True Learning

Focus Group
The main issues that online learners tend to have with learning online at UHI were highlighted in this group interview with 6 BACYS learners.

The importance of timely and consistent tutor feedback;

A dislike of group work;

Printing rather than reading on screen;

A variety of learning approaches and preferences; and

A preference for blended learning over totally online learning or [...]

[Read more]

When asked what advice they would give to someone new to online learning, the common answers were:

Keep up with the work
Become computer literate if you are not already
Timetable yourself, you are not going to be given one
Take it one step at a time
Keep in contact with other learners
Get in touch with your tutor straightaway if [...]

[Read more]

Telephone Interview Analysis
The following is the common criteria for what UHI online learners want in an online course and what is important to them in online learning:

Tutor support, accessibility & consistency
Learner support & contact
Clear & consistent instructions and information
Accessible and up-to-date information & materials
Quick & consistent feedback
Well-run & well-presented site

The top four are:
1. Reliable and [...]

[Read more]

I have completed 24 email interviews (21 female and 3 male) and 9 telephone interviews (6 female and 3 male) with UHI online learners from the following courses:

BA Child and Youth Studies
Bsc Environment & Heritage
Bsc Rural Development
BA Cultural Studies
BA Social Science
BA Health & Welfare
BA Rural Health Studies
Msc Infection Control
Msc in Medical Device Contamination
MAPD
Access to Health [...]

[Read more]

About 20% of the survey respondents who agreed to a follow up interview have completed the email interview I sent out. A few more have said that they will complete it when the exams and final assessments are over at the end of May.
To state the obvious: I have found email interviewing to be different [...]

[Read more]