The BBC’s money programme recently reported a sharp rise in
complaints about distance learning courses. There is a correlation
with this rise and a general rise in use of distance learning as a
method of study, but is this the full story?
Over the last decade lifestyles have changed, social networking
has arrived and we’ve experienced the deepest recession in modern
day history. All of these factors are making people’s choices about
their methods of study ever more important.
Due to the explosion of online use a large number of companies
are populating websites with vast amounts of online materials
allowing new entrants to penetrate the market much more easily than
ever before.
While some of these providers are, without a doubt, providing
excellent quality materials and for others materials that are so
cheap, if not free, it is hard not to take a look; however, it is
important that students see the bigger picture of what makes a good
online educational product.
There is no one size fits all product for students. We all have
different learning styles, different disposable incomes, different
levels of internet access and different opinions; however, there
are some key features that should be considered when making your
next online purchase.
Support
Are you a self studier? We have statistics that suggest around
30% of typical distance learning students don’t even turn up to the
exam that they are booked onto. This means they have paid for the
exam entry fee but are not motivated or confident enough to attempt
the exam.
A lot of distance learning students consider themselves
self-studiers but procrastination is the biggest single problem
most have. Putting off study as there is something more important
to do – such as hoovering! My flat was never as clean as when I was
studying.
A key feature to check of any distance learning package is the
level of support you are offered. On top of this, is this support
reactive or proactive? It’s easy to say you’ve got tutor support if
that tutor is at the end of a generic email address that you have
to get around to using. As a tutor I’ve given my email address to
thousands of students and very few have ever emailed me… maybe
that’s just me. It is however, a key piece of research. Does the
provider offer you support, motivation, advice and guidance and all
of this without requesting it?
Exam focused materials
The day the materials arrive is always a nice feeling at first
as you un-wrap the package or download the content onto your
desk-top. The nice feeling usually subsides when you realise the
volume of the materials and the subsequent time it is going to take
to plough through it all knowing that you have an exam to sit in a
few weeks, a job, a life and a series of Heroes to watch; not to
mention the other paper you have courageously decided to take on at
the same time!
The key to materials is that a provider needs to offer you
assistance and guidance to ensure you know exactly where to focus
your studies. Analysing previous exams is a past time of some
students (and tutors!) and if you’ve ever done it yourself you will
realise that a very small percentage of the syllabus is ever
examined. As a tuition provider you are looking for two things:
1) An exam focused approach to studying – well that is the
reason you have spent the money on the training.
2) An appreciation that this isn’t just about the exam. The
qualification is vocational and professional bodies are after well
rounded students who can apply their knowledge to the real
world.
Hence, you are looking for a provider to supply you with
succinct materials, and one that teaches these materials from
proven industry experience. If you learn the knowledge you’ll score
a few marks in the exam. If you understand the concepts you will
pass the exam and gain a skill.
Access to materials
Most online materials are access based; physical materials are
for keeps. For some it is key that they have access to the detail
of the syllabus as long as they’d like it; you never know when you
might be called on to do an NPV!
How long does your access last for, and if it isn’t forever, are
you provided with hard copy materials for you to take away?
Also, when do you get access to your materials? Even though your
study towards a professional exam should be at a good pace and as
structured as possible, often quiet periods of time can’t be
planned. Do you get access to your materials up front or are you
waiting for online lectures to happen before you can actually
commence your studies.
Most research we performed stated that structured flexibility is
what prevails; the training provider to offer structure and
guidance of what & how to study, but the ultimate flexibility
of when being left with the student.
BPP’s Online Classroom has been developed over the last 18
months based on extensive student feedback, some of which is
mentioned above. Now that we’ve had one sitting of exams that we
have run to we are collating and responding to even more. We’re
already improving the product to make it even more supportive, to
ensure the access to materials provided is even more timely and
will continue to supply both physical & online materials as a
matter of course. We have received a lot of feedback that our
product is value for money and have decided that our introductory
price is an appropriate level for the second half of 2010 as well.
So when you are deciding on the product for your studies please
consider what is important for you and make sure the product can
deliver.
Good luck with any results you are waiting for and we’ll
hopefully see you on an Online Classroom course in the 2nd half of
2010.
Malcolm Bell
Head of Distance Learning