Selecting a course or educational opportunity can prove
to be a bit of a daunting task
Whilst most people wish to continue their busy lives with minimal disruption
they sometimes make the mistake of not thinking through and adequately
planning for their study.
The following checkpoints can be used to stop and reflect on your needs
and what is on offer as your
learning needs need to be matched with what is on offer
- The
key question is ”Is
the course content what I want - does it meet my immediate and future
career needs in a way that is acceptable for me to study”
- Your
starting point is to be clear about your learning needs – what are you aiming
to learn and why. How did you identify this – is this something
that you really want to do.
- It is really important
that you consider your lifestyle point of view as well as your career
point of view
- Do
you need to gain knowledge or skills based – or both
- Have
you considered alternatives way to learn rather than a course – such
as work based learning
- Is this part of your
personal development plan?
- Does this course allow
for academic credit for your previous work experience (Accreditation
of prior Experiential Learning) or previous academic study?
- What is your preferred
learning style?
- What learning activities
are involved in this course - do they have sufficient variety?
- What time and effort
can you commit?
- Do you think that
you can you commit to the weekly time demands and the years of study
demanded of the course?
- Over
what period of time does the course run? Can you stop and start
if need be
- How much time will
you need to set aside each week?
- Can you take breaks
during the course of study to accommodate unforeseen circumstances?
- Without loss of achieved
academic credits?
- How will this alter
your usual family/work/social life?
- What resources and
support are available to you
- Are there local mentors?
- Will
you have a personal tutor? How accessible will they be
- What study skills
support is available?
- What central university
resources will you have to access to? E.g. library support service for
distance learners career advice, etc.
- Is there an initial
induction week/weekend?
- Are residentials optional
or compulsory?
- What
will this cost (time, fees, extras – books etc) – costs to
you and to others
- How will you fund
this
- If being funded what
commitment/boundaries are there
- Do you meet the entry
requirements?
- What skills are already
assumed and do you have these e.g. basic IT
- Who
would you like to study with – uniprofessionals, inter-professional,
non-nhs
- What roles do fellow
students play -group work and conferencing at a distance?
- Will you meet
them – how often?
- Will you have a system
for electronic-based discussion with them?
- Who recognises this
course (accreditation?)
- How
can you assess university standards of delivery? Results etc
- Can you gain credit
for your studies even if I don't go on to the end?
- What
if you move? · Benefit
from geographical flexibility, which allows for continuing study on the
same programme even if re-located?
- How is the course
assessed/examined
- How and when is feedback
given?
- Do
assessments relate to “normal” work activities?
- How is this course
likely to change you/your practice?
- Will you really be
able to apply what is learned from the course to the workplace?
Tips
- Get all the information
and details that you can
- Visit the website
- Talk to people who
have completed the course/are already on it
- Meet University
staff during their visits to your area or contact
University staff and other recourses via the Internet, phone, e-mail
or fax
- Speak
to your local support people – local training leads, tutors
- Think about what would
be the next step if you completed this course
Don’t forget: Complete
reflection for your portfolio following the course
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December 21, 2011 8:49 PM