Index
Studying with OUA
Studying with OUA is similar to studying at a conventional university on campus, but differs in some crucial areas. Much of this information is specific to OUA students. If you are a current OUA student you should carefully read and familiarise yourself with this information.
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Modes of study
You will study units using one or a combination of the following study modes:
- print-based material
- CD-ROM
- online material
- print and online material
Almost all units have some online presence. The online material will be delivered through the Blackboard Learning Management System accessed through the RMIT Learning Hub. To access the Learning Hub login to myRMIT and select the Studies tab.
If a unit has print-based or CD-ROM materials, these will be posted to you prior to the commencement of the study period.
↑ page menuRoles of the tutor
Your tutor's role is to guide you through the materials provided by RMIT University and to provide support and feedback on your progress. The tutor marks your assignments and will, in some cases, return them to you with comments.
It is important for you to recognise that the tutors are there to help you to develop your skills in university study. Tutors are not distant ‘arbiters' or ‘referees'. Rather, they should be thought of as advisors and facilitators in your academic development.
You are encouraged to email your tutor and to make use of the Learning Hub and Blackboard as additional information about assessment items are placed there by tutors.
The best way to contact your tutor is through Blackboard or email. Some tutors may be contactable by telephone, but please refer to your specific unit information for details.
To access the Learning Hub login to myRMIT and select the Studies tab.
↑ page menuPlagiarism
RMIT has a strong policy against plagiarism and uses ‘Turnitin’, an internet-based plagiarism detection service. Plagiarism is the presentation of the work, ideas or creation of another person as though it is your own. It is a form of cheating and is a very serious academic offence that may lead to expulsion from the University.
Plagiarised material may be drawn from and presented in various written, graphic and visual forms, including electronic data and oral presentations. Plagiarism occurs when the origin of the material used is not appropriately cited.
Examples of plagiarism include:
- copying sentences or paragraphs word-for-word from one or more sources, whether published or unpublished, which could include but is not limited to books, journals, reports, theses, web sites, conference papers, course notes, etc. without proper citation
- closely paraphrasing sentences, paragraphs, ideas or themes without proper citation
- piecing together text from one or more sources and adding only linking sentences
- copying or submitting whole or parts of computer files without acknowledging their source
- copying designs or works of art and submitting them as your original work
- copying the whole or any part of another student’s work
- submitting work as your own that someone else has completed for you.
Please note: The act of assisting or allowing another person to plagiarise or to copy your own work is enabling plagiarism and is treated in the same way as if you plagiarised in your own work.
For more information on plagiarism, please refer to the RMIT Plagiarism Policy.
↑ page menuReferencing guide
Referencing an information source used in an academic work means to employ a standardised method of acknowledging that source. The full details of the source must be given. All information used in your assignment, thesis, etc., whether published or unpublished, must be referenced.
The reasons why you are required to acknowledge the sources of information that you have used include:
- to prove that your work has a substantial, factual basis
- to show the research you've done to reach your conclusions
- to allow your readers to identify and retrieve the references for their own use.
Information obtained from the internet is covered by copyright law. For this reason it is important to cite internet references just as you would cite print references. Many style guide producers have extended the system used for print resources and applied this to electronic resources. The date of access is very useful as internet resources change rapidly.
You must reference all sources used in a particular work whether you are:
- directly copying the words of another author (quoting), or
- putting their ideas into your own words (paraphrasing).
If you do not acknowledge these sources, then you are plagiarising their work. Plagiarism is defined as the taking, using, and passing off as your own, the ideas or words of another. It is a very serious academic offence and may result in your work being failed automatically and other severe disciplinary measures being applied.
Some schools have a requirement or preference for the reference style that is used for submitted work. Please consult your unit information in the Studies section of myRMIT or contact your tutor for information on what style guide you should use for your unit(s).
For more information, please refer to the Referencing web page published by the Library.
↑ page menuTextbooks
The majority of OUA units have required textbooks that you will need to complete each unit. OUA’s recommended textbook supplier is Unibooks. Unibooks have up-to-date listings of required texts for all OUA units.
The RMIT Bookshop can also supply the texts for all RMIT OUA units.
↑ page menuLibrary access
All OUA students studying units with RMIT have access to the Library. The Library has a wide range of journals, online resources, databases and books in its collection. The Library can be accessed through the Studies section of myRMIT or directly through the Library OUA web page.
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