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U3A On Line—A Virtual University

While U3As provide a valuable service to communities across the country, there are many people who cannot attend because they are isolated geographically, physically or socially. "U3A Online" aims to provide courses to those people who cannot attend a regular U3A, and particularly to isolated older people. Our courses are also available online to people who reside outside Australia.

In addition, the U3A Online courses are available through a site licence system where the course material can be made available to regular U3As and can be reproduced for delivery as part of their own U3A program.

Kathy Rossini, U3A On-Line Course Co-ordinator, has provided a list of the courses currently availabke, including courses offered by U3A UK ("Third Age Trust") on a reciprocal basis. The list also includes U3A Online courses which are presently under development.

All U3A Online courses are offered over the Internet through Griffith University. The University hosts U3A Online courses as part of its Community Service Program. When a student enrolls in a course, a user name and password are issued to enable access to the course.

Detailed information about courses can be found on the U3A Online website, or click on the "U3A On Line" logo at the top of this page.

There are no pre-requisites and the courses are non-assessable.

The courses are offered in two modes:

• With a course leader. The courses generally consist of eight units which are released weekly. The students interact with the Course Leader and other students on the online Discussion Forum. They undertake activities throughout the course. At the end of the course the student continues to have access for a further five weeks to enable them time to finish the course if they haven’t already done so.
• Through the self-paced mode. All units are available immediately and can be worked through at the student’s own pace. The student has access to the course material for a period of twelve months. A course leader is not available, although most of the U3A Online course leaders are happy to answer student questions. Students have access to the Discussion Board and can post comments for discussion with other students.

If students have any problems there is always someone to help.

U3A Online offers an opportunity for people to enhance their U3A experience, become familiar with the Internet, learn new things and meet new people online. (Please note: At present there are no on-line computer courses available, so although you can look forward to increasing your Internet skills it will be through the practise obtained by accessing and using the courses.)