Distance learners

There are some great benefits to being a distance learning student.  You can study flexibly and fit your learning around your life and work commitments. You can choose where you do your learning – at home, at work, on the move. It can also be a more affordable way to study, allowing you to earn while you learn.

However, we recognise that there are also some real challenges to learning at a distance. How do you access services if you don’t regularly attend classes? How are learning materials made available to you? Who can you talk to about your progress on your course?

Below are some key contacts, useful sources of information and details of specific services available to you as a distance learning student at Sheffield Hallam. As a University we are committed to providing a high quality experience to all our students. So just because you are not always here in person doesn’t mean we have forgotten about you. Help is available for everyone.

Where can I go for help?

There are a range of different sources of information and help at Sheffield Hallam, from online resources to staffed support services. There are services which look after students on particular courses (Faculty Student Services) and central services available to all.

Online support

Student Portal

shuspace is Sheffield Hallam University’s student portal, through which you can access a vast range of information to support you at University, as well as your email and Blackboard sites.

* If you are having problems accessing shuspace, or have any other IT related issues you can contact IT help (0114 225 3333 or ithelp@shu.ac.uk). The telephone service is available all day everyday, even when the University is closed.

e – learning

Blackboard is the virtual learning environment of the University and essential to your studies. Most modules are supported by a Blackboard site, with separate organisation sites that support your course or programme of study, and some Hallam Union societies. These sites may contain information such as handbooks, lecture slides and notes, staff details, reading lists and your grades, as well as tools such as assessments, discussion boards and blogs.

* Visit https://students.shu.ac.uk/shuspacecontent/elearning/blackboard for FAQs about Blackboard, including how to make use of discussion boards to communicate with other students and your tutor (s) and how to access Blackboard via the SHU app, SHUgo.

 

Faculty Student Services

Your faculty helpdesk (where you hand in your assignments) is your main point of contact for all course-related enquiries, including

• timetabling • module choice • seminar groups • absence reporting • assignment hand-ins • module results • contacting tutors

See the ‘Virtual Reception’ link on shuspace for details of how to contact your faculty helpdesk.

Your faculty student support officer (SSO) can also help if you

• are experiencing any difficulties which are affecting your studies • need advice on extensions or extenuating circumstances • need help understanding your results, progressing and re-registering on modules.

Your SSO is linked to your course and is based at your faculty helpdesk, but you should also be able to contact them via telephone or email. You can find out who the SSO for your course is by contacting your faculty helpdesk (see above).

 

Central support

The Student Services Centres on level 5, Owen Building at City Campus and at Heart of the Campus, Collegiate are the first point of contact for information, advice and guidance on a range of issues related to student life including

  • orientation and settling into the University
  • booking appointments with specialist advisers
  • support for your general wellbeing
  • specialist guidance and reasonable adjustments for disabled students
  • Study Needs Assessments via the Sheffield Regional Assessment Centre
  • visa and immigration advice for international students
  • social integration activities for international students

You can also call them on 0114 225 3813 or email guidance@shu.ac.uk

 

The Advice Centre at the HUBs offers independent and confidential advice on

• legal issues • funding • benefits and debt • academic problems • housing

See https://www.hallamstudentsunion.com/advice_help/ for further information and details of the different ways you can contact the Advice Centre.

 

Library services

The Learning Centres at Adsetts and Collegiate both offer a helpdesk service, which can help you with a range of library services including

  • accessing eBooks and eJournals
  • SHU passwords
  • using shuspace, Blackboard, the Library Gateway and My Library Account
  • Microsoft Office and Google apps
  • email and SHU desktop services
  • information about SHU services and facilities
  • borrowing and library account queries

The helpdesk offers an in person service, but can also be contacted by phone (0114 225 3333), instant messaging, online form or email (ithelp@shu.ac.uk or learning.centre@shu.ac.uk)

Other support services offered through the Learning Centres include

 

Specific services for distance learners

You can also get dedicated support from our Distance Learner Support Service (DLSS) provided by the learning centres for students on designated distance learning courses. The DLSS offers

  • postal book loans (within the UK and Ireland)
  • journal articles or chapters of books that are unavailable electronically (copyright permitting)
  • support and advice on library matters, plus referral to specialist advice
  • help with accessing other university libraries

 

Top tips

  1. Think about where you are going to study – at home, at work – and arrange a space that suits you. Make sure you have all the learning materials you need to hand before you get started
  2. Examine your schedule and decide how much time you can set aside to study each week. Make sure you stick to this as closely as possible, it’s easy to fall behind if you aren’t disciplined
  3. Use an old fashioned wall planner or the calendar on your phone to make a note of all your assignment due dates at the start of the year
  4. Check your student email and Blackboard sites regularly for updates
  5. Make a note of your administrator and tutor’s contact details and don’t be afraid to ask for help. They are there to answer any questions and help solve any problems you may encounter
  6. Expect to encounter some technical problems when studying online. Be patient and have the number for IT Help close by so you can get advice when needed
  7. Make the most of online opportunities to connect with your peers. Even if it might feel strange to start with, you will get a lot out of connecting with other students whether it’s through discussion forums in Blackboard or via social networking sites
  8. Methods for providing support at distance are often available if you ask for them. When contacting support services, don’t be afraid to specify your preferred method of contact. Most teams within the University will offer information and advice via telephone or email. Instant messaging is also available for library and IT enquiries and the Careers and Employment Service offers careers guidance and job seeking appointments via Skype
  9. When using the internet as a key research tool, make sure you carefully evaluate the information you find. Remember you can’t believe everything you find on the internet!
  10. If you aren’t able to come into the university to access support services, there are a range of online resources available that might meet some of your needs. The benefits of online resources are that they are available to you at any time and you can work through them at your own pace, as many times as you like.

For help with your academic work you can access the following self help resources

  • Skills for learning available on the Library Gateway includes the interactive academic skills toolkit skills4studycampus and re: Search, which provides help with finding and using information for your assignments.
  • RefWorks, a software tool that can help you with your referencing

The Student Wellbeing team also provide a range of online self-help resources. These are free for you to access and are designed to help you relax, cope with stress and improve your sense of wellbeing

Other useful resources

Finding time to study – Sue’s story

Getting support on a distance learning course – Richard’s story