+ HOW ARE CLASSES DELIVERED DURING LOCKDOWNS?

During Lockdowns, your trainer will deliver dynamic and engaging classes using Zoom. There will be a range of delivery methods and styles during these classes.

This may include:

• Sharing their screen to show you PowerPoint slides
• Share the course booklets with you
• Show you websites or YouTube videos
• Ask you questions or to read sections of the course material
• Place you and other students into “breakout rooms” within Zoom so that you can work together as a team on a particular topic

Your classes run for the same time as they would Face-to-Face – on your usual day of training. Your teacher will allocate breaks throughout the class for you to have something to eat and stretch.

+ HOW WILL I GET NEW COURSE MATERIAL?

Your Trainer will ensure you have the correct course material for the unit you are completing. Paper versions of your course material will be posted to your residential address - please ensure that Stirling has your current postal details.

Your Student Support Officer will also email an electronic version of your course material to you when you start a new unit.

If you believe that you are missing any material, please contact your Student Support Officer for assistance.

+ MY COURSE HAS HANDS-ON ACTIVITIES, HOW WILL THESE OCCUR DURING VIRTUAL TRAINING?

Hands-on activities are a fabulous way to learn, but can be difficult, or unable, to do in a virtual environment. Your Trainer will determine what can and cannot be taught virtually and will adjust the delivery of your course material to suit.

For example, within Horticulture, your trainer may ask you to complete hands-on activities with your own pot plants or garden, or on your daily walk around the neighbourhood your trainer may ask you to identify and photograph 10 different weeds.

For other hands-on activities that require medical equipment, your trainer may decide to split the course work, and teach the theoretical side of the topic during virtual, and then cover the hands-on activities in a session once we are back to Face-to-Face training.

+ HOW DO I HAND IN MY ASSIGNMENTS FOR ASSESSMENT?

Your Trainer will talk to you about the ways they would like for you to submit your assignments for assessment. This could be electronic submission, posting assignments to your Trainer via the SIA Office, or dropping off your assignments to a local SIA Hub.

IMPORTANT: Always take a copy of your assignment prior to submitting it for assessment. This is important for your own records and if you are required to resubmit the assignment.

+ HOW WILL MY WORK PLACEMENT BE AFFECTED?

The continuation of your Work Placement during Lockdowns is dependent on your Work Placement Employer. Some Employers allow Student Placements to continue, while others put a hold on Placements.

As each situation is different, it’s best to have this discussion with your Work Placement Employer and your Stirling Work Placement Coordinator.

Find out more information about Work Placements and the COVID Vaccine Here.

+ WHEN WILL WE RETURN TO FACE-TO-FACE TRAINING?

Stirling follows the Victorian Government and Education Department mandates about COVID and COVID Lockdowns. When the Government reduces Lockdown restrictions, Stirling assess the impact this has on our students, trainers and training locations. We need to weigh up a number of factors, such as training location capacity limits and travel restrictions. We want to get you back into the classroom as soon as possible in the safest manner and will update all students when each return to Face-to-Face training plan is finalised.

+ I’M STRUGGLING WITH VIRTUAL TRAINING – WHAT SHOULD I DO

These are unique and difficult times we are currently in.

You may have initially signed up to your qualification because you were looking forward to having Face-to-Face training, but now you have to complete virtual training. Or you are finding it difficult to learn within a virtual space and you learn best through tactile or kinaesthetic learning. Or you now have 4 children at home that you also need to homeschool while you also finish your qualification.

We understand that everyone’s situation is different, and we want to support you during these times to ensure you can get the best out of your learning. If you feel you are struggling, please reach out to your Trainer and Student Support Officer to discuss in more detail so that we can work out the best go-forward for you.

We also encourage you to utilise the Stirling Student Counselling Service (EAP) provided by Nexus Psychology, which provides 3 free confidential counselling sessions to our students.

+ DO I HAVE TO ATTEND THE VIRTUAL CLASS AND FOR HOW LONG?

Yes – attending virtual classes is required, just as much as attending the Face-to-Face classes. You are required to have a minimum 80% class attendance rate for the whole qualification.

You are required to stay for the whole virtual class – joining the class for 15min or 1hr only, is not sufficient and you will be marked as absent.

+ WHAT SHOULD I DO IF I CAN’T ATTEND A CLASS

If you are unable to attend your class, please advise your Trainer prior to the class commencing.

If you feel that virtual training is not conducive to your way of learning, please reach out to your Trainer and Student Support Officer to discuss in more detail.

+ WHAT DO I NEED TO HAVE TO PARTICIPATE IN A VIRTUAL CLASS?

You will need a connection device (such as a computer, smart phone or tablet), the internet and the Zoom app. Your connection device must have a microphone and a camera so that your Trainer and class can hear and see you. If you’re device does not have these, you may need to source external/plug in deceives.

You can download Zoom here: https://zoom.us/download

We suggest that you download and connect to Zoom the day before your first virtual class to ensure it works for you and you are ready to go for training.

+ HOW DO I CONNECT TO THE VIRTUAL CLASS?

Your Student Support Officer will send you your Zoom connection link, and any relevant Meeting IDs or passwords, to you the day prior to your class. This will be sent via SMS and email.

When you get the link, click it and follow the connection directions. Clicking on this link and completing the personal details, acts as your virtual roll call for the class. If you have never used Zoom before, you may want to read some starting tips.

+ I’M HAVING ISSUES CONNECTING TO ZOOM – WHAT SHOULD I DO?

If you are having issues connecting, please reach out to your Trainer or your Student Support Officer for support.

+ DO I NEED TO HAVE MY CAMERA ON? DO I NEED TO PARTICIPATE IN THE CLASS?

You MUST have your camera ON throughout the full duration of the class. You should start with your audio on MUTE and unmute it when your Trainer asks you a question or you have something to ask or say.

You MUST engage in your Zoom session. Ask questions, respond with answers, participate in your break-out groups. Students who do not engage at all will be marked as “did not participate”.

+ WHAT’S THE BEST WAY TO SET UP MY ZOOM?

Choose a quiet and undisturbed place in your home to set up your Zoom location. It is important to maintain confidentially during the Zoom session. Your fellow students may discuss personal details that should not be overheard by people within your household.

Set your device up on a stable surface (ie, on a table and not your lap or a cushion) so that it doesn’t move around and make other attendees sea-sick. Ensure that your head is fully visible – usually from chest to just above your head.

+ WHAT SHOULD MY ZOOM BACKGROUND BE?

Because you are projecting yourself to your class, your classmates will see you in your environment. Selecting an appropriate background is important.

If you choose to use your room as your background, it is best to have a wall or bookshelf as your background, not the open room where family members may be seen in the background.

Do not have a window behind you as this will make it difficult for you to be seen – it’s best to have the window in front of you to light your face.

You’re welcome to use a digital background that can be selected within Zoom - this requires an empty white wall behind you to work best.

Make sure your background is suitable and safe - remove any information that could put your safety in jeopardy, such as bills that show your home address; or possibly remove family photographs if you don’t want fellow students knowing about your family situation; or removing any questionable/inappropriate items, such as illegal or personal items.

+ WHY ARE THE ZOOM SESSIONS RECORDED?

Stirling records the Zoom sessions for internal purposes, such as for Trainer training, quality analysis and audit purposes. Recorded sessions are not made available to students.

+ I NEED TO LEAVE THE CLASS EARLY/NEED TO RESPOND TO A PRIVATE SITUATION DURING CLASS – WHAT SHOULD I DO?

If you need to leave the Zoom session (such as respond to kids), ask your Trainer how they would like you to deal with this. Some Trainers may want you to stay connected to the session, but to go on mute. Or it might be appropriate to log-off then log-back in when you are ready.

+ STUDENT BEHAVIOR & CONFIDENTIALITY

The Student Code of Conduct (as listed within your Student Handbook) is still applicable for virtual training – Stirling expects students to act and dress appropriately when attending Virtual sessions.

It is especially important that classroom confidentiality is observed when on Zoom sessions – ensure that other members in your household can not hear your class discussions.