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IT courses in Hull

The overall impression of IT courses in Hull is a positive one.  The majority of respondents were happy with the teaching and facilities and were able to achieve what they wanted from the course.  However, the experiences of a significant minority show that there are some areas to think about, most notably in the area of tutor support.

The importance of tutors cannot be overestimated, regardless of the type of teaching and learning.  The student-tutor relationship was an important success factor for many, and most were happy with their tutors.  However, there were problems if a tutor changed midway through a course, as this disrupted the learning, and caused some to struggle, especially if they didn't get on with the new tutor, or their style of teaching. 

Another issue was if there were too many learners in relation to tutors, meaning that there was a long wait for help if lots of people got stuck, or there was no chance to build up a relationship with the tutor.  However, it must be noted that analysis suggested that those who struggled most in these situations had other personal issues to deal with, such as low confidence, and/or practical issues, such as being in a room of people on a mix of courses, or a mix of abilities.

Pre-course assessments- For 10% of people the ‘worst thing’ about their IT course was the fact it was at the wrong level; either too hard or too easy.  In addition 6% said that they didn’t achieve what they had wanted from their course because it was not covered by their IT course.  4% did not achieve what they wanted because the course was not long enough and they ran out of time.  Pre-course assessments could potentially prevent these issues from arising.

An assessment would provide an opportunity to confirm that a learner is on the right course for their level of ability and also provides an opportunity for a tutor to check what the learner hopes to achieve from the course and whether this is realistic.  Tutors can then make the course more centred on the learner’s individual needs and ability; this was something that would have encouraged some respondents to do an IT course.  Tutors can also ensure that the mix of abilities in a class will allow time to be divided between learners fairly.  An assessment was given to 40% of students either before their course began, or at the start of their course. 

Finding out- For those who had not previously done an IT course, finding out about IT courses often seemed problematic.  Some respondents wanted more information to be available, and some felt there should be more guidance to help them choose the right course.  Additionally, some respondents had not done an IT course because they had been unable to find the right course for their needs.  Whilst many people have been able to find out about IT courses relatively easily, the information is not reaching all those who are interested in learning about IT.

It is important that these issues are dealt with, as IT is increasingly important for life in general as well as employment.  People are keen to learn IT skills, and go on courses, and many people who return to learning after a break do so through an IT course.  For everyone to get the most out of their course, and to encourage them on to further learning, we need to deal with these issues where they arise.