Closure of Statewide Online
Statewide has been a service to offer shared online courses across U3A in SA. After three years U3A SA has decided to close down this program due to low levels of participation and for shortcomings in how it delivered online courses. I think this is for two main reasons built into the design of the program.
Statewide has been a service to offer shared online courses across U3A SA. After three years U3A SA has decided to close down this program due to low levels of participation and for shortcomings in how it delivered online courses. I think this is for two main reasons built into the design of the program.
- U3As had little ownership of the shared courses. There were delivered externally to the local U3As, which are the essence of U3A.
- There was no provision for fees for these courses beyond one’s regular membership fee. So there was no benefit for for the local U3A.
There is room for discussion about alternative ways for U3As to offer online courses beyond their local membership. The potential benefits exist because online delivery can be done regardless of where one lives. This is of considerable benefit for members who have difficulty with travel, or who live remote from larger U3As offering a wider range of courses.
One way some state-wide courses could operate would be for interested U3As to offer such courses beyond their membership by having a simple ‘external membership’ which would allow anyone not a member of the local U3A to join an online course and pay a reduced membership fee for this opportunity. Such courses could be listed on a simple webpage which provides links back to the host U3As where interested people could pay the fee and enrol.
Thank you very much to the faithful determined and energetic tutors who are the heart of U3A.
I am hoping to finalise a scheme in December that will offer a 50% reduction in Zoom subscriptions for U3As delivering online courses in SA. If you have ideas, let me know.
John Travers, retired coordinator, Statewide 11/10/24
jtravers@gmail.com
The following pages will be removed in the near future.
Enrolment is free to financial members of any South Australian U3A
The links from this page take you to Airtable, the administration system for Statewide. To return to this page go to the top Menu and select the Courses Online tab or Back button on your browser.
What you need to attend a course: a computer or tablet (iPad) and an internet connection. The first time you join Zoom or Meet, the software will download and off you go with video and audio.
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If you would like to propose a course …
see FOR TUTORS in the drop-down menu above
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See: Video Tour of the Statewide website 1.5 min
If you are a member of a participating South Australian U3A you are welcome to propose a course that you could deliver online. When a course proposal is submitted here, it is forwarded to your home U3A for approval. Once approved your course operates under the authority of your home U3A. We’ll be in touch!
The flexibility of the course proposal and enrolment process means means you have freedom in timing of your course and its frequency