Blended and Online Learning

Online learning is flexible, accessible, and ideal for those balancing other commitments, avoiding travel, or preferring to learn at their own pace. You’ll engage with our teaching staff and other learners in a structured but flexible environment.

To get the most of your course, it would be helpful to have basic IT Skills (email, internet use, webcam) and of course a willingness to use the Learning Management System (LMS).

Learners will be given an account to log in to our Learning Management System (LMS).
Our online learning is designed to be interactive and supportive. Whether fully online or blended courses, you’ll engage with tutors and learners in a structured but flexible learning environment.
Online learning is good for those who want to balance study with other commitments, avoid travel, or simply prefer learning at their own pace.

To join online classes you will need a computer or laptop and a good stable internet connection. You will use the learning management system (LMS) to access course materials and videos, access learning resources, submit assessments and receive updates and messages from your teaching staff member.

Frequently Asked Questions about Online Learning

What is a Learning Management System (LMS)?

LMS stands for Learning Management System. It’s an online platform that helps manage and deliver courses, training, and learning materials all in one place. It keeps track of things like attendance, progress, and feedback, and makes it easy to organise and support learners to stay on track and succeed. Our LMS is powered by D2L Brightspace and we use Zoom as our tools for blended and online learning. For fully online courses, live classes are held on Zoom. Brightspace is where students can find course materials, videos, quizzes, assignments, and more. Some courses, like ISL, sometimes offer a blended learning approach, students attend some in-person classes and use the LMS for everything else.

The LMS also provides helpful information like announcements, the Learner Handbook, and guides on how to use Brightspace and Zoom. It also includes resources on accessibility, assistive technologies, and our Learner Support Plan for students who need extra help.

What should I do if I can’t access my account on the LMS?

There are a few reasons why you might not be able to log in to your LMS (Learning Management System) account.

If you’re using a work computer or your company’s internet, their security settings (like firewalls) might be blocking access. You may need to ask your company’s IT team to check and fix this.
Workplace Firewall Blocking access: If you’re using a work computer or your company’s internet, their security settings (like firewalls) might be blocking access. You may need to ask your company’s IT team to check and fix this.
Emails from @irishdeafsociety.ie are being marked spam: make sure email not being blocked. This includes automatic emails sent by the LMS. You might need to add this email address to your safe sender list (also called “whitelisting”).
If you’re using your own device, check that your software and browser are up to date—especially security settings. Brightspace works well with browsers like Chrome, Edge, Firefox, and Safari, but it’s important your device is running the latest updates.
Since the LMS is online, a poor internet connection can also stop you from logging in.

If you still need help, you can contact our Digital Education Officer at paul@irishdeafsociety.ie.

What resources are available to me on the LMS?

Once you’re enrolled in a course on the LMS (usually 1–2 weeks before your first class), you’ll be able to access several helpful sections.
First, there’s a section with guides on how to use Brightspace and Zoom. It’s important to read these before your first class so you know how everything works.
Second, you’ll find information about your course, your teacher, the Learner Handbook, and a list of useful contacts—so you know who to reach out to if you need help.
Third, there’s a section with tips and links about accessibility features on your device, assistive technology (AT), and details about the Learner Support Plan (LSP) for those who qualify for extra support.
If your course is QQI-accredited, you’ll also find information about your assignments and how to submit them.
On your course homepage, you’ll see announcements from your teacher, the admin team, or the Student Council. These updates are important, so be sure to check them regularly.
Once your classes begin, your teacher will start sharing course materials. These might include videos, PowerPoint slides, quizzes, and more. The materials will match your subject and level. Quizzes are a great way to practice—they give you instant feedback and don’t count toward your final grade.
If you need to contact your teacher outside of class, you can email them using the Email tool in the course menu.
You can also check your grades and progress anytime using the tools in the LMS course menu.

What specific requirements for using the Learning Management System (LMS)?

Because the LMS is online, learners need a device (like a PC or laptop) and a good stable internet connection to use it. The LMS doesn’t have any special restrictions, so it should work on any modern device using a common web browser like Chrome, Edge, Firefox, or Safari.

There’s also a Brightspace app for learning on the go. However, FET recommends using a larger screen (like a laptop or desktop) because our courses are very visual—especially during live lessons.
Since the LMS itself doesn’t block access, it’s up to learners to make sure:
Their internet connection is stable and reliable
Their device is suitable and up to date
There are no security settings (like firewalls) that might block Brightspace or Zoom
This is especially important if you’re using a work device, work network, or work email, as these often have extra security settings.

How long do I have access to LMS?

Course access one to two weeks before your first class. This gives you time to look through the pre-course materials and get comfortable using the LMS. After the course ends, After the course ends, learners may continue to have access to their course materials for a limited time, which varies depending on the course.

Can I see more about how the LMS works?

Here is an introduction video about using the LMS: Watch a short intro video about the IDS LMS.

What is Zoom?

Zoom is an online video meeting platform. It is a great way to deliver live lessons online.

Do I need a Zoom account to log in to my lessons?

No. You do not need a Zoom account, and you do not need to download the Zoom app. You can click the link or use the login details provided by your teacher. If your course uses Brightspace, our LMS, you can find your lesson login details in the Calendar/Upcoming Events on the course homepage.

Where can I find more information about how to use Zoom?

Zoom provides a lot of support in many different languages on how to use their platform. Their support homepage is Zoom Support. Because Zoom is a multi-use platform with many different types of users, not all the support they offer may be relevant to you specifically as a learner. The most useful support pages for learners are:

If your course is using the LMS, you can also find a lot of Zoom support materials in the “Getting Started – Navigating Brightspace (LMS) and Zoom (Virtual Classroom)” content unit.

What are some of the differences between an online lesson via Zoom and a lesson in a physical classroom?

As all our lessons are live rather than recorded, there are fewer differences than you may think. On Zoom you will see your teacher and classmates just as you would in a physical classroom. The main difference is with Zoom you will only see what the camera is pointed at – which will typically just be the head and chest area rather than the whole body.

In an online lesson on Zoom, it is important to behave the same as you would in a physical classroom. This means, for example, it is not acceptable to eat or drink during the lesson. You should not bring other people or pets into an online lesson. Most importantly, because all our courses are delivered via ISL, it is essential to have your camera turned on when in the lesson.

Blended and Online Learning

Frequently Asked Questions about Online Learning

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