Learning Circles

If you are new to tertiary study it may take you some time to get used to the demands of the University.  You will also face the challenge of learning as a distance student. This style of learning may pose some particular challenges as you are learning independently, and you may have difficulty getting started with your studies. Some of these difficulties can be overcome or reduced if you make contact with other distance students and form a learning circle (LC).

What are Learning Circles?

Learning circles (LC) can be whatever you want them to be. If you are in a remote area, your learning circle may be regular telephone contact with other students, or where possible, you may meet with other students at a convenient location. A LC is usually three to ten distance students who live in the same region and are studying the same courses. The LC aims to develop a more supportive study environment to help you achieve success in your university study. Other students can provide valuable academic and social support. The group can offer mutual encouragement when you are just beginning or when the road is rough.

Learning Circles offer many advantages to you as a distance student:

• you require a tangible sense of belonging to the student body of the University
• you form friendships with a network of other students
• you can share library books and resources
• you can alleviate some of the problems of studying in isolation
• you can spread costs associated with study, eg local tutor, telephone charges, expensive textbooks, travel to residential schools.

Registering for Learning Circles

Learning Circles are facilitated by accessing the name, postcode, telephone number and email address of students studying the same course. Students are able to register for Learning Circles when enrolling.  If you have not registered but would like to do so, or you would like your name removed from Learning Circles, you can make the change online at USQAdmin.

You can register by either: 

1. Going to USQConnect > USQAdmin> Enrolment > Step 3 Statistical Details > Question 10, or
2. Submitting a question to Outreach Services from USQAssist asking to be added to Learning Circles.

Accessing Learning Circles

Access to the Learning Circles via USQConnect, is within USQAdmin.  Click on > Learning Circles and then choose the search button. From this list you can choose your course and view a list of students enrolled in the same course and who have agreed to be listed on Learning Circles.