Learning cloud

AnnieGuy wrote: »

Hey. I've had an appaling experience with Larning Cloud Ireland and I urge you to avoid them.

This goes back to 2013 when I first moved to Ireland. I was newly unemployed and I'd never studied online before, so I did not know what was reasonable in terms of cost and content.

At the time I was unable to travel to any venue for tutor contact, so online was my only option. Unlike now, where there are many online choices, there were few at the time, and Learning Cloud topped the searches and had a professional looking website and online presence. I didn't probe too deeply, just looked through the contents of a Graphic Design Course that I was interested in and noted how in depth the content was from looking at the topics and sub topics list.

I balked at the cost €500 up front, but I figured it would be money well spent as the course included tutor support, though no formal qualification. So I submitted my interest and was phoned back by a Stella Reynolds who encouraged me to part with my cash and get started. I understood that there was a 7 day cooling off period too.

I started immediately. The structure was such that once you completed a module it unlocked the next module. The first module was an introduction to the subject which included a generally available Youtube video about the industry in general. The assignment was to research the various areas within the industry and to write up and submit a report. The reply I got was not even a full sentence. "Great work." I suddenly began to get a little suspicious as this tutor did not introduce him/herself and I realised I had no way of speaking to them or contacting them with any queries other than uploading an assignment. By this time my cooling off period had expired.

I clicked onto the next module and I was shocked and surprised to see that it consisted of a couple of pages of poorly formatted text with a few typos. There were no training videos, no resources, links, or assignments. I clicked through to the next module and so forth. I scanned through 11 modules of content, all similar in appearance and again with no opportunities for further guided research, practice, resources or tutor interaction. The 12th and final module was an assignment. To design a leaflet for a ficticious youth charity. I imagined the response I'd get if I submitted anything!

To sum up I was gutted to realize that I had been scammed and it was my fault for not being more wary about what I was getting into. I was too embarrassed to ask for my money back and just took the hit. Don't let this happen to you!