| College of Education |  |
Previously called POLO (Primary Open Learning Option)
Students who live outside of Christchurch are able to undertake a teacher education qualification via the UC Flexible Learning Option. They are referred to as ‘distance' students and complete the same course requirements as on campus students. On campus students are also able to enrol in FLO - Primary courses subject to the approval of the Academic Advisor.
To find your course group and timetable for 2008 go to Course Groups and Timetables.
Each FLO – Primary course uses a combination of online, print and audiovisual resources. FLO – Primary students are required to have access to an online computer, an audiotape player and a DVD player. Some courses will include audio conferencing so access to a telephone is essential.
New distance students will receive a FLO - Primary Student Guide booklet with their course materials. It is intended to be a ‘quick reference' resource and contains helpful information for new and returning students. A more comprehensive source of information is the FLO - Primary Student Site. You will find detailed information on a variety of topics pertinent to distance students in this site - lecturer contact details, assignment due dates and Residential School timetables for example. Please note that some key information will only be available online.
ROTORUA (Waiariki Institute of Technology)
The regional initiative is distinguished by
• A standard full-time course (part-time options can be negotiated)
• Weekly Professional Studies at face-to-face sessions
• A Specialism Course that meets identified local needs (particularly Tikanga and Te Reo) and takes the place of 300 level options
• Residential Schools held on-site in Rotorua
Students enrolled in FLO - Primary courses are encouraged to form a network with others in their local area. A list of other FLO - Primary students will be provided as soon as possible in the academic year so that contacts may be initialled by students themselves where appropriate.
Professional practice placements are usually arranged in schools close to where distance students live. Guidelines and procedures for professional practice are the same as those outlined in the Professional Practice section of the CPriTE course book.
In addition to the formal periods of professional practice there may be occasions where access to a school or classroom is required in order to complete an observation or task relating to a particular course. Distance students are strongly encouraged to foster a good relationship with a school in their area so that they can gain access to groups of children or resources where this may be appropriate as a part of their studies. This notion of a “home school” contact is a strictly informal relationship between the student and the school, and falls outside of any formal liaison as organised between the University and the school.
Residential Schools are a compulsory part of the FLO - Primary programme. They cater for courses which require specific face-to-face contact with students, or which rely on access to particular equipment or venues. The residential schools also provide an opportunity for students to meet with each other during the time of their course. Each residential school lasts for up to two weeks, and in standard course enrolments part-time students are required to attend one of these per year, while full-time students must attend two, one in each semester of study.
Dates for the residential schools are advised on the FLO - Primary in/out timetable in the CPriTE Course Book and on the FLO - Primary Student Site.
In 2008 residential schools may be attended in Christchurch or Rotorua, except for the first GradDipTchLn residential school (RS1G) for which students must come to Christchurch. The availability of the second Grad Diploma residential school, RS2G in Rotorua will depend on numbers. The on-going availability of residential schools in Rotorua is subject to annual review.
Not all courses have a residential school component. Students must be aware of any residential school attendance requirements for their courses (refer to each course handbook). Detailed residential school timetables will be published online. Each timetable is subject to change until the word “Draft” is removed from its heading.
The Sonoda Christchurch Campus is located on the University of Canterbury College of Education grounds and may be available to accommodate students attending residential schools. As this accommodation is used by a number of student groups throughout the year accommodation will be available on a ‘first come' basis. Accommodation in local motels and motor camps is also available.
In Rotorua the motor camp adjacent to Waiariki Institute of Technology has a range of budget accommodation available.
Information on Sonoda and Rotorua accommodation can be downloaded from the FLO - Primary Student Site.
Please note that students are responsible for arranging their own residential school accommodation.
Transfers between on and off campus or between full and part-time study should be discussed full with the Academic Advisor, and then made in writing to the Associate Dean, Centre of Primary Teacher Education. Such transfers are considered on a case-by-case basis and are most appropriately undertaken in between year levels. Transfers cannot generally be made in mid-semester. On-campus students wishing to transfer to FLO - Primary or undertake FLO - Primary courses within their enrolment should discuss this initially with their Academic Advisor.
All College assignments should be addressed to:
Distance Material & Assignments Centre
College of Education
University of Canterbury
P O Box 31065, Ilam
Christchurch 8444
A strip of address labels is included in the first posting that are to be used in mailings to College.
Details of the bar-coding system used for assignments and the assignment receipt system can be found in the FLO - Primary Student Site.
Assignments may also be emailed to assignments@education.canterbury.ac.nz
As a College student, FLO - Primary students are entitled to full use of the University Library and the resources it contains. This includes access to the various search and inter-loan facilities they operate. Library staff have established various options for distance students to have access to their services. A full tour of library facilities is included as a part of the first residential school.
FLO - Primary students are entitled to belong to the University of Canterbury Student Association.
Generally, you should expect to receive the package for each semester in the week preceding the beginning of that semester. Other materials may be sent to you during the semester, but notice of this will be included in the initial mail-out. It is important that you check the list of materials that should be included in each mail-out you receive against your course enrolment and notify the Distance Material & Assignments Centre immediately if anything is missing. Keep a copy of your course selection form to refer to when you receive your beginning of year and mid-year mail-outs, to check your course materials match your enrolment.
FLO - Primary XD students are reminded that they need to complete three options as part of their 300 level studies.
NB: This does not apply to FLO XR (Rotorua) students who will complete 24 Specialism Points.
FLO - Primary 300 options are available to both distance and on-campus students.
On-campus students can enrol in these courses by stating the course code on their enrolment form. FLO options are completed by distance study over one semester, with course work beginning the week following 300 level professional practices; or as face-to-face block intensives Year three (Residential Courses on the table below.)