Online FAS Courses- any experience of one or opinions on them welcome

_Whimsical_

Has anyone done one of the online courses offered by FAS?
If not has anyone heard if they're supposed to be good or helpful?

I was particularly thinking of doing a course in the Web Design/Multimedia area :http://s7.kalopa.net./site/pages/categories/CatWebDesign.html

It would suit me as I presume that you can work at it in your own time and that it would be part time. I'm more looking at it to develop a personal interest and learn another skill rather than as a potential career path. Any opinions would be helpful.

Black Swan

Can't speak specifically about FAS, but have taken online university coursework and find that it's generally textbook driven self-study that's essentially linear and not interactive, with a lack of metacognitive teaching techniques to enhance knowledge, understanding, and retention. Their course management systems like Blackboard, Angel, etc., do not teach, but rather just organise in accord with the syllabus, sometimes measuring your progress with quizzes, exams, and an occasional FTP project submission, depending upon the curriculum. This all said, you could learn just a well by obtaining a book and related software programmes and do self-study. Then again, some students want the structure of an online course to get them to step through the hoops.

Someday online educational curriculum designers will bring in metacognitive instructional techniques, gaming methods, and interaction enhancement strategies to make online education fun, effective, and efficient, but that's the future and not the present of online education.

mobilecore

Hahha this is like talking to me 4 months ago :P

I too wanted to do the web design course. However it should be noted that you have to complete the CIW foundations course first mate. Which I am currently doing.

Here is something I said in a post there a few mins ago in another thread "...so far this course (CIW Foundations) is 50/50 in the sense that there are some sections you'll know once you use the internet (like browsers, mail etc)...other sections are a bit more complex if you dont already know them. the course kinda feels like it assumes you already know alot at times..."


the course is free if you are on the social welfare/labor. but the test will cost you the 120 euro.

i say apply for it and see what its like for yourself.

_Whimsical_

mobilecore wrote: »

Hahha this is like talking to me 4 months ago :P

I too wanted to do the web design course. However it should be noted that you have to complete the CIW foundations course first mate. Which I am currently doing.

Here is something I said in a post there a few mins ago in another thread "...so far this course (CIW Foundations) is 50/50 in the sense that there are some sections you'll know once you use the internet (like browsers, mail etc)...other sections are a bit more complex if you dont already know them. the course kinda feels like it assumes you already know alot at times..."


the course is free if you are on the social welfare/labor. but the test will cost you the 120 euro.

i say apply for it and see what its like for yourself.

Thank you both for the replies.

Mobilecore : How much time do you find yourself putting into the course ?

I think I will stick to one of the courses on Dreamweaver or Photoshop. Just had a look at that CIW Foundation course and it seems like it's everything I never wanted to know about the internet. Looks like tough going.:(.

Is it just learning stuff off or are there exercises you do yourself or interactive tutorials where you can follow what they do on screen?

mobilecore

I dont think the CIW is the hardest thing to do. Its certainly not something you can breeze through (in some sections you can, but not all)
I say that the webdesign course will be much harder.

i get lazy with it cause its that type of thing for me. I have it 5 weeks now and just under about half way trough. picking up now tho.


and basically how it goes is that it will tell you whats what... for example saying about what a router is. it talks about the router and what it does (very brief... not too heavy) then it has questions. the first section (which is about networking like routers, topologies etc) can be a bit hard at first. but just like everything i guess you do it - go back over it - go back over it and you get it.

(the course has audio by the way so you listen and read and then do questions)


Chilly, I say just try it (or another course even) Its hard to descibe because you'll either stick with it or it'll just be boring for you. If you are on the labor its free but the testing fee will cost you 120 euro (i think its 120 euro) and thats IF you decide to stick it out and take the test.
If you're not on the labor it will cost you 120euro for the course then the testing fee if you do the test. Its an investment in yourself. 120 is 2 nights out (if that with the price of going out these days :P ) when you think about it.

el_gaucho

another thing is that you need some books to get you through it right? although FAS do have online tutorship.
CMIT charge around 700euro for the courses, including books and CDs. surely it's not necessary to spent that kind of money as there are Dummies and Bible books. can anyone recommend one?