Teaching and Learning Strategies

AIBS Online believes that the process of education is no longer limited to the confines of the classroom or local geography and that increasingly students are anxious to combine elements of a traditional university education with electronically delivered curriculum and international travel. We believe that this trend will continue to grow and that it is our responsibility to develop educational structures and methods which will combine the availability of world-wide resources with an increased diversity of international students, and flexibility of study.

Using the most secure and feature rich Virtual Learning Platform AIBS Online can design and deliver academic content to local centres worldwide. Moodle, the Virtual Learning Platform used by AIBS Online, allows access to education using the Internet and basic computer technology available as part of the local resources and capabilities. Although IT facilities are necessary, the extent to which the institution is involved in the technology itself is minimal. No additional software installations or hardware configurations are required.

The AIBS online curriculum is delivered through a blend of traditional in-class activities and the interactive online materials drawing on the high quality content designed by well qualified AIBS Online course writers.

The following chart illustrates the blended delivery of AIBS Online modules where students learn from and participate in the outlined activities:

Outside of the classroom students engage in their modules in the so called Virtual Classrooms and a virtual Student Lounge. The Virtual Classroom is a place where students will find materials for their course. Each course has a different classroom, a different web address (virtual home) where the specific materials live. Once in the classroom students can:

1. see who else is online at the same time
2. look at the notice board for any new announcements
3. read the latest course news
4. search forums for information
5. create a personal blog
6. view other users’ blog entries
7. view and add to the course calendar
8. read the lesson materials
9. read the additional materials
10. take the mock exam
11. contact the course administrator

Student Lounge is a designated space, where students can communicate with each other and the course teachers. Students can write a blog and share it with others, participate in discussions through forums and chat instantaneously with online users. There are many outside links and RSS feeds to make the Student Lounge as interesting and engaging as possible.

Monitoring and Control in the Virtual Campus

Assessment and Examinations

There are several assessment methodologies employed in all AIBS Online modules:

1. End of lesson quizzes conducted online
These mandatory quizzes may form a part of an in class activity at your delivery centre. Although theses quizzes will not affect your final grade for the module the results of each are communicated directly to your tutor who will use them as an indication of your progress through the curriculum. Your local tutor may require additional activities in addition to the quizzes.
2. Mid Term Assignment
This 2000 word assignment is set by AIBS Online and 1st marked by your local centre instructor and then sent to AIBS Online for 2nd marking and confirmation of your score. This assignment counts for 40% of your overall grade for this module.
3. Final examination / Assessment
Written by AIBS Online but conducted at the local delivery centre the final assessment is an essay based examination which covers the whole of the material in the module and is weighted at 60% of your module grade.

The minimum overall pass mark for the undergraduate level programmes is 40% with no less than 30% in any single element. The minimum overall pass mark for the postgraduate level programmes (including MQP) is 50% with no less than 40% in any single element.