Frequently Asked Questions about Flúirse's Online Summer Course Programme

Frequently Asked Questions

[Show all answers]  [Hide all answers] Summer Courses | Enquiries

General FAQ’s

What courses are available from Flúirse Education Solutions for 2007?

Flúirse are offering Primary School Teachers 7 courses covering all aspects of using ICT in the classroom. All are approved by the Department of Education and worth 3 EPV days once completed. The following courses are available:

FSC701 Broadband – A Broader Education in the Classroom
FSC702 Free Software Solutions for Schools
FSC703 Resurrecting that Old Classroom Computer at No Cost
FSC704 Computer Health Check and Security for Computers in the Classroom
FSC705 Hassle Free, Cost Free, School Website Design
FSC706 OpenOffice – The Free Alternative to Word, Excel and Powerpoint!
FSC707 The Power of Broadband with Web 2.0
FSC808 Recording Children's Songs and Voices
FSC809 Learn how to use and operate your Digital Camera
FSC810 Advanced Web Design for Schools and Teachers
FSC811 PowerPoint Create Clear Classroom Presentations
FSC812 Office Introduction to Microsoft Office
FSC813 Photography Working with Digital Photographs and images
FSC814 School Blog A School Diary for the 21st Century
FSC815 Podcasting Get Your School Talking to the World
FSC851 Intercultural Education in the Primary School
FSC852 Inclusive Technology in the inclusive classroom
FSC853 Multi-Grade Teaching Enhancing the Learning Environment
FSC854 Management Skills and the Principal
FSC855 Educational Management An Introduction

What is an online course like?

Doing your course online couldn’t be easier. You can study in your own time, wherever you want and at your own pace. Try our course demo to see just how simple it really can be.

How do I enrol on a course?

There are two ways to enrol. Firstly, you can enrol and pay online by selecting your course of choice and then clicking on the “Enrol Now” button. You can use all major credit cards using this method.

For laser / debit cards or for cheques, postal orders or bank drafts, simply open and print the Summer Courses Application form by clicking here and return with your payment to Flúirse.

For all other queries or to receive a copy of the application form or any further information, e-mail the Summer Courses team at summer@fluirse.com or call 066 712 9828 (9am – 6pm).

While some late places maybe available, early application is advised as places are limited.

What type of computer or technology do I need to take this course?

To take an online summer course with Flúirse, you need the following:

1. Access to the Internet
2. An email address
3. A printer (if you want to print any course material)

Please note that while broadband is recommended, it is not essential and using dial-up (regular telephone connection) Internet will work fine. You always have the option of printing the course material to study away from the computer.

I do not have an e-mail address, what should I do?

You need to sign-up for an e-mail address. This is relatively straightforward and should only take a few minutes. Flúirse recommends Eircom.net or G-mail for reliable, free e-mail services.

To sign up for an e-mail address with Eircom.net, visit: http://autoreg.eircom.net/ and follow the on screen steps.
To sign up for an address with G-mail, visit: http://mail.google.com/mail/signup and follow the on screen steps.

How are the courses assessed?

Each course consists of 5 modules. At the end of each module, you are asked to complete a task which will comprise the assessment for that lesson. These tasks vary but generally include multiple choice questions based on material covered in each module.
On completion of the course of 5 modules, a more substantial assignment will be required such as writing up a small lesson plan based on the material covered.

You will also be asked to work with other teachers also on your course by contributing to our course discussion forums.

Do I need to be online for the entire course?

No, you simply need to log-in and read through the material, you can print the material and study it away from the computer if you prefer. However, you will be required to complete the small assignments at the end of each module and the general assignment at the end of the course online.

Can I download or print off material to keep?

Yes, all course material will be available to download and print.

When does each course start?

All courses will be available from 9.30am on July 1st 2008 until 5.30pm on August 22nd 2008.

You will be required to complete the five modules of your course including all assignments and have contributed to your course Discussion forum within this time period to receive your Flúirse Summer Course Certificate (and your 3 EPV days from the Department of Education and Science)

How long do I have to complete the course?

You have almost 2 months to complete your course. You can complete the course any time between 9.30am on July 1st 2008 until 5.30pm on August 22nd 2008.

Where can I find a step-by-step guide on logging into each course and familiarising myself with my course layout?

You will be sent by post and e-mail a welcome pack with all the information you require.
Alternatively you can download and print each from here:

• Step by Step Guide to Logging in to your course Document (PDF Document)
• Familiarise Yourself with your course layout Document (PDF Document)
• Useful Tips and Advice (PDF Document)

How will Flúirse Education Solutions or the Department of Education and Science know when I have completed my course?

Using our online Course Management System, our Course Coordinators will monitor all students’ progress. You will not be permitted to move on to a new module until you complete the previous module and the assignment. Course coordinators will also review your general assignment at the end of the course and only when satisfied with your assignment will your certificate be issued and a record of your successful course completion sent to the Department of Education.

What will I get to show that I did the course?

Every student who completes a course will be issued with a prestigious Flúirse Summer Courses Certificate.

What happens when I click on “Order Now”?

You will be taken to our secure payments section. We use Paypal (not consistently referred to as ‘Paypal’) for our online payments, which is a secure online payment method successfully used by millions of people worldwide every year. From here, just follow the simple onscreen steps we will receive a record of your payment and your contact details. An application form will then be sent to you by post, which must be signed before you can login to your course.

What cards are accepted?

We accept all major cards. Our online payments section can accept MasterCard, Visa or American Express.

Do I have to pay online?

Whilst we recommend you pay online for the fastest, most secure payment method, you can also pay by requesting or printing a copy of our Summer Courses Application Form, which you can return to Flúirse with your billing information.

What about security?

PayPal’s industry-leading fraud prevention measures and one-of-a-kind method of keeping your financial information private from sellers make it a safe way to pay online. Plus, we offer the following to protect your purchases:

* 100% protection against unauthorized payments sent from your account
* Dispute resolution on PayPal purchases

What is PayPal?

PayPal is an secure account-based system that lets anyone with an email address securely send and receive online payments using their credit card or bank account. It is the most popular way to electronically pay for eBay auctions and it is becoming a popular secure way for merchants to accept credit cards on their on-line storefronts instead of using a traditional payment gateway.

Who are the courses designed for?

They are designed firstly for primary school teachers but all courses are also suitable for other professionals in the ICT and education areas who wish to update their knowledge and skills.

What level of computer skills do I need to take a course?

All courses are user friendly and intuitive to follow. A very basic level of computer skills is required. If you are comfortable surfing the Internet, you should have no problems doing any of the online courses. Flúirse will be available to provide any technical assistance you need during the course via e-mail and telephone.

Who is suited to these online courses?

All of Flúirse’s courses are suitable for people who are self-motivated and enjoy independent study. If you value working in your own time, pace and place, then these courses are ideally suited to you.

What kind of support is provided?

Dedicated support will be provided throughout the course as well as after you have completed your course. Our course coordinators will be available via e-mail and through the course Discussion Forums. We can also be contacted by phone during business hours (9am – 6pm).

Technical FAQ’s

How do I log into my course?

You can log into your course by entering your username and password in the “Log in” section of our summer courses page. You must first register this username and password before starting your course. Instructions on how to do this will be sent by e-mail to all participants before the course start date.

See the below for a step-by-step guide:
• Step by Step Guide to Logging in to your course Document (PDF Document)

I can’t remember my password - what do I do?

If you cannot remember your password, simply click on the “Yes, help me log in” button and follow the simple onscreen steps to retrieve your password by e-mail.

Why can’t I access my course now?

Courses will not be available to view until the course start date (July 2nd). If you cannot access your course at this date, please contact the Flúirse Summer Courses team immediately.

I have not received any e-mails from Flúirse Education Solutions yet?

If you have not received any e-mails from Flúirse regarding your course, please be patient. All participants should receive information by post and e-mail the week before the course commences. You can always confirm your address with the Summer Courses team by e-mailing: summer@fluirse.com

What are the technical requirements for taking an online course?

To successfully complete an online course you will need to access a computer that has internet access and meets the basic technical requirements. The following section lists the system requirements for both PCs and Apple Mac.

PC Requirements

Operating Systems:
• Windows Vista
• Windows XP
• Windows 2000
• Windows NT
• Windows 98


Web Browsers

• Internet Explorer 6.0 and above
• Mozilla Firefox 1.5 and above
• Safari 1.3.2 and above (Make sure your browser is up-to-date.)

Apple Mac Requirements

Operating Systems:
• OSX (10.1 and above)

Web Browsers

• Internet Explorer 6.0 and above
• Mozilla Firefox 1.5 and above
• Safari 1.3.2 and above (Make sure your browser is up-to-date.)