Practical guides
Working offline
Offline is the normal mode, not a fallback. You load a module when the network is good, work on it wherever you like, and everything syncs when the signal returns. This guide gives the full method, week after week.
How offline mode works
A downloaded course is read, annotated and worked on with no network at all. Your answers, notes and submissions save on the device, then sync by themselves as soon as the signal returns. That design makes connectivity an occasional resource, used for a few minutes a week, rather than a permanent condition of your work.
- The module content, fully available after download
- Your annotations and notes, saved locally
- Your exercise answers, queued until the signal returns
- The synchronisation state, visible at all times
Organising an intermittent week
- 01
Identify your network window
The moment in the week when your connection is best. Everything else is built around it.
- 02
Load the whole week
During that window, download every planned module. One weekly load beats five daily ones.
- 03
Work wherever you are
Commute, break, evening. Content and exercises run entirely on the device.
- 04
Let it sync at the next signal
Synchronisation is automatic. Simply check the queue is empty before heading back out of coverage.
- 05
Collect marking feedback
They arrive at the same time as the upload. Read them during the network window, reply offline.
What offline mode covers
- weekly network window is enough
- 1
- modules described in the catalogue
- 181
- answers lost on an outage
- 0
All can be worked on device.
The queue uploads when the signal returns.
Three situations, three ways to work
Network available once a week
Load the semester in blocks of four modules. You then work a full month without depending on the signal.
Unstable but daily network
Let synchronisation work in the background. The queue empties as soon as a window opens, with no action needed.
Frequent travel
Load before leaving and work in transit. Travel time becomes the most regular part of the week.
Questions about working without a network
Does a whole module fit on a phone?
Content is designed to be light, which makes it quick to download and readable on modest configurations. Plan for a semester's worth rather than a module's: bulk loading is what makes the week self-sufficient.
Do tutor exchanges work offline?
Your questions are written offline and sent when the signal returns, like submissions. Exchanges already received stay readable on the device, which lets you work a whole module without a network.
How do I know everything has uploaded?
The synchronisation state is visible at all times and the queue empties as soon as a network window opens. A glance before heading back out of coverage confirms nothing is waiting.
Explore next
- Organising your weekPlanning your IHETC study week: slicing into blocks, real hours per programme, safety margin and weekly tracking.
- Studying while workingRunning an IHETC programme while keeping your job: energy trade-offs, using the gaps, handling peak load and progress markers.
- Study and familyStudying at IHETC alongside family life: announced slots, a dedicated place, shared assessment periods and use of offline mode.
- Notes and revisionA note-taking and revision method for remote study: per-module notes, reformulation, spaced recall and reuse in submissions.
- Using the tutorUsing the IHETC tutor: permanent availability, anchoring in the course, phrasing a useful request and the value of the certificate earned.
- The first yearRunning your first year at IHETC: key appointments, production rhythm, use of the cohort forum and preparation for semester assessments.