Distance Learning
Last post 11-06-2008 9:48 AM by Buttercup. 18 replies.
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01/10/2007 02:57 PM
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- Gator_al
- Aberarth, Ceredigion
- 08 Jun 2007
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2
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Hia All,
I have been avidly reading the posts here as I have been debating about doing a distance learning course for the last few months.
I am wondering if anyone out there can give any feedback on some of the distance learning colleges, in particular HCC and KLC? Living in mid-Wales (2 hours from anywhere) it is going to have to be
correspondence topped up with some practical Workshops from somewhere while on holiday.
I am quite interested in the KLC course as it has more of a design slant to their course work than other colleges, which might be to my benefit. It also means that should I decide on a change of direction then it
gives me 12-18 months to decided on further training in design or gardening orientation. However if you compare their modules (briefly described on the website) with that of the HCC syllabus then I am
slightly concerned that you miss out on the plants side (KLC have reassured me that their course does adequately cover the RHS Level 2 exam requirements). Anyone with experience of KLC I would be
interested in any comments.
I would love to know from others how they coped with Distance Learning and have you found a benefit to your
gardening/life/new job?
Thanks for looking.
Al
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15/10/2007 01:51 PM
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- Cat21
- 15 Oct 2007
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3
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Hi,
I've just started the RHS 2 Distance Learning through Hadlow in Kent, only on the first module or so, but it all looks really daunting!
Hope you find what you need!
Cat
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01/11/2007 11:01 PM
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- Mailman
- 01 Nov 2007
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2
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Hi Gater_al,
I've only just started the KLC course, it does appear to be very good as there is a lot of information in the 5 modules. I am hoping to do the RHS level 2 cert after this as its something I really want to get stuck into.
I'm from Hereford and though pershore is an hour down the road, I'm unable to go to the college (work full-time) so have found the distance learning thing to be a good idea.
I'm not sure if I've been of use answering this but just thought i'd say hi and that the KLC one is alright for me.
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10/11/2007 03:15 PM
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- Gator_al
- Aberarth, Ceredigion
- 08 Jun 2007
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2
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Hia Mailman,
Glad to pick your message up - I took the plunge and signed up to the KLC course recently. Just received the manuals and beginning the read through.
Kind of feel like I am at the bottom of a hill looking up but relishing the challenge. Glad that I decided on the course and started practicing sketches. Managed to get hold of some old gardening magazines from freecylce.com which I am scavanging for plants, ideas and sketching styles.
Would be interested to see how you find it and how you get on.
Alistair (Gator_al)
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13/11/2007 02:00 PM
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- ClareC
- 13 Nov 2007
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1
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Your idea of free gardening magazines is a really good idea - thanks for the link! I've just reached the design modules in my own course (with Learning Curve) and am really enjoying them. I've just bought the John Brooke's book on Garden Design too which is brilliant (birthday treat!)
Interested to hear how everyone is getting on with their courses - as you say, it's quite a challenge when you first get going! But I'm relishing it... :-)
Clare
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13/11/2007 05:28 PM
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- alfastan
- 04 Oct 2007
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6
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Hi Clare,
I am with HCC only on the secound lesson, plant growth, development and physiology. Had my results from first assignment, which was really good A`s and B`s so that was encouraging. Just hoping I have enough space upstairs to remember a whole new load of Latin names and meanings!
Its really reassuring to hear that yours is all going well. Did you find it difficult to start with? Any tips on books etc would be great!
Sandra
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11/01/2008 01:16 PM
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- Custard
- 11 Jan 2008
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8
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Hi!
I bought the HCC materials for the RHS Advanced and was quite unhappy with the quality. I felt that a lot of sections had simply been copied and pasted from elsewhere without any editing or real understanding as to whether they were relevant to the course. E.g a long artlcle on peat bogs and one on working on greenhouse rooves.
I sent two sets of assignments to be marked. The feedback I received was very positive but entirely lacking in any formative assessment. There was no information on how to improve my answers or any information on why I had lost a mark here and there. Therefore I felt that there was no point to the assessment. I might as well have sent the answers to my Gran so that she could give me a pat on the back and tell me I was doing well. I didn't submit any further assignments and I have had no follow up from the college to enquire as to the reasons.
A big problem for the advanced would be common to any distance learning college, and that is the lack of practical instruction. The 2 RHS revision days look great, but are very expensive (£90 per day for RHS members). Then you add the cost of sitting the exam. For these reasons I am now taking my practical module (C) through Kingston Maurwood. The course is 6 Saturdays plus a mock exam and includes the exam fee, all for £280. Seems relatively bargainous in comparison.
But the biggest problem with doing a course by distance is finding a centre that will take you as an external candidate for the exam. I was not warned that this was an issue before I coughed up £485 to pay for the course. In the end Kingston Maurwood have taken pity on me, but I have to drive over an hour each way to sit any papers. There are 3 other colleges closer but they won't take me because I might fail a module and mess up their statistics. The cost of sitting the papers is also significant on top of the initial outlay to the distance college for the materials.
I now wish that I had saved my money and spent that £485 on past papers from the RHS, lots of great text books and my exam fees. I would have been significantly better off.
I hope that this information is helpful. Do feel free to ask if you have further questions about HCC.
Yours,
Jen Cullford
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26/03/2008 05:12 PM
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- Brixham11
- 26 Mar 2008
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1
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Hi Al
Glad to hear your comments. I was beginning to think I was the only person finding the HCC course material a challenge in terms of the way it is put together. I don't have any experience of gardening and botany and plant biology so it is all new to me but I do have a first class degree from a few years ago and I think am reasonably well equipped to learn .... but .... I think the whole thing looks like its been amended over the years with additions here and there; headings and sections are unclear and a lot of overcomplicated language is used where it does not need to be as well as some irrelvent anecodotal stuff and really unhelpful diagrams or photos. I also found the whole pack randomly put together, with different coloured sheets and no really straightforward explanations. Ok you can go through it all a couple of times and work it out but it could be so much easier. I have also found the lack of contact from the college disheartening; I haven't yet submitted my first assignment, which I have ready to go, but since ordering my pack about 6-8 weeks ago I've heard nothing at all. I don't feel part of a college or association but more like I've just bought some stuff from a second hand shop! It is difficult to feed back on anything direct to the college as I feel like it will be a bit personal as so much of the content is written by one person it seems.
I will plough on through and add to my collection of books as I'm keen to learn this material.
Hope you are getting on ok despite all this!
Laura
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16/04/2008 07:19 PM
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- Becky
- 19 Feb 2005
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56
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Hello there, haven't been on here in a long while, but it's good to be here again!! I have studied for the RHS 2 by correspondance course with the HCC and passed the RHS exam in 06. I so much enjoyed it that I have now just started up with the Advanced, also doing it by correspondance with HCC. I do know what you mean with the course books not exactly being very reader-friendly, but I think you just have to "get into it" and then you'll do ok. And I was very much pleased to find that the course books for the Advanced are a lot better, doesn't look like it was written before the time of computers =) and the front is even in colour... I must say that I have quite the opposite experience with the HCC as to replying to questions, emails etc. as I always received a helpful answer within 24 hours. My tutor was great, answered any questions I had, and would send me articles, links, and what not. Don' know yet who will be my tutor yet for the Advanced, but hoping it'll be the same one. It's nice to see there are some others doing this by correspondance as three years ago, I didn't find anybody else... Becky =)
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16/04/2008 07:36 PM
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- Digger
- Northern UK
- 18 Jul 2005
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4,743
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Hey becky from switzerland how are you doing my friend? it's good to hear from you after all these years you must be twenty something by now? why don't you come to the idle chat thread and let us know how you are doing and what you've been up to. sue1002, is still here and Miranda and some new faces and some familiar ones too. good to have you back here
digger 
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06/05/2008 01:44 PM
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- sweetpea15
- york
- 06 May 2008
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1
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I'm currently doing the Advanced certificate through Learning Curve. I did debate whether to do it with them or HCC but ended up making the decision purely on cost. It's good to hear the fact that the HCC course material isn't fantastic as I am finding the same with Learning curve and wondered whether I'd gone with the wrong company! My learning material seems to consist of a lot of lifted material...at the moment a lot of it is from a University website in America! I've also found that they haven't bothered to proof read the material as there are so many spelling and grammatical errors, and things that aren't that clear. Luckily I have a biology degree so am pretty clued up with the science side, don't think any of the info is wrong, but it isn't always that clear.
On the plus side, I have to say that the feedback I have got back so far from my tutor regarding the one assignment I have handed in so far has been good.
But I guess if you haven't a college nearby that runs the course, you just have to make do with the next best thing, or move!
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10/05/2008 03:36 PM
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- PinkTequila
- Wilmslow, Cheshire
- 04 Sep 2007
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5
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I have been very impressed with Learning Curve. The materials seem good etc. I did start to do the general with HCC but after my credit card was stolenI forgot to tell HCC the new number and got such a rude letter from them telling me it was not to happen againetc etc as if I had been a naughty schoolboy with no understanding even when I explained the situation I withdrew from the course immediately, I feel the course materials from learning curve are of a much better quality as well.
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15/05/2008 02:24 PM
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- Louise_1981
- Oldham
- 15 May 2008
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1
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I am glad I found this discussion. I am thinking of starting with learning curve on the level 2.
does anyone know how to get a list of places which will allow you to take the rhs exams, Bit nervous of joining, if noone will let me sit the exams at their college.
Louise
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04/06/2008 01:40 PM
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RHS Qualifications maintains a list of colleges willing to accept external students. Contact qualifications@rhs.org.uk with details of the area of the country where you live.
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04/06/2008 06:51 PM
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- Faraway
- 15 Oct 2007
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33
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Do Colleges usually supply all course books, notes, equipment (ie the full package) at the start of the course and you work at your own pace?
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