariki Institute of Technology, offers the Bachelor of Teaching and Learning (Primary).

Primary students attend Professional Inquiry classes one day per week, with the remainder of coursework completed by FLO. This course is designed to meet local needs, particularly in the areas of tikanga and te reo Māori. At the beginning of each semester, students are required to attend an on-site intensive course, where they will be introduced to their subjects and inducted into the University systems.

Students at our regional campuses have access to wellbeing and learning support services, the library facilities, and computer networks.

Contact:
UC Rotorua Centre
C/- Waiariki Institute of Technology
Mokoia Drive, PO Box 3028, Rotorua
Telephone: +64 7 346 8820
Fax: +64 7 347 2378

New Plymouth Centre

The New Plymouth Centre is located on the Western Institute of Technology (WITT) campus and offers the BTchLn(EarlyChildhood) programme. Classes for the Professional Inquiry courses of the BTchLn(EarlyChildhood) are usually held on one half-day per fortnight, with students engaging in a range of flexible learning courses (FLO) at other times. At the beginning of each semester students are required to attend a one-week on-site intensive course, where they will be introduced to their subjects and inducted into the University systems.

Students are required to attend teaching practices in early childhood centres during their studies – these are arranged by the College.

For those students who have previously completed a Diploma in Teaching and Learning the College offers the opportunity to upgrade to the BTchLn(EarlyChildhood) degree via distance. Students have access to both WITT's library services and UC's distance library services, wellbeing and learning support services, and computer networks.

Students have access to both WITT’s library services and UC’s distance library services.

Contact:
University of Canterbury
New Plymouth Centre
c/- WITT, Private Bag 2030, New Plymouth 4342
Telephone: +64 6 757 3100 ext 8861
Fax: +64 6 757 3287

Places are limited and a separate Application for Programme Entry (APE) to the College of Education is required.

Selection for entry is not automatic and is based on academic ability, involvement and interest in working with children and young people, community involvement, communication skills and other personal qualities.

The selection process includes a police check and may include an interview. Applicants under 20 must have University Entrance and applicants over 20 must have evidence of recent, successful tertiary study. A degree is required to enter graduate programmes (overseas degrees will need to be assessed as equivalent to a New Zealand degree by the University).

Students for whom English is an additional language must provide evidence of their English language ability as follows:

• IELTS (Academic) 7.0, with no individual score below 7.0; or
• At least two years of successful study in a New Zealand secondary school, with at least eight Level 2 NCEA credits in English (four reading and four writing) or equivalent.

There is more information on programme-specific entry requirements on the following pages:

• Early Childhood Teacher Education
• Primary Teacher Education
• Secondary Teacher Education
• Physical Education

As places are limited we strongly recommend that you apply for programme entry as early as possible (applications open in June). Applications are due four weeks prior to the commencement of the programme (most programmes commence in January or February), or when places are filled (whichever comes first).