Flexible and Online Learning

'Flexible learning' refers to an approach to teaching and learning that encompasses activities that responds to students' learning interests, needs and circumstances, increases students' access to, and/or control over, particular teaching and learning environments. Flexible approaches to teaching and learning use strategies and technologies that meet the diverse needs of students regarding the location and time of study.

Flexible and online teaching and learning is important for La Trobe for three key reasons:

First, flexible learning approaches can have an effect on student learning success, student engagement and successful graduate outcomes. This is because flexible learning responds to, and engages with, the needs and interests of La Trobe’s diverse student population. Flexibility allows for new learning opportunities and teaching approaches, and can extend the learning environment beyond the face-to-face classroom. Flexible learning approaches can give students choice about where, when and how they learn. Flexible learning can assist in delivering an enriching student achievement to support successful graduate outcomes by providing the opportunities for student learning success.

Second, flexible learning is important for La Trobe as a multi-campus institution. Flexible learning can strengthen the links between La Trobe’s five University campuses and the community, and effectively and efficiently use resources across the University through cross-campus teaching practices. Flexible learning options can assist with competitively positioning La Trobe University with the other higher education providers, including non-University providers, in Victoria.

Third, flexible learning can support La Trobe’s access and equity agenda. Flexible learning can broaden the opportunities for participation and success of all students, including those traditionally underrepresented in higher education (low SES, regional and indigenous students). Blending online learning with face-to-face delivery can add a further dimension to learning and extends the possibilities for student engagement. Flexible learning, therefore, can recognise the wide diversity amongst La Trobe’s students’ in terms of the times they have available to study, and their other commitments (family and work). This in turn assists with higher rates of student retention and contributes to a successful course experience.

Flexible learning encompasses the whole configuration of the learning environment, and incorporates understandings of the physical, social as well as technological network, and opens up possibilities that extend learning environments into the social and professional worlds of learners.

In the following pages, you can access a range of flexible and online learning and teaching strategies and technologies:

At La Trobe the Flexible and Online Learning Development (FOLD) project is a way to embed these approaches in subjects and courses.